Michelle Saacks: Why I go the MU’s free Feldenkrais sessions The MU have been running Feldenkrais sessions for members over Zoom for a few years now, and in this article MU Member Michelle Saacks talks about her own Feldenkrais journey – from finding herself in a more functioning body, to the impact it’s had on her teaching. Published: 14 April 2023 Read more about Michelle Saacks: Why I go the MU’s free Feldenkrais sessions
Why I Joined The MU: Holly Carter Pedal Steel Guitarist Holly Carter discusses the feeling of community she gets from being a member of the Musicians’ Union, the sense of coming together and supporting each other. Published: 13 April 2023 Read more about Why I Joined The MU: Holly Carter
Instinctive Innovator: A Session Musician’s Career Story Clive Deamer always knew he was going to be a drummer, and his skills as a spectacular polyrhythmist able to blend traditional skill with contemporary style have seen him work with acts from Radiohead to Tom Jones. This profile explores his story. Published: 13 April 2023 Member only Read more about Instinctive Innovator: A Session Musician’s Career Story
BBC Confirms Commitment to Working With The Musicians’ Union The MU believes the BBC is signalling a reset of the consultation process and the union will enter talks with them on the basis that discussion will focus on alternatives to the job cuts. Published: 13 April 2023 Read more about BBC Confirms Commitment to Working With The Musicians’ Union
Ben Haines: How Skills From The MU’s Meditation Sessions Transformed My Playing Ben Haines is a regular at the MU’s free weekly Meditation sessions, which originally started during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic due to the enormous impact it had on the mental health of our members. Here he shares why he’s been going ever since. Published: 11 April 2023 Read more about Ben Haines: How Skills From The MU’s Meditation Sessions Transformed My Playing
An Inclusive Workplace is Characterised by Affirmative Action Chair of the MU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Linton Stephens discusses what we can do to make our industry more inclusive through recognising art as an ever-changing response to the world around us. Published: 05 April 2023 Read more about An Inclusive Workplace is Characterised by Affirmative Action
MU Responds to Leaked Documents on Future of BBC Performing Groups The Musicians’ Union responds to leaked documents about the BBC Performing Groups published by classical music blog Slipped Disc. Published: 04 April 2023 Read more about MU Responds to Leaked Documents on Future of BBC Performing Groups
Take Action to Stop Job Cuts at BBC Orchestras and Protect the BBC Singers After September The BBC’s u-turn on the BBC Singers is positive news. However, their future and 43 jobs in the BBC Concert, Philharmonic and Symphony orchestras are still at risk. Published: 03 April 2023 Read more about Take Action to Stop Job Cuts at BBC Orchestras and Protect the BBC Singers After September
Four The Love Of Music: The Brodsky Quartet Journalist Ariane Todes celebrates the The Brodsky Quartet - beloved of the classical, pop and artistic world alike - which is celebrating its 50th year with a set of brave new projects. Published: 31 March 2023 Read more about Four The Love Of Music: The Brodsky Quartet
MU Marks Record Breaking Year of Royalties Payments in 2022 After distributing £1.37m to musicians in 2022, the MU’s Recording & Broadcasting department reflect on why this was a particularly high year, and advise members who are yet to receive their payments. Published: 29 March 2023 Read more about MU Marks Record Breaking Year of Royalties Payments in 2022
How to Get Your Music Played on the Radio Getting your music played on national radio has never been easy and it’s getting even tougher. Here’s how to improve your chances. Published: 28 March 2023 Read more about How to Get Your Music Played on the Radio
Trade Unions for Trans Rights Network Launch Event Announced by TUC The TUC will be running a launch event for their new Trade Unions for Trans Rights Network on 29 April, following a Congress motion which was carried at the TUC LGBT+ Conference on supporting trans and non-binary workers. Published: 27 March 2023 Read more about Trade Unions for Trans Rights Network Launch Event Announced by TUC
LIVE to Run Inclusion & Education Workshop for International Trans Day of Visibility The workshop, led by Saskhia Menendez is free to attend and will run online, covering real lived experience on what it means to be Transgender in the Music Industry and educating on better Allyship. Published: 27 March 2023 Read more about LIVE to Run Inclusion & Education Workshop for International Trans Day of Visibility
Council of Music Makers Calls on Labels, Publishers and Streaming Platforms to Unite on Streaming Reforms The Council of Music Makers, which includes the Musicians’ Union, is calling on industry to unite to fix streaming. Published: 22 March 2023 Read more about Council of Music Makers Calls on Labels, Publishers and Streaming Platforms to Unite on Streaming Reforms
10 Tips to Help Musicians Make Money from Patreon One decade on from the launch of Patreon, the MU focuses on how to get the best out of this popular membership subscription platform. Published: 21 March 2023 Read more about 10 Tips to Help Musicians Make Money from Patreon
Shape What the MU Does For You Over the Next Two Years: Submit a Motion to MU Delegate Conference Create change in the Musicians’ Union, in your sector or in the wider music industry - submit a motion to MU Delegate Conference. Published: 21 March 2023 Read more about Shape What the MU Does For You Over the Next Two Years: Submit a Motion to MU Delegate Conference
The BBC Singers in Their Own Words BBC Singers explain who they are, what they do, and why the UK’s only full-time professional choir is crucial to the future of classical music. Published: 20 March 2023 Read more about The BBC Singers in Their Own Words
Square Peg in a Round Hole: Jon Hart on Navigating the Industry as a Neurodivergent Musician This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, award-winning acoustic artist and MU member Jon Hart shares his experiences of breaking through conformity, and explains how although career success may come and go, music as true self-representation is always a constant. Published: 16 March 2023 Read more about Square Peg in a Round Hole: Jon Hart on Navigating the Industry as a Neurodivergent Musician
Success at Oscars for UK Session Musicians Our members and approved contractors contributed to some of the soundtracks of the very best films won and nominated. Published: 15 March 2023 Read more about Success at Oscars for UK Session Musicians
MU Fighting Job Cuts to BBC Singers and Orchestras: Email Your MP for Support The MU is in urgent talks with the BBC to save musicians’ jobs following the corporation’s proposals to cut employed posts across BBC Singers and three orchestras. Published: 07 March 2023 Read more about MU Fighting Job Cuts to BBC Singers and Orchestras: Email Your MP for Support
The MU and Come Play With Me Strive to Improve Landscape for LGBTQ+ Musicians As LGBT+ History Month UK comes to an end, The MU and Come Play with Me (CPWM) would like to reaffirm our commitment to creating an industry and society where all LGBTQ+ people can live and work without fear of violence or discrimination. Published: 02 March 2023 Read more about The MU and Come Play With Me Strive to Improve Landscape for LGBTQ+ Musicians
Why I used the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme MU Education Section Committee member Sam Murray shares how they used their membership to access musician-specialist audiologists and bespoke hearing protection. Published: 28 February 2023 Read more about Why I used the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme
“By Means of Printed Questionnaires” - An Archival View of The Musicians’ Census Today’s Musicians’ Census is not the first time the MU has attempted to capture a comprehensive picture of musical life across the UK and here, University Archivist Karl Magee looks back 75 years to the very first. Published: 28 February 2023 Read more about “By Means of Printed Questionnaires” - An Archival View of The Musicians’ Census
MU Contributes to New International Standards on Rights and Mobility for Arts and Entertainment Sector Workers Our General Secretary and Head of International represented the union and helped form a genuinely inclusive text for industry workers as part of ILOs negotiation meeting. Published: 20 February 2023 Read more about MU Contributes to New International Standards on Rights and Mobility for Arts and Entertainment Sector Workers
The Importance of Hearing Damage Prevention in Musicians’ Work Hearing health is probably the most precious tool musicians have, but many of us are taking it for granted. Published: 18 February 2023 Read more about The Importance of Hearing Damage Prevention in Musicians’ Work
Success in Collective Bargaining Negotiations for MU’s Recording and Broadcasting Department The team have completed a long round of Collective Bargaining negotiations with PACT, BBC, ITV, IPA and Sky. Published: 16 February 2023 Read more about Success in Collective Bargaining Negotiations for MU’s Recording and Broadcasting Department
Andi Hopgood and Nate Holder: Why The Musicians’ Census Gives us a Better Chance to Create Change This week we’re exploring why musicians and change-makers Andi and Nate are supporting the 2023 Musicians Census. Published: 14 February 2023 Read more about Andi Hopgood and Nate Holder: Why The Musicians’ Census Gives us a Better Chance to Create Change
Gender-Neutral Award Categories at The BRITs Lead to a Lack of Gender Diversity in 2023 Shortlists Following a shift to gender-neutral award categories, replacing separate best male and best female artist awards, the MU responds to this year’s all-male BRITs Best Artist shortlist. Published: 09 February 2023 Read more about Gender-Neutral Award Categories at The BRITs Lead to a Lack of Gender Diversity in 2023 Shortlists
MU General Secretary Update General Secretary Naomi Pohl looks at the challenges facing musicians this winter, and what the union is doing to support members. Published: 08 February 2023 Read more about MU General Secretary Update
Naomi Pohl Discusses Fix Streaming Campaign on Drowned in Sound Podcast The MU’s General Secretary appeared on this weeks Drowned in Sound Podcast, which can be accessed on various major streaming platforms about how music streaming needs to be fixed. Published: 03 February 2023 Read more about Naomi Pohl Discusses Fix Streaming Campaign on Drowned in Sound Podcast
Musicians Iona Fyfe and Lady Nade Share Why They Back the Musicians’ Census 2023 Two musicians backing the survey explain why the Musicians’ Census 2023 is so important. Published: 02 February 2023 Read more about Musicians Iona Fyfe and Lady Nade Share Why They Back the Musicians’ Census 2023
MU Partners With Come Play With Me for LGBTQ+ History Month The new partnership will see a new series of LGBTQ+ Inclusion workshops and the two organisations working together to create more resources for LGBTQ+ musicians and artists. Published: 31 January 2023 Read more about MU Partners With Come Play With Me for LGBTQ+ History Month
What Expenses Can Musicians Claim on Tax? Keeping a record of what you have spent and what you can claim can be arduous, but it can save you money in the long run. Published: 31 January 2023 Read more about What Expenses Can Musicians Claim on Tax?
MU Supports TUC Right to Strike Day of Action Take part in marches and events on 1 February to protest against the Government’s anti-strike laws. Published: 27 January 2023 Read more about MU Supports TUC Right to Strike Day of Action
Why Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is a Trade Union Issue What is our collective role in building equality, diversity and inclusion and why is it a trade union issue? The MU’s John Shortell explains. Published: 25 January 2023 Read more about Why Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is a Trade Union Issue
Take the Musicians’ Census 2023 The Musicians’ Census is a joint project by the Musicians’ Union and Help Musicians to get a deeper understanding of what it’s like to be a musician in 2023. Published: 23 January 2023 Read more about Take the Musicians’ Census 2023
You Can’t Put the AI Genie Back in the Bottle: Protecting Compositions and Recordings Following on from his recent appearance on BBC Newsnight to discuss what advances in AI could mean for musicians, MU Assistant General Secretary Phil Kear further outlines the protections needed for musicians in the face of new technology. Published: 20 January 2023 Read more about You Can’t Put the AI Genie Back in the Bottle: Protecting Compositions and Recordings
PRS for Music and PRS Foundation Announce New Multi-year Funding Agreement With £2.5m in funding already committed for this year, the new agreement will see an increase in year-on-year funding allocated to PRS Foundations work to support new music and talent development. Published: 18 January 2023 Read more about PRS for Music and PRS Foundation Announce New Multi-year Funding Agreement
The Musicians’ Guide to the Birmingham Music Scene Birmingham has a rich musical legacy and a wide range of resources for musicians of all genres. Here, West Midlands musicians give their personal recommendations. Published: 14 January 2023 Read more about The Musicians’ Guide to the Birmingham Music Scene
New TUC General Secretary Launches Campaign to Protect the Right to Strike The Trades Union Congress will fight new anti-strike legislation every step of the way supported by member unions including the Musicians’ Union. Published: 13 January 2023 Read more about New TUC General Secretary Launches Campaign to Protect the Right to Strike