Legal Services

Whatever legal issue musicians are facing, for helping to recover unpaid fees or checking out a contract, the Musicians' Union can help with legal advice and more.

Legal services for members

Contract Advisory Service

We can help you make sure that you sign a fair and legal contract

Partnership Advice

Working in a band or with other musicians? We offer group-specific legal advice

Legal Advice & Assistance

Learn more about how musicians can benefit from specialist lawyer advice and assistance.

Non-Work Legal Helpline

Get quick help on family law, consumer law, property law, wills and trusts, and other legal issues through Morrish Solicitors

Personal Injury Claims

We provide a legal benefits package through Morrish Solicitors for you and your family, from personal injury services to low-cost wills

Unpaid Fee Recovery

We can help when you haven't been paid properly for your work

Ask Us First List

Members can seek assistance before engagements using the Ask Us First List

Legal advice

In Conversation: Exploring Partnership Law

Are you working in a band or with other musicians? Join Musicians’ Union In House Solicitor Dawn Rodger, and Tim Northrop from NMD Solicitors, as they explore what a partnership is in music business, why it’s important, and how to go about getting one.

Legal Webinars

Watch legal advice webinars provided by Scottish legal firm Harper Macleod. MU members can view all recordings to learn the legal side of being a musician. Videos include advice on rights, branding, contracts, sampling, copyright and more.

How to be Release Ready

We've partnered with PRS for Music to help explain how independent artists can protect their work and sign profitable agreements. Available only to MU members.

Over £3 Million Recovered for Musicians

In the last year, MU secured over £3,200,000 for musicians through:

Recovery of unpaid fees
Negotiation of contract settlements
Royalty distribution
Recovery of unlawful pay deductions
Negotiation of redundancy claims
Compensation claims for contractual breaches
Recovery of unpaid holiday pay

Your membership pays off.

Join MU today

Contact the Musicians' Union today

The MU has a network of experienced teams available to help musicians in all areas of the industry. If you have any questions about our services, membership or how the MU could help you, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Contact the MU

Latest news and features

Person playing acoustic guitar next to a small baby who is smiling.

MU Extends Parental Grant Application Period to 12 Months

The MU Executive Committee has agreed to extend the application period for the parental grant from six months to 12 months following the birth or adoption of a child, making it easier for members to access support when they need it.

Published: 22 October 2026

Close up of person holding a pen and paper over a keyboard.

Have Your Say on Streaming: DCMS Launches Survey for Songwriters

If you have attended a songwriting session for a major label since September 2025, the DCMS wants to hear from you. Your feedback will help evaluate measures introduced following the UK streaming inquiry and strengthen the case for fair pay for music creators.

Published: 15 October 2026

A woman sat on the floor playing acoustic guitar while a baby reaches out to her and the instrument.

New MU Survey Explores Free Childcare for Working Musicians

The MU is surveying musicians who are parents or carers of children under 18 to understand how current free childcare provision works for those in the industry and to explore alternative models better suited to their working patterns.

Published: 07 October 2026

Hands typing on a laptop with multicoloured graphics of binary code and connected fibres over the top of the image.

MU Welcomes Liverpool City Region Music Board’s New AI Principles

The Musicians’ Union has welcomed the launch of new AI Principles from the Liverpool City Region Music Board, helping to establish a clear and creator focused framework for the responsible use of AI across the region's music sector.

Published: 06 October 2026

Person in shadow holding a pen and paper over a keyboard.

CMU x MU: Copyright for Songwriters and Composers Webinar

Catch up on our webinar with CMU’s Chris Cooke, exploring copyright, royalties, performers’ rights and what songwriters and composers need to know to protect their work and income. Available to members only – My MU login required.