Latest News

Photograph of the sun setting through the windows of an empty classroom.

MU Expresses Horror at Proposed Halving of Funding for Music at HE in England

The Government has announced that it plans to impose a 50 percent funding cut to “high cost” subjects at higher education (HE) in England, including music. This is because music and the arts are not among its “strategic priorities”. Members are encouraged to respond to their consultation.

Coronavirus

Closeup photograph of a drumkit, taken from above.

DrumathonLIVE to Raise Money for Mental Health Charities

DrumathonLIVE will involve seven days of non-stop drumming by some of the world’s top drummers, starting from Saturday 15 May and raising money for mental health charities.

A band playing in silhouete outdoors against the sun setting in the background. They appear to be on a roof, there's a guitarist, a singer and a saxophone player.

A Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 and Freelancer Fund Update for Wales

Applications for the Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 close at 5:00 pm on Tuesday 20 April, while the next round of the Freelancer Fund will open for applications soon.

Young child wearing a mask is sat at a piano, turning round to face the camera he raises one thumb in a positive gesture.

We’ve Updated Our Advice for Teaching During Coronavirus

Following updated advice and further clarification from the devolved governments of the UK, we have updated our advice for musicians who teach in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.

White painted chairs set out with socially distanced amount of space between them, outdoors.

Government Confirms “Incidental” Live Music Permitted in England from Stage Two

The Government has now confirmed a number of changes and extra details for musicians in its previously published Spring Roadmap for England – and we have updated our guidance accordingly.

Photograph of an orchestra set out in a socially distanced way, we can see all the musicians sat out across the stage in distanced positions, whilst a conductor gestures from the front.

Life in Lockdown for UK Orchestras

In this longer-read feature, find out more about how UK orchestras have been faring through the pandemic – including taking on remote recording projects, working in creative new directions, and putting health and safety first in the move back to work.

See all coronavirus news

Education

Photograph of a young woman walking past what might be a music college, with a violin case strapped to her back.

Devastating For Arts and Humanities: The MU Responds to 50% Higher Education Funding Cut Consultation

The MU strongly opposes Government plans to impose a catastrophic 50% funding cut to arts subjects including music at Higher Education (HE) level in England.

Photograph focusing on a singer, singing emotively into a microphone. Blurred in the foreground is a second musician mixing into a laptop.

Reconsider Proposed Catastrophic 50% Funding Cut MPs Tell Secretary of State

Shadow secretaries of state Jo Stevens MP and Kate Green MP have written to Gavin Williamson calling on the Secretary of State for Education to drop proposals for a catastrophic 50% funding cut to arts subjects at the Higher Education level in England.

A student is performing to her teacher in a concert room of what appears to be a conservatoire.

Take Action Against The Government’s Proposed 50% Funding Cut to Music at HE Level

The Government's plan to impose a catastrophic 50% funding cut to arts subjects including music at Higher Education (HE) level in England have caused uproar on social media.

MU Expresses Horror at Proposed Halving of Funding for Music at HE in England

Photograph of a sunny classroom, the photo is focused on a guitar leaning against a chair, in the background out of focus you can see a number of children holding guitars.

Scottish Instrumental Music Teaching Network to Hold First Conference

The Scottish Instrumental Music Teaching Network will be running a free online conference on Thursday 6 May, with topics ranging from group teaching strategies to exploring the power of creativity and inclusion.

See all music education news

#ComposersAgainstBuyouts

Calling all media composers

Get a fair share of the value you create. Back the Composers Against Buyouts campaign.

Find out more See all Campaigns

#FixStreaming

A musician sits at a mixing desk, with different pieces of equipment, including multiple speakers and monitors facing them.

Over 5000 Musicians and Songwriters Back Fix Streaming Petition

Over 5,000 musicians, songwriters and fans have signed the Fix Streaming petition, after 150 artists including Annie Lennox, Paul McCartney and Kate Bush made headlines calling on the Government to act.

Black and white photo of a guitarist holding an electric guitar standing in front of a large amplifier

Calling On The PM to Put The Value of Music Back “In The Hands of Music Makers”

An extraordinary roll call of music’s great and good call on the Prime Minister to reform the music industry by fixing streaming.

A selection of speakers stacked up on a slightly blue dyed manuscript.

DCMS Minister Backs Music Streaming Referral to Competition and Markets Authority

In our summary of the latest Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) hearing into the economics of music streaming, read about the main conclusions drawn and our hopes for the future.

Photograph of a man sat listening to music through headphones which are connected to his mobile phone, he is smiling and happy looking.

We Welcome Spotify’s Drive for Clarity in Streaming Finances

Together with The Ivors Academy, today we welcomed the launch of Spotify’s new website, Loud & Clear, which aims to introduce new transparency and data about the music streaming economy.

Photograph of bright pink earphones against a blue background, there is also the corner of an open silver laptop visible.

Have Your Say on how Music Streaming Affects Music Creators’ Earnings

If you have ten minutes, take part in Music Creators’ Earnings in the Digital Age’s anonymous survey - and help their research into how streaming affects music creators’ earnings.

See all #FixStreaming campaign news

Working overseas

A closeup on a vintage keyboard with ebony, ivory and hardwood.

MU Responds to Consultation on the Ivory Ban Implementation

The MU alongside other music industry bodies have responded to the consultation on the implementation of the UK Ivory Ban.

Photograph of Big Ben, a below photo showing just the clock face angled against a cloudy sky.

Lobbying Update: Using Our Brexit Survey Issues to Press for Change

In this lobbying update, MU Head of Communications and Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez discusses how we will be using the results from our Brexit survey when it closes next week, and other actions in Parliament.

Photograph of multiple memorial candles burning with golden light against a dark background.

TUC Marks International Workers’ Memorial Day with Virtual Memorial Wall

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) – of which the MU is a member – will be marking international Workers’ Memorial Day on the 28 April with a space to remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury or illness.

Black and white photo of a row of large your busses at a stand still.

Brexit Testimonies: “I Desperately Need Some Resolution to This Problem”

Together with the ISM, we have compiled testimonies from a number of musicians, detailing the immediate impact of Brexit – here is one such account from the violinist Catherine Manson.

Photograph of a brass band ensemble, we can only see the feet of the closest musicians, with other musicians holding brass instruments slightly blurred in the background.

Brexit: 5 Minutes of Your Time to Help Us Keep The Pressure Up On The Government

Take the short, anonymous survey that we are running with the ISM and make sure that the Government doesn’t forget about the problems that Brexit is causing for touring musicians.

See all international news

#InvestInMusicians

Photograph of a drum kit against a blurred background, which appears to be the outdoors. A string of brightly coloured lights suggests that this could be a festival.

Extend Government-Backed Pilots to Allow More Events to Go Ahead, Say MPs

In the absence of a wider insurance scheme for the events industry, the Government liability that will enable pilot events to go ahead this summer should be extended to cover a wider range of events to prevent further cancellations, say MPs.

A Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 and Freelancer Fund Update for Wales

Applications for the Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 close at 5:00 pm on Tuesday 20 April, while the next round of the Freelancer Fund will open for applications soon.

Photograph of the band Gnoss, they are four men standing in front of a brick wall. Hands in their pockets, they are smiling at the camera.

Gnoss On Why They Joined The MU: “Membership Has Certainly Made Us Feel a Lot More Connected to Our Industry”

Young, Glasgow-based band Gnoss, discusses how membership of the MU has both given them invaluable tools on their journey, and helped them feel that they have someone in their corner.

Life in Lockdown for UK Orchestras

Photograph of Sheffield town hall, taken at dusk the sky is darkening and the street lights have just turned on.

Ask Your Metro Mayor Candidate to Sign the Creative Workforce Pledge

Join the call for candidates for England’s upcoming Metro Mayor elections in England to sign the Creative Workforce Pledge, and commit to making sure the creative and cultural life of our regions thrive well into the future.

Learn more about the campaign

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Latest News

MU Expresses Horror at Proposed Halving of Funding for Music at HE in England

Coronavirus

DrumathonLIVE to Raise Money for Mental Health Charities

A Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 and Freelancer Fund Update for Wales

We’ve Updated Our Advice for Teaching During Coronavirus

Government Confirms “Incidental” Live Music Permitted in England from Stage Two

Life in Lockdown for UK Orchestras

Education

Devastating For Arts and Humanities: The MU Responds to 50% Higher Education Funding Cut Consultation

Reconsider Proposed Catastrophic 50% Funding Cut MPs Tell Secretary of State

Take Action Against The Government’s Proposed 50% Funding Cut to Music at HE Level

MU Expresses Horror at Proposed Halving of Funding for Music at HE in England

Scottish Instrumental Music Teaching Network to Hold First Conference

Calling all media composers

#FixStreaming

Over 5000 Musicians and Songwriters Back Fix Streaming Petition

Calling On The PM to Put The Value of Music Back “In The Hands of Music Makers”

DCMS Minister Backs Music Streaming Referral to Competition and Markets Authority

We Welcome Spotify’s Drive for Clarity in Streaming Finances

Have Your Say on how Music Streaming Affects Music Creators’ Earnings

Working overseas

MU Responds to Consultation on the Ivory Ban Implementation

Lobbying Update: Using Our Brexit Survey Issues to Press for Change

TUC Marks International Workers’ Memorial Day with Virtual Memorial Wall

Brexit Testimonies: “I Desperately Need Some Resolution to This Problem”

Brexit: 5 Minutes of Your Time to Help Us Keep The Pressure Up On The Government

#InvestInMusicians

Extend Government-Backed Pilots to Allow More Events to Go Ahead, Say MPs

A Cultural Recovery Fund Phase 2 and Freelancer Fund Update for Wales

Gnoss On Why They Joined The MU: “Membership Has Certainly Made Us Feel a Lot More Connected to Our Industry”

Life in Lockdown for UK Orchestras

Ask Your Metro Mayor Candidate to Sign the Creative Workforce Pledge