MU Members get a discount on conference or conference and festival tickets. Photo: Shutterstock.
The panel session, titled ‘Money in the Mix: Session Rates, Rights & Royalties’ will take place on Friday 1 May at 10.30am in the Kazimier Stockroom and will feature senior officials from the MU alongside experienced professional session musician, Collete Williams, who is known for her session work with Blossoms.
Session musicians play a central role in the creation of recorded music and live performance, contributing to recordings, film, television, and an ever-expanding range of digital and remote projects.
Despite their importance, the financial and contractual frameworks that govern session work are often complex and inconsistently applied. This panel aims to clarify how session work should function in 2026 and beyond and to equip musicians with the knowledge they need to protect their income and careers.
The expert-led panel will explore the realities facing session musicians today
The panel will be led by experts from the MU’s Recording and Broadcasting Department, including Sam Jordan (Acting National Organiser), Jess Craig (Royalties Official) and Nicholas Mackay (Licensing Official) alongside our esteemed guest Collette Williams, a session musician known for her work with Blossoms. Together they will draw from union expertise and lived professional experience to explore the realities facing session musicians today.
A key focus of the session will be how rates of pay for session musicians are set across different types of work and why MU collective agreements remain central to fair pay and conditions. The panel will explain how these agreements protect minimum fees, govern reuse payments and underpin musicians’ rights, while highlighting the wider benefits of collective bargaining for the music workforce as a whole.
The discussion will also address secondary use fees, clarifying when additional payments apply, how buyouts differ from reuse, and where misunderstandings commonly arise in contracts.
Member discount on conference and festival tickets
Sound City takes place across various city centre venues in Liverpool between 1 and 3 May 2026. It brings together industry experts, emerging talent, and innovators to share insights, foster connections, and explore the future of music. From panels and talks to networking opportunities, it’s the place to grow your career and your network.
MU Members get a discount on conference or conference and festival tickets with the code ‘MUMEMBERS’ or by using this ticket link.
Access Riders at Sound City
Liverpool Sound City has announced it will introduce Access Riders for all artists and speakers at its 2026 festival, following an MU-led disability access panel and ongoing collaboration with the Union. Read the full story.