As well as delivering her keynote speech, Naomi spoke on the day’s first panel, 'Pay and Conditions, Collective Bargaining and Promulgated Rates'. Photo: © Belinda Enthoven.
Taking place 21–22 October, FIM (International Federation of Musicians)'s Freelance Conference brings together trade union representatives, industry experts and musicians from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing freelance musicians.
Following the inaugural event in Copenhagen in 2019, this year's conference explores issues including pay and conditions, legal protections, collective bargaining, discrimination, portfolio careers and income from recorded music. Delegates will share international best practice and discuss how unions and musicians can work together to create a fairer, more sustainable future for freelancers.
Opening the conference, Naomi welcomed delegates to Brighton and highlighted the city's rich musical culture, before outlining why the MU wanted to host the event. You can read highlights from her speech below.
Highlights from Naomi's opening speech
- The MU chose to host the conference because 85% of its members work freelance and face many shared challenges, including rising touring costs, barriers experienced by underrepresented groups, and the difficulties of balancing careers with childcare and caring responsibilities.
- Research from the MU shows that musicians' average earnings from music remained at around £20,000 a year between 2013 and 2023, despite inflation rising significantly over the same period. Naomi said this meant many musicians were considerably worse off in real terms than a decade ago.
- She highlighted the major issues now facing freelance musicians, including low streaming revenues, the threat posed by generative AI to musicians' work and identities, and the increasing cost of touring both domestically and internationally.
- Naomi stressed the importance of unions organising, campaigning and standing up for freelance musicians, whose careers are often characterised by insecurity and precarity.
- She said the conference was an opportunity to share ideas, experiences and solutions that could help improve conditions for freelance musicians across the world.
- Naomi reaffirmed the MU's commitment to creating a music industry that better supports and includes freelance musicians, and one in which all musicians can thrive, not just survive.
The MU will be taking part in panels, discussions and networking events throughout the conference. Look out for further updates and coverage over the coming days.