skip to main content

MU Signs Letter to Cabinet Secretary Over Music Cuts at BBC Radio Scotland

The MU has signed a joint letter to intervene over BBC Radio Scotland’s plans to axe some key music programmes. 

Published: 12 January 2023 | 1:38 PM
the logo of the
Photo: Shutterstock

The MU has signed a joint letter to Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture at the Scottish Parliament, to urge him to intervene over BBC Radio Scotland’s plans to axe some key music programmes. 

Some of the programmes included in the planned cuts are Classics Unwrapped, Jazz Nights, and Pipeline.

MU Scotland and Northern Ireland Organiser Caroline Sewell says:

For musicians these shows are integral to the survival of these genres in Scotland, providing an essential platform for Scottish artists’ music to be heard by listeners and forming a crucial part of the genres’ infrastructure. These developments come as a crushing blow to the range of musical diversity being played on Scottish radio and we urge the Secretary to intervene.

Sign the petition: Please save BBC Radio Scotland's "JAZZ NIGHTS" from being AXED

 

 

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

Close up hands holding a pen and paper in front of a keyboard.

Protect Creative Work: AI Petition Passes 10,000 Signatures

The Creators’ Rights Alliance (CRA) has passed 10,000 signatures on its petition calling for greater transparency around copyrighted works used to train generative AI. The MU, a CRA member, fully supports the campaign, which is now aiming for 100,000 signatures.

Published: 28 August 2026

Read more about Protect Creative Work: AI Petition Passes 10,000 Signatures
Silhouette of crowd with their hands in the air, watching a small outdoor stage, lit by blue lights. Confetti falls from the sky.

MU Welcomes Launch of Northern Music Export Office and UKAT Fund Boost

The MU has welcomed the launch of the Northern Music Export Office (NMEO), calling it a significant step towards creating more opportunities for musicians across the North and helping artists build sustainable careers at home while reaching audiences worldwide.

Published: 25 August 2026

Read more about MU Welcomes Launch of Northern Music Export Office and UKAT Fund Boost
Jack onstage as an older man, wearing a white shirt and playing trombone.

Tribute to John 'Jackie' Free

Jack Free was a talented trombonist who performed alongside some of the great names in jazz during a career spanning more than six decades. He was a proud and long-standing member of the Musicians’ Union, having originally joined in 1956. This tribute has been written by his son, Colin.

Published: 25 August 2026

Read more about Tribute to John 'Jackie' Free