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Opportunity for Disabled Musicians to Join New UnMute Artists Roster

The UnMute roster, which was developed with help from the MU, is a new initiative designed to empower disabled musicians and improve access to live performance opportunities. Applications are now open.

Published: 24 February 2025 | 5:44 PM
silhouette of raised hands in the crowd at an outdoor music festival, lit by orange and yellow spotlights.
The MU are proud to support the UnMute imitative. Photo: Shutterstock.

Events and live music company Continental Drifts, and their Arts Council funded project Global Local - in association with the MU and Attitude Is Everything - have together launched UnMute, a new initiative designed to empower disabled musicians and improve access to live performance opportunities across the UK.

The UnMute initiative and artist roster aims to:

  • Provide flexible and supportive opportunities for disabled musicians, with a platform to showcase their talents
  • raise awareness of the barriers and unique challenges disabled artists may face in the live music and events industries.

Join the roster

The application process for artists wishing to join Continental Drifts’ UnMute roster is now open, and submissions are invited from any disabled artist or artist with a long-term health condition, or a musical act that contains a disabled person.

Applications do not have to be from a specific style or genre, but the team at Continental Drifts will look for music that will best suit the type of events and clients they work with. 

The application process has been designed to remove as many barriers as possible, offering additional accessible formats and options for agency submissions.

The MU are proud to support UnMute

John Shortell, MU Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, says: “Disabled musicians face multiple barriers securing work in the music industry, and we know from our research that a significant disability pay gap exists.

“Initiatives created by disabled musicians, for disabled musicians, are what the industry needs to help close that pay gap and ensure that we’re seeing more disabled musicians playing at festivals and venues around the country. The MU are proud to support UnMute.”

Learn more about Global Local, and what artists can expect by being represented by them on the roster.

Representing and advocating on behalf of disabled musicians

At the MU we advocate on behalf of disabled and/or neurodivergent musicians to ensure their rights are upheld and strengthened – where they encounter discrimination, we’ll challenge it.  

Join our Disabled Member Network

The Disabled Members Network is a space for MU members who identify as disabled and/or neurodivergent to meet and discuss issues that impact their communities, shape MU policy, and change the music industry and the MU for the better.

Join the Disabled Member Network

Representing and advocating on behalf of disabled musicians

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