News & Stories for Musicians

Advice on Public Charge Designations for Musicians in the USA on Visas

Our friends at Tamizdat are offering Pro-Bono advice for musicians, who at the time of lockdown may have been working in the United States of America (USA) under a visa, and are concerned about whether a public charge designation could affect them.

Published: 01 May 2020

International Day of Families: Recognising Those Falling Through Gaps in the Government’s Response

MU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Official John Shortell highlights “the impact Coronavirus is having on those with families and how the Government’s response to the pandemic, especially in relation to freelancers with families, reinforces disadvantages.”

Published: 01 May 2020

AIM to Hold Free Virtual Conference on Independent Music

Following the success of its first virtual conference, AIM Sync, trade body The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has announced the transition of its Great Escape Conference programme, ‘AIM House’, to a full-day virtual event.

Published: 01 May 2020

Graphic of different people social distancing behind windows with instruments

Three-Month Subscription Holiday Announced for Members in Financial Hardship

In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit our profession as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have decided to offer a three-month subscription holiday to those who are in dire financial need.

Published: 30 April 2020

Soon to be Released Statistics Paint a Stark Picture of Musicians Left Behind by the Government’s Support Schemes

MU Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez reports on how our recent impact survey shows that the percentage of those the Government claims will be protected by the Self-employed Income Support Scheme “is categorically not the case for musicians”.

Published: 29 April 2020

Rockschool Pledges to Donate £5 to NHS for Every Exam Entry

Rockschool, who provide graded exams for contemporary musicians of all levels, are holding their next exam period online to reduce disruption to teachers and students during the coronavirus pandemic.

Published: 29 April 2020

Make Music Day people playing music instruments and dancing

Make Music Day Goes Digital

Make Music Day is an annual set of music events that takes place around the world on the longest day of the year – 21 June. This year participants are being encouraged to host and engage with events online.

Published: 29 April 2020

New Telephone Support Network For Musicians

Musicians feeling isolated and anxious can sign up to the Royal Society of Musicians’ (RSM’s) Coronavirus Support Network to chat with other musicians.

Published: 27 April 2020

The Government’s Self-Employment Support Extended to Musicians on Work Visas

Last week, the Home Office confirmed that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is available to migrants who are self-employed and have no recourse to public funds.

Published: 27 April 2020

Northern Ireland Launches Support Fund for Arts Sector

Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has announced funding of £1.5 million to support individuals and organisations in the Arts Sector in response to Covid-19.

Published: 27 April 2020

Music Support Hosts 12 Step Support Groups Online

Music Support is launching weekly online support group meetings to allow the music industry’s 12 Step recovery community to continue to connect during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Published: 27 April 2020

A sticker on the window with the rainbow saying:

A Minute's Silence for Key Workers on International Worker’s Memorial Day

Trades Union members and others are encouraged to observe a minute’s silence on Tuesday 28 April at 11:00 am – to pay tribute to the key workers who have lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic.

Published: 27 April 2020

Photograph of small bricks on top of each other with faces indicating different moods, from happy to sad.

Help DCMS Understand What Help Is Needed by Taking Survey

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is calling for participants for its survey on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Published: 27 April 2020

Live Rates Released for Members Planning Gigs Later in the Year

We’ve published new live rates for 2020-2021 which may be useful to members when planning for work past the disruption caused by COVID-19.

Published: 24 April 2020

musicians with a guitar on stage lit with yellow light

Pressing for Financial Support for Musicians, a Lobbying Update

MU Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez reports, “Parliament is now back from recess, albeit in a largely digital format. We have already been in touch with MPs to ask them to question the Government on our behalf.”

Published: 22 April 2020

Crew Nation Fund Opens to Support Live Music Crews

Live Nation have opened a fund to protect those who work behind the scenes to make live music happen. Applications are open to anyone who have been financially impacted from shows originally scheduled to take place in March or April 2020.

Published: 22 April 2020

Photograph of two people playing fiddle at a wedding. Photo credit: Shutterstock

Creative Scotland Opens Bridging Bursary for Second Phase of Requests

Creative Scotland have announced an extra £2M of funding, open to individual artists and freelancers in Scotland who have lost income from their creative work due to COVID-19.

Published: 21 April 2020

Photo of stage lights shining purple on an empty stage

Les Misérables Downloads to Raise Money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund

We’re welcoming the news that a concert production of Les Misérables, filmed at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End, is to become available as a digital download as part of a charity initiative from Cameron Mackintosh.

Published: 21 April 2020

Do It Differently Fund from Help Musicians Adapts to COVID-19

The Covid-19 round of the Do It Differently Fund recognises that musicians are having to work in innovative ways due to the restrictions around social distancing.

Published: 20 April 2020

Opt-in to Receive an MU Diary in 2021

To reduce paper waste, we are asking members to opt-in to receive a copy of the MU diary later this year for 2021. The deadline for opting in is approaching, please let us know by 27 April 2020.

Published: 20 April 2020

A person covering their face in the darkness

Advice for Employers and Reps on Domestic Abuse During Disruption from COVID-19

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has released an interactive guide on ways that you can spot, support and help stop victims from suffering further abuse.

Published: 16 April 2020

A woman and a man excited and happy holding a phone

MU Fundraising Auction Launched with Items Including Handmade Box from Author Philip Pullman

We’ve launched an online auction of items donated from across the creative industries to raise money for our MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund.

Published: 16 April 2020

Belfast City Hall in Northern Ireland, UK

Arts Council Northern Ireland Announce Funding for Key Arts Organisations

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) have announced annual funding of £12.9 million for 97 key arts organisations from its exchequer and National Lottery resources.

Published: 16 April 2020

Old town Edinburgh and Edinburgh castle in Scotland UK

Scottish Government Announces Second Phase of Funding

There has been a funding update from the Scottish Government, who have announced a second phase of funding to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

Published: 16 April 2020

Donations to MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund Soar Thanks to Bank Holiday Fundraisers

Jazz FM promoted the crowdfunder for our hardship fund over Easter Monday, as well as musicians holding their own fundraising gigs over the weekend, pushing our total raised so far up to £27K.

Published: 14 April 2020

Photo of musicians with various brass instruments.

Jazz FM Promotes MU’s Hardship Fund

Jazz FM is running a UK Music Day on Easter Monday, and alongside this they are promoting the MU’s Coronoavirus Hardship Fund and linking to the crowdfunding page.

Published: 12 April 2020

Crowdfunder Breaches £20K in Donations for Musicians Facing Hardship

After setting up a crowdfunder in response to those asking us what they could do to support the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund, we have received more than £20k donations.

Published: 09 April 2020

Be sure your voice is heard. Take our survey now.

Make Sure No Musician is Left Behind: Take Our New Survey

We’ve opened a new survey to help us lobby for the members who we’re concerned may fall through the cracks in the Government’s current assistance schemes. Help us by letting us know about your experiences.

Published: 09 April 2020

Arts Council of Wales Launches Urgent Response Fund

The Welsh funding body today announced the details for it’s Urgent Response Fund, open to freelance creative practitioners who are experiencing financial hardship due to disruption from COVID-19.

Published: 09 April 2020

Photograph of a busker performing outdoors.

Parliamentary Recess Doesn’t Mean We’ve Quietened Down, a Lobbying Update

MU Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez: “Parliament is currently in recess and so not sitting, but that doesn’t mean that we have quietened down our lobbying efforts.”

Published: 09 April 2020

New Support Announced for Musicians in Wales

The Welsh Government, Creative Wales, and the Arts Council of Wales have announced a number of measures including an Urgent Response Fund for individuals, and a Grassroots Music Relief Fund.

Published: 08 April 2020

Call for Information from Members Who Have Received Online Performance Requests

We would like to hear from any members who have recently been asked to stream their performances to private audiences, so we can develop how we meet your needs during disruption from the coronavirus.

Published: 08 April 2020

Band Goes on Virtual Tour to Raise Money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund

Manchester Alt Rock band False Advertising are going on tour – over the internet. Their aim is to spread good will and raise some donations.

Published: 07 April 2020

Phone screen displaying art work, held by a hand.

Online Commission for Musicians and Other Artists in the North of England

FACT, the UK’s leading media arts centre, is offering 10 early-career artists in any genre (including music) a grant of £1,500 to develop an idea that will be presented online.

Published: 07 April 2020

Musicians transporting music instruments while travelling

New Guidance from Thompsons Solicitors on Employee Rights

These two new documents may be of use to employed members looking to know more about going on furlough under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and for employed members who are currently outside of the UK.

Published: 06 April 2020

No Musician Should Be Left Behind, A Lobbying Update

MU Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez: “Our focus at the moment is on lobbying for members who are currently ineligible for either of the Government’s assistance schemes for employed and self-employed workers.”

Published: 03 April 2020

Arts Council England Opens £20M Fund for Individuals Working in the Cultural Sector

Arts Council England (ACE) will be opening round one of applications for the fund on 9 April 2020, providing creative practitioners affected by the coronavirus outbreak with grants of up to £2,500.

Published: 03 April 2020

Empty stage with music instruments and lights on

Limited Company Directors Can Furlough Themselves

A reminder that limited company directors can receive assistance through the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). This may assist some members who would otherwise fall through the cracks of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

Published: 02 April 2020

Jumping into online teaching

In this first-hand account, Rick Finlay - professional drummer, teacher, and vice-chair of our Executive Committee - charts the ups and downs of moving his teaching practice into the online world.

Published: 01 April 2020

A woman sitting with a laptop on a sofa at home

Rockschool Ltd Moves Exams to Video Format

Teachers moving their practice online, may be interested to learn that they can also continue to enter students into Rockschool exams – which can now be taken over video.

Published: 01 April 2020

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All News and Features

Advice on Public Charge Designations for Musicians in the USA on Visas

International Day of Families: Recognising Those Falling Through Gaps in the Government’s Response

AIM to Hold Free Virtual Conference on Independent Music

Three-Month Subscription Holiday Announced for Members in Financial Hardship

Soon to be Released Statistics Paint a Stark Picture of Musicians Left Behind by the Government’s Support Schemes

Rockschool Pledges to Donate £5 to NHS for Every Exam Entry

Make Music Day Goes Digital

New Telephone Support Network For Musicians

The Government’s Self-Employment Support Extended to Musicians on Work Visas

Northern Ireland Launches Support Fund for Arts Sector

Music Support Hosts 12 Step Support Groups Online

A Minute's Silence for Key Workers on International Worker’s Memorial Day

Help DCMS Understand What Help Is Needed by Taking Survey

Live Rates Released for Members Planning Gigs Later in the Year

Pressing for Financial Support for Musicians, a Lobbying Update

Crew Nation Fund Opens to Support Live Music Crews

Creative Scotland Opens Bridging Bursary for Second Phase of Requests

Les Misérables Downloads to Raise Money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund

Do It Differently Fund from Help Musicians Adapts to COVID-19

Opt-in to Receive an MU Diary in 2021

Advice for Employers and Reps on Domestic Abuse During Disruption from COVID-19

MU Fundraising Auction Launched with Items Including Handmade Box from Author Philip Pullman

Arts Council Northern Ireland Announce Funding for Key Arts Organisations

Scottish Government Announces Second Phase of Funding

Donations to MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund Soar Thanks to Bank Holiday Fundraisers

Jazz FM Promotes MU’s Hardship Fund

Crowdfunder Breaches £20K in Donations for Musicians Facing Hardship

Make Sure No Musician is Left Behind: Take Our New Survey

Arts Council of Wales Launches Urgent Response Fund

Parliamentary Recess Doesn’t Mean We’ve Quietened Down, a Lobbying Update

New Support Announced for Musicians in Wales

Call for Information from Members Who Have Received Online Performance Requests

Band Goes on Virtual Tour to Raise Money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund

Online Commission for Musicians and Other Artists in the North of England

New Guidance from Thompsons Solicitors on Employee Rights

No Musician Should Be Left Behind, A Lobbying Update

Arts Council England Opens £20M Fund for Individuals Working in the Cultural Sector

Limited Company Directors Can Furlough Themselves

Jumping into online teaching

Rockschool Ltd Moves Exams to Video Format