News & Stories for Musicians

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Online Event Examining the History of Racism in British Music Open to All

The event, which will involve a screening of 'The RE:IMI UK Music Industry And Racism' video and presentations by music industry organisation representatives, will run online on Monday 28 September.

Published: 25 September 2020

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Brexit – where are we now?

Brexit is back on the agenda in Parliament this week as the Government brought in new legislation, in the form of the Internal Market Bill. What does this mean for you? MU Head of Communications and Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez takes a look.

Published: 18 September 2020

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Parents and Carers Encouraged to Take Survey on Family Life During Covid-19

Campaigning organisation Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA) are investigating the impact of Covid-19 on people with parenting and caring responsibilities – help them gather more information by completing this brief survey.

Published: 18 September 2020

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Looking to Reopen on a Larger Scale, a Lobbying Update

Our Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez discusses how the MU is backing Government explorations into lessening social distancing for the live sector, and a moonshot audience-testing plan.

Published: 17 September 2020

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Resources for World Suicide Prevention Day

Thursday 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. Many useful resources have been shared on twitter, and below is a round-up that some members may find useful.

Published: 10 September 2020

Examining the Values We Perform: Rule, Britannia!

Linton Stephens, Chair of the MU Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee, discusses “Rule, Britannia”, how traditions must be examined, and what it means to align with British values.

Published: 01 September 2020

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SEISS and Me: One Members Experience of Covid-19 Scheme Inequality

Member and orchestral, theatre and chamber musician Louise Braithwaite discusses her experience of claiming the SEISS grant and the inequalities contained by the Government’s Covid schemes.

Published: 28 August 2020

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Growing Pressure on the Government, Platforms and Major Labels to Fix Streaming Now

There have now been over 15,000 signatures on our petition – which we’re running with the Ivors Academy – calling on the Government to help us #FixStreaming and keep music alive.

Published: 13 August 2020

Silence is Not an Option: UK Music Industry Unites Against Racism and Intolerance

We’ve signed an open letter urging the music industry to speak out and eradicate racism, along with over 700 artists, managers, producers and companies.

Published: 03 August 2020

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We’re Calling on the ABRSM to Diversify Their Syllabi

We've sent a letter on behalf of over 70 organisations, musicians, music teachers and academics to ABRSM, demanding they take meaningful and measurable action to diversify their syllabi.

Published: 03 August 2020

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Final Set of Inspirational Articles for Young People in the Music Industry Released

Young Guns Network (YGN), have added five more articles to their commission mission series – aiming to inspire, educate and interest young people aged 18-30 in music.

Published: 28 July 2020

We’ve Joined the 48-Hour Boycott Against Twitter’s Inaction

We’ve joined the 48-hour Twitter “walkout,” against Twitter’s inaction this weekend, following a series of tweets inciting violence against Jewish people, posted by grime artist Wiley.

Published: 27 July 2020

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List of Black Owned and Black Led Ventures in the Music Industry

The shesaid.so community have shared their recommendations for Black-owned businesses, Black leaders, thinkers and activists to support.

Published: 24 July 2020

Our Letter to the Prime Minister in Support of NEU’s Anti-Racism Recommendations

We’ve sent a letter to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in support of the National Education Union’s (NEU) five recommendations for urgent action to tackle racism.

Published: 22 July 2020

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Drake Music Hosts Conversation on Making Online Music Education Accessible

Drake Music is a national arts charity working in music, disability and technology – they’ve publishing findings from their most recent working group meeting on online accessibility.

Published: 16 July 2020

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Songs for Refugee Week

For Refugee Week, we asked you to share songs you love in another language, about home, about displacement or imagining a different future.

Published: 23 June 2020

Black Workers’ Experience Surveyed by TUC Wales

Wales TUC have received numerous worrying reports of BME workers facing discrimination in Welsh workplaces during the coronavirus crisis, and are working to identify the scale and complexity of the problem.

Published: 19 June 2020

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Access Online Healthy Performance Courses on BAPAM’s New Website

Browse BAPAM’s series of events designed to improve health in the performing arts and support enhanced performance excellence through wellbeing and good practice.

Published: 19 June 2020

Photograph of a small child sat learning the Ukulele

Boost Diversity in the Music Industry with UK Music’s Survey

UK Music, the voice of the UK’s commercial music industry, has launched a Music Industry Workforce Diversity Survey to help bring about “major change at pace”.

Published: 17 June 2020

Photograph of a statue of Slave Trader Edward Colston removed from its plinth by protestors in Bristol. Photo credit: Olumedia.co.uk

Decolonialising the Music Curriculum: Sign the Petition

Music exam boards can play a role in shaping a more positive future by ensuring greater diversity in their syllabuses, as can making a change to the broader curriculum.

Published: 09 June 2020

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Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Black Lives Matter UK are calling on the on the public to show support for Black members of the community who are being disproportionately affected by Covid-19 with a musical response on Thursday 4 June.

Published: 03 June 2020

Protesters at a Black Lives Matter march in London.

Reflecting on #TheShowMustBePaused

Following #TheShowMustBePaused, we must now turn awareness into action in order to create meaningful, long-term impact.

Published: 03 June 2020

We Will be Participating in #TheShowMustBePaused in Solidarity With our Black Members

The MU stands with our Black members and all Black communities against all forms of racism, violence and discrimination. When we say “behind every musician”, we mean it.

Published: 01 June 2020

A female musician holding a guitar and a baby next to her

Call for Evidence From Those Missing out on SEISS Due to Maternity Leave

Campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed are calling on those whose Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) claim has been affected by maternity leave. Due to the massive response to their campaign so far, the Government’s deadline for evidence has been extended.

Published: 04 May 2020

Musicians playing in a home studio setting. Photo credit: Shutterstock

MU Signs Up to Keychange Initiative and Pledges to Work Towards Fifty-fifty Gender Representation

PRS Foundation’s Keychange initiative has now opened up to organisations within the music industry, having previously focused on music festivals and major events.

Published: 05 February 2020

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ENO Opens Applications for BAME Orchestra Fellowship to Better Reflect Under Represented Musicians

English National Opera (ENO) are recruiting five new string players from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background in a positive effort to ensure their Orchestra more fairly reflects our society.

Published: 20 January 2020

Poster with illustration of two women dancing happily reading #ForTheLoveOfMusic, find out more at theMU.org/safespace

16 Days of Activism with UN Women: a Safe Space for Reporting

A recent MU survey revealed 48% of musicians have experienced sexual harassment at work. Over 85% did not report it.

Published: 06 December 2019

16 Days of Activism with UN Women: Protected Characteristics

Over 48% of Musicians’ Union members surveyed have experienced sexual harassment at work. Shockingly, a third of those people say their harassment was related to a protected characteristic, and another 21% said they were not sure.

Published: 03 December 2019

Why the Musicians' Union is Supporting #16Days and UN Women's Stand Against Rape Culture

Musicians’ Union Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl looks at how the MU is tackling sexual harassment in musicians’ workplaces, creating Safe Space for musicians to be heard and campaigning to ensure that everyone has an equal level of protection from sexual harassment.

Published: 25 November 2019

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Music Education Hubs to Receive Another Year’s Funding

The MU welcomes the government’s announcement of another year’s funding for music education hubs.

Published: 06 November 2019

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Show Your Support for Stronger Laws Against Sexual Harassment that Protect Freelancers Too

A recent MU survey revealed that 48% of musicians have been sexually harassed at work. Take action now for stronger laws to prevent sexual harassment at work that protect freelancers too.

Published: 25 October 2019

Research Reveals Huge Gender Gap in Composers and Signed Recording Artists in the UK

Research from Counting the Music Industry reveals that just 14% of composers and 20% of signed recording artists in the UK are women.

Published: 21 October 2019

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10 Tracks to Listen to This Black History Month

This guest post from musician, author and international speaker Nate Holder sets out ten tracks that show the diversity of black British music – an essential playlist for this year’s Black History month and beyond.

Published: 18 October 2019

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Delia Derbyshire Day 2019 to Celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of ‘An Electric Storm’

An electronic music heritage event in Manchester on 23 November 2019 – with expert talks and live performances celebrating the life of Delia Derbyshire, a pioneering musician and composer of electronic music.

Published: 02 October 2019

Blurred photograph of sheet music on music stands.

Decolonising the Music Curriculum

David Duncan, Publications Officer at London College of Music Examinations (LCM), explores how exam boards can play a role in shaping a more positive future by ensuring greater diversity in their syllabuses.

Published: 01 October 2019

A photograph of the Eiffel Tower, Paris.

International Momentum for Meaningful Change at the World Forum on Music

In this blog post, MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl reports back from the International Music Council’s World Forum on Music. She explains the five rights for children, adults and musical artists, and how international momentum can help achieve meaningful change.

Published: 01 October 2019

Close up photograph of hands on a keyboard.

Opera North Seeks BAME Artists for Resonance Residencies

Opera North are seeking applications from music-makers and composers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds living in the north of England for their third programme of Resonance residencies, supported by PRS Foundation.

Published: 01 October 2019

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Standing Up for Diversity in Music Industry

MU members have raised concerns regarding a promoter's view that bands should not highlight their diverse make up, and that doing so is a form of tokenism that will prevent them from being booked.

Published: 30 July 2019

Government Announces Consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

The Government is gathering evidence on whether current laws on protecting people from sexual harassment in the workplace are effective.

Published: 19 July 2019

Speaker stands at the front of a room, with a screen behind reading

LGBTQ+ in Music: Where is the Representation?

This blog is created from the speech that MU member Olive gave at the TUC LGBT+ conference last week – moving a motion on the need for a broad and balanced LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum to ensure LGBTQ+ representation in music.

Published: 11 July 2019

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Online Event Examining the History of Racism in British Music Open to All

Brexit – where are we now?

Parents and Carers Encouraged to Take Survey on Family Life During Covid-19

Looking to Reopen on a Larger Scale, a Lobbying Update

Resources for World Suicide Prevention Day

Examining the Values We Perform: Rule, Britannia!

SEISS and Me: One Members Experience of Covid-19 Scheme Inequality

Growing Pressure on the Government, Platforms and Major Labels to Fix Streaming Now

Silence is Not an Option: UK Music Industry Unites Against Racism and Intolerance

We’re Calling on the ABRSM to Diversify Their Syllabi

Final Set of Inspirational Articles for Young People in the Music Industry Released

We’ve Joined the 48-Hour Boycott Against Twitter’s Inaction

List of Black Owned and Black Led Ventures in the Music Industry

Our Letter to the Prime Minister in Support of NEU’s Anti-Racism Recommendations

Drake Music Hosts Conversation on Making Online Music Education Accessible

Songs for Refugee Week

Black Workers’ Experience Surveyed by TUC Wales

Access Online Healthy Performance Courses on BAPAM’s New Website

Boost Diversity in the Music Industry with UK Music’s Survey

Decolonialising the Music Curriculum: Sign the Petition

Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Reflecting on #TheShowMustBePaused

We Will be Participating in #TheShowMustBePaused in Solidarity With our Black Members

Call for Evidence From Those Missing out on SEISS Due to Maternity Leave

MU Signs Up to Keychange Initiative and Pledges to Work Towards Fifty-fifty Gender Representation

ENO Opens Applications for BAME Orchestra Fellowship to Better Reflect Under Represented Musicians

16 Days of Activism with UN Women: a Safe Space for Reporting

16 Days of Activism with UN Women: Protected Characteristics

Why the Musicians' Union is Supporting #16Days and UN Women's Stand Against Rape Culture

Music Education Hubs to Receive Another Year’s Funding

Show Your Support for Stronger Laws Against Sexual Harassment that Protect Freelancers Too

Research Reveals Huge Gender Gap in Composers and Signed Recording Artists in the UK

10 Tracks to Listen to This Black History Month

Delia Derbyshire Day 2019 to Celebrate the Fiftieth Anniversary of ‘An Electric Storm’

Decolonising the Music Curriculum

International Momentum for Meaningful Change at the World Forum on Music

Opera North Seeks BAME Artists for Resonance Residencies

Standing Up for Diversity in Music Industry

Government Announces Consultation on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

LGBTQ+ in Music: Where is the Representation?