News & Stories for Musicians

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Open Letter Questioning Funding Cut to PRS Foundation Published

Following PRS for Music’s decision to cut funding for the PRS Foundation from 2024, a petition has been launched. Now an open letter from 50 grassroots music organisations has been published.

Published: 06 June 2022

A white microphone is in near focus, where in the background a woman is preparing to put earphones on, a notebook and laptop on her desk.

Motion on Being Black in the UK Music Industry Passes at TUC Black Workers Conference

A motion responding to the ‘Being Black in the UK Music Industry’ report has been raised and passed at the TUC Black Workers conference.

Published: 10 May 2022

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MU Member Nominated at National Diversity Awards

North of England member Claire Mooney has been nominated for a Lifetime Achiever Award at the National Diversity Awards.

Published: 04 May 2022

Rab Noakes, Caroline Sewell, Iona Fyfe and Neil Patterson at STUC Congress

MU Member Success at STUC Congress in Aberdeen

It was a successful week for MU members at the Scottish TUC Congress in Aberdeen.

Published: 29 April 2022

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Scots’ Folk Singer and MU Member Iona Fyfe Wins STUC Equality Award

Iona Fyfe, one of Scotland’s leading folk singers and MU member, received the Equality Award at the Scottish TUC’s annual congress in Aberdeen.

Published: 29 April 2022

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MU Reacts to Reports of Abuse of Black Women By a Prominent DJ

Recent reports of Tim Westwood’s decades of abuse of Black women are yet another example of the power imbalances in the music industry that allow men to use their positions of power to abuse women over lengthy periods of time without consequence.

Published: 29 April 2022

Voice From the Heartland

Scottish folk singer Iona Fyfe is a strong advocate for her native language and music, and for fighting injustices within the industry.

Published: 18 April 2022

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Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Backs Call for Shared Parental Leave Reform

Taiwo Owatemi MP responded positively to a question from MU delegate Sam Murray on shared parental leave at the 2022 TUC Young Workers Conference.

Published: 13 April 2022

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Free Events for Mental Health Month With Young Classical Artists Trust

The Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) are offering individual coaching, meditation classes and a workshop on managing your mind. This comes alongside a selection of events being produced over April by YCAT in partnership between the MU, Help Musicians, and BAPAM.

Published: 12 April 2022

Rewatch The MU and Women in CTRL's Impostor Syndrome and Confidence Workshop

On March 30 the MU hosted an Impostor Syndrome and Confidence Workshop delivered by Women in CTRL’s founder, Nadia Khan.

Published: 07 April 2022

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MU Supports Maternity Action’s call for Rise in State Maternity Pay

Maternity Action are renewing their call for the basic rate to rise, at the very least, to parity with a 35-hour week on the National Living Wage, following the release of Sunak’s Spring Budget.

Published: 07 April 2022

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Take Part in the Consultation on Government’s Plans for Higher Education Music and Arts in England

New Government plans to limit access to higher education music and the arts in England. We've put together a guide to the consultation's questions and key points to raise.

Published: 22 March 2022

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MU Marks International Women's Month by Supporting the All Things Equal Manifesto

Brighter Sound calls for gender equality in music with ground-breaking manifesto All Things Equal.

Published: 22 March 2022

MU at Labour’s National Women’s Conference

MU General Secretary Elect Naomi Pohl gave a historic video address at the conference, whilst MU Executive Committee member Sarah Williams gave a moving speech on supporting women through early pregnancy loss.

Published: 21 March 2022

Great Russell Street in West London near the TUC Congress house, in the bright sunshine.

MU Member Motions Passed at TUC Women’s Conference

Two motions were raised and passed by MU members at the TUC Women’s Conference – about Black women in music, mothers and parents in the music industry, and online attacks on women journalists.

Published: 17 March 2022

Three young musicians performing on a stage at BBC Introducing, synth, keyboard and microphones are present.

Defending the BBC

Musicians’ Union General Secretary Elect Naomi Pohl looks at the challenges facing the BBC, and why union members must come together to fight for our public broadcaster’s future once again.

Published: 14 March 2022

Rebecca Garton Shares Her Experiences as a Woman of Colour in the Music Industry

This International Women's Day R&B singer-songwriter Rebecca talks about her experiences as a woman in the industry, and shares her advice on what to hold on to, to continue to thrive.

Published: 08 March 2022

Naomi Pohl Elected as First Female General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union on International Women’s Day

It has been confirmed today that Naomi Pohl has been elected as MU General Secretary.

Published: 08 March 2022

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Free Sexual Harassment Toolkit From The Fawcett Society

The Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace toolkit is a free resource available to both employers and employees.

Published: 04 March 2022

Two same-sex parents embracing a new born baby. Both woman have red/pink in their hair and are looking down and smiling at the baby in the middle of them.

Extension of Parental Grants for MU Members

Following a decision at the last MU delegate conference, parental grants for members are now offered per-child in the case of multiple births or adoptions.

Published: 24 February 2022

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General Secretary Election – Ballot and Candidate Statements

The final stage of the process to elect the next MU General Secretary, the postal ballot, opens on Monday 14 February. Further information about the ballot and the process so far are provided below.

Published: 10 February 2022

British Black Music to Hold Overview and Progress Forum One Year After UK Music Diversity Report Released

Members are encouraged to attend the online forum on 16 February, to hear and interrogate the progress of the UK Music 10-Point Plan presented by the UK Music Diversity Taskforce leads.

Published: 09 February 2022

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New Recruitment and Audition Advice for Orchestras

The MU has updated its pages regarding best practice for an inclusive recruitment process for orchestras.

Published: 08 February 2022

Working to Address Discrimination and Inequality in the Music Industry

Equality is a trade union issue, and the collective weight of the MU is the key to successfully creating safer and fairer workplaces and communities for musicians.

Published: 30 December 2021

Lady Nade and Her Songs From the Heart

Singer-songwriter Lady Nade, a rising star on the UK Americana scene, talks about creating songs inspired by love, family and friendships.

Published: 27 December 2021

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Women in Scotland's Experiences of Sexual Harassment

Take part in the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Women’s Committee’s anonymous survey, and help them build a safer and more equal world of work for all.

Published: 15 December 2021

TUC to Hold Event on Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workplace Reps

The TUC will be launching a new resource toolkit for reps around preventing sexual harassment in the workplace, on Monday 13 December at 2:00 pm.

Published: 07 December 2021

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Court of Appeal Rule that the Calculation of the Government’s SEISS Scheme Discriminated Against New Mothers

Campaign organisation Pregnant Then Screwed submitted an appeal about the disproportionate impact SEISS calculations have on new mothers, which has now been accepted with the caveat that the urgency of the situation justified the discrimination.

Published: 29 November 2021

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Arts Council England Highlights Need To Improve Access To Classical Music For All

The recently published report, Creating a More Inclusive Classical Music, reveals the barriers to access that exist in the classical music industry, and sets out a three-year plan of action.

Published: 16 November 2021

Silhouette of a person standing against a stage light, the light is shining through their shoulder length hair.

MU Deputy General Secretary Talks to M Magazine on Ending Sexual Harassment at Work

MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl spoke to M Magazine about Safe Space and changing the culture of the music industry to end sexual harassment at work.

Published: 12 November 2021

An electronic music instrument, the Theremin, is on a stand on a stage with a performer stood with their hands ready to play it.

Delia Derbyshire Day to Run on Theme of Imagination 23 November

Supported by Arts Council England and The Granada Foundation, Delia Derbyshire Day will be providing electronic music education and inspiration. The theme of this year’s events, workshops and commissioned new art is imagination.

Published: 12 November 2021

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MU Member Gives Speech at STUC Women’s Conference

MU Member Katherine Liley gave a speech at this year’s Scottish Trades Union Congress Women’s Conference, citing her own personal experiences and those of women around her, calling for a motion on creating safe workplaces for women to be moved.

Published: 27 October 2021

The MU Supports "Being Black in The UK Music Industry" Report Recommendations

The MU fully supports the recommendations made in Black Lives in Music’s survey report highlighting the systemic racism that Black musicians experience across the music industry. The MU’s John Shortell explains why.

Published: 13 October 2021

Trades Union Congress House in black and white

MU Motions on Fixing Streaming, Brexit Touring Issues, and Equalities Passed at TUC Conference 2021

Delegates from across the trade union movement support the MU’s calls for fairer streaming, easier EU touring, and women’s rights at TUC’s 2021 Conference.

Published: 14 September 2021

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Women and Equalities Select Committee Menopause Inquiry

The Women and Equalities Select Committee have launched an inquiry into the extent and impact of menopause discrimination in the workplace.

Published: 07 September 2021

Photograph of a woman backstage, she has a concerned expression and is looking into her mob

#ThisIsNotWorking: Call From Musicians and Music Industry Workforce For Abuse to End

New reports reveal sexual harassment and abuse remain rife in the music industry despite the #MeToo movement. We’re calling on the Government and music industry organisations to protect musicians and other workers from victimisation and harassment.

Published: 03 September 2021

Pregnant Jocelyin Freeman sitting, one hand on the piano, one on her baby bump..

How Mothers are Fighting Workplace Discrimination in Music

Female musicians face discrimination in the workplace – and it only increases if they get pregnant. Here, we focus on some of the inspiring musicians lobbying for change.

Published: 26 August 2021

A woman holding earphones who appears to be recording, there is a microphone, and open laptop and a notebook on the table.

MU Signs Open Letter Demanding Return to Live Music Post-Pandemic is Safe and Inclusive For Everyone

The MU has signed UN Women UK’s open letter, calling for 2021 to be the year the music and events industries rise up to the call of the #MeToo movement – and commits to change.

Published: 24 August 2021

The Importance of the MU Political Fund

Assistant General Secretary, Phil Kear, explains how the MU political fund provides invaluable help for members.

Published: 24 August 2021

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Musician Speaks Out on Discrimination Faced During Pregnancy

MU member and harpist Cecilia De Maria took to Facebook and Instagram, to spread an important message about why so many women in the music industry are scared of their work being affected by people finding out that they are pregnant.

Published: 24 August 2021

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Open Letter Questioning Funding Cut to PRS Foundation Published

Motion on Being Black in the UK Music Industry Passes at TUC Black Workers Conference

MU Member Nominated at National Diversity Awards

MU Member Success at STUC Congress in Aberdeen

Scots’ Folk Singer and MU Member Iona Fyfe Wins STUC Equality Award

MU Reacts to Reports of Abuse of Black Women By a Prominent DJ

Voice From the Heartland

Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Backs Call for Shared Parental Leave Reform

Free Events for Mental Health Month With Young Classical Artists Trust

Rewatch The MU and Women in CTRL's Impostor Syndrome and Confidence Workshop

MU Supports Maternity Action’s call for Rise in State Maternity Pay

Take Part in the Consultation on Government’s Plans for Higher Education Music and Arts in England

MU Marks International Women's Month by Supporting the All Things Equal Manifesto

MU at Labour’s National Women’s Conference

MU Member Motions Passed at TUC Women’s Conference

Defending the BBC

Rebecca Garton Shares Her Experiences as a Woman of Colour in the Music Industry

Naomi Pohl Elected as First Female General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union on International Women’s Day

Free Sexual Harassment Toolkit From The Fawcett Society

Extension of Parental Grants for MU Members

General Secretary Election – Ballot and Candidate Statements

British Black Music to Hold Overview and Progress Forum One Year After UK Music Diversity Report Released

New Recruitment and Audition Advice for Orchestras

Working to Address Discrimination and Inequality in the Music Industry

Lady Nade and Her Songs From the Heart

Women in Scotland's Experiences of Sexual Harassment

TUC to Hold Event on Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workplace Reps

Court of Appeal Rule that the Calculation of the Government’s SEISS Scheme Discriminated Against New Mothers

Arts Council England Highlights Need To Improve Access To Classical Music For All

MU Deputy General Secretary Talks to M Magazine on Ending Sexual Harassment at Work

Delia Derbyshire Day to Run on Theme of Imagination 23 November

MU Member Gives Speech at STUC Women’s Conference

The MU Supports "Being Black in The UK Music Industry" Report Recommendations

MU Motions on Fixing Streaming, Brexit Touring Issues, and Equalities Passed at TUC Conference 2021

Women and Equalities Select Committee Menopause Inquiry

#ThisIsNotWorking: Call From Musicians and Music Industry Workforce For Abuse to End

How Mothers are Fighting Workplace Discrimination in Music

MU Signs Open Letter Demanding Return to Live Music Post-Pandemic is Safe and Inclusive For Everyone

The Importance of the MU Political Fund

Musician Speaks Out on Discrimination Faced During Pregnancy