Members' Conference Preview: How Can the Music Industry Support Musicians’ Mental Health? Musician and MU Executive Committee Vice Chair Andi Hopgood explores common mental health challenges facing musicians ahead of a Members’ Conference panel on how the music industry is supporting musicians to stay mentally healthy. Published: 15 September 2022 Read more about Members' Conference Preview: How Can the Music Industry Support Musicians’ Mental Health?
New Video from TUC on Innovative Commonwealth Games MOU The video highlights the success of the landmark pledge which ensured diversity, fair pay and support for creative sector workers during the Birmingham Games. Published: 07 September 2022 Read more about New Video from TUC on Innovative Commonwealth Games MOU
We Are The Unheard Launch Funded Academy Programme for Gender Minorities The MU is one of many supporters of the new programme which offers an introduction to Ableton software. From beginner to career, it aims to help improve the percentages of female identifying producers and songwriters in the Music Industry. Published: 02 September 2022 Read more about We Are The Unheard Launch Funded Academy Programme for Gender Minorities
MU Launches Members’ Conference 2022: Registration Now Open What does it mean to be an inclusive trade union and music industry? Join the MU's General Secretary, the Union’s Executive Committee and other members in creative discussion at October’s two day event in Leeds. Published: 01 September 2022 Read more about MU Launches Members’ Conference 2022: Registration Now Open
New Resources Added to MU’s Online Bullying and Harassment Advice Page We have updated our advice page to include information on stalking, staying safe online and new resources provided by The Suzy Lamplugh Trust. Published: 31 August 2022 Read more about New Resources Added to MU’s Online Bullying and Harassment Advice Page
Participants Sought for Research into Lives and Careers of Mothers, Carers and Performers in Scotland A researcher at the University of West of Scotland is looking to connect with female performing artists (from across music genres and performing arts fields) who live in Scotland and have pre-school age children. Published: 24 August 2022 Read more about Participants Sought for Research into Lives and Careers of Mothers, Carers and Performers in Scotland
Gal-dem and Vice Join Forces to Publish ‘Open Secrets’ Series Open Secrets is a collaboration between Gal-dem and VICE that explores abusive behaviour in the music industry – and how it has been left unchecked for too long. Published: 28 July 2022 Read more about Gal-dem and Vice Join Forces to Publish ‘Open Secrets’ Series
Unleash The Fury: A Metal Five-Piece Smashing Genre Cliches With fourth album Born To Sin, West Midlands metallers Fury are back after the pandemic with a renewed love for making music. Here’s the story behind their rise. Published: 27 July 2022 Read more about Unleash The Fury: A Metal Five-Piece Smashing Genre Cliches
MU Signs Agreement with Commonwealth Games to Ensure Fair Pay For Artists The landmark agreement has been signed by Commonwealth Games organisers and cultural sector unions, including the MU, to ensure diversity, fair pay and support for creative sector workers during the Games. Published: 25 July 2022 Read more about MU Signs Agreement with Commonwealth Games to Ensure Fair Pay For Artists
Information for Members Wishing to Take Action Further to Roe V Wade Ruling Resources for members wishing to stand in solidary with the fight to defend abortion rights in the US. Published: 27 June 2022 Read more about Information for Members Wishing to Take Action Further to Roe V Wade Ruling
Universities Cut Arts Courses The MU is saddened to see large-scale cuts to arts courses at two universities following ongoing Government funding cuts and anti-arts rhetoric. Published: 14 June 2022 Read more about Universities Cut Arts Courses
Carol Jack Releases Tool-Kit For Female Singers Over 40 The online tool-kit features advice from over 16 expert speakers, including the MU’s General Secretary Naomi Pohl, giving female singers over 40 the tools and strategies needed to “take back the mic.” Published: 14 June 2022 Read more about Carol Jack Releases Tool-Kit For Female Singers Over 40
MU Disappointed in New Equality Stats Regarding Female Festival Headliners New BBC research has found that music festival lineups are still not balanced in terms of gender equality, with only 13% of UK headliners being female. Published: 08 June 2022 Read more about MU Disappointed in New Equality Stats Regarding Female Festival Headliners
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 Read more about Open Letter Questioning Funding Cut to PRS Foundation Published
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 Read more about Motion on Being Black in the UK Music Industry Passes at TUC Black Workers Conference
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 Read more about MU Member Nominated at National Diversity Awards
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 Read more about MU Member Success at STUC Congress in Aberdeen
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 Read more about 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 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 Read more about MU Reacts to Reports of Abuse of Black Women By a Prominent DJ
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 Read more about Voice From the Heartland
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 Read more about Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Backs Call for Shared Parental Leave Reform
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 Read more about Free Events for Mental Health Month With Young Classical Artists Trust
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 Member only Read more about 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 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 Read more about 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 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 Read more about 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 Brighter Sound calls for gender equality in music with ground-breaking manifesto All Things Equal. Published: 22 March 2022 Read more about MU Marks International Women's Month by Supporting the All Things Equal Manifesto
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 Read more about MU at Labour’s National Women’s Conference
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 Read more about MU Member Motions Passed at TUC Women’s Conference
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 Read more about Defending the BBC
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 Read more about 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 It has been confirmed today that Naomi Pohl has been elected as MU General Secretary. Published: 08 March 2022 Read more about 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 The Tackling Sexual Harassment in the Workplace toolkit is a free resource available to both employers and employees. Published: 04 March 2022 Read more about Free Sexual Harassment Toolkit From The Fawcett Society
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 Read more about Extension of Parental Grants for MU Members
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 Read more about General Secretary Election – Ballot and Candidate Statements
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 Read more about British Black Music to Hold Overview and Progress Forum One Year After UK Music Diversity Report Released
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 Read more about New Recruitment and Audition Advice for Orchestras
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 Read more about Working to Address Discrimination and Inequality in the Music Industry
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 Read more about Lady Nade and Her Songs From the Heart
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 Read more about Women in Scotland's Experiences of Sexual Harassment
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 Read more about TUC to Hold Event on Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workplace Reps