News & Stories for Musicians

MU Committee Nominations: Make the MU - your MU

Executive and Regional Committee Nominations are Open

Here’s everything you need to know – from how to seek nomination to either or both elections, to when the next Regional AGMs will be held.

Published: 17 August 2020

A woman in a sunny field full of flowers raises her clarinet above her head, arm outstretched in a celebratory posture. She's wearing a red dress and has long curly hair.

Restrictions Around Singing, Wind and Brass Instruments Relaxed in England

We welcome the news that restrictions around Singing, Wind and Brass Instruments in England will be relaxed.

Published: 14 August 2020

A Great Day in London: The 1962 Terence Donovan Jazz Musicians Photograph

Journalist Peter Vacher discusses the history and context of Terence Donovan’s famous 1962 photograph of London’s jazz scene.

Published: 13 August 2020

Graphic image with a black and white photograph of a woman singing into a microphone, bisected by two coloured squares and the text

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

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Online Festival to Raise Money for our Coronavirus Hardship Fund

In a bid to support venues and performing artists, a group of musicians, dancers and entertainers have created The Fantastical Festival of Furlough to bring you live streamed entertainment in a spectacular fashion.

Published: 11 August 2020

Photograph of a number of instruments, including an acoustic guitar and percussion, propped around a recording studio with various microphones.

Petition to Fix Streaming Receives Over 15,000 Signatures

Over 15,000 people have signed the petition to fix streaming and keep music alive. Your support for the campaign, calling on Government to urgently undertake a review of streaming, is already having an impact.

Published: 11 August 2020

Cara Dillon looks out of a window sideways with a contemplative expression, in dim lighting. The walls behind and around her are aged and faded, suggesting that she's standing in an old cottage.

Cara Dillon: How the Folk Singer and Musician has Emerged With a Concert Film of Real Emotional Power

For Irish folk singer and musician Cara Dillon, the Covid-19 crisis has been a particularly worrying time. But the urge to create and perform has culminated in an online concert with real emotional resonance. Read her profile as written by Andy Fyfe.

Published: 10 August 2020

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Discount on Coaching and Mentoring Training Sessions

MU members can claim a 10% discount on Guildhall School's Coaching and Mentoring training sessions, helping musicians develop their skills as coaches and mentors.

Published: 10 August 2020

Small wooden blocks stacked in a tower, each one with a symbol representing different aspects of healthcare.

Visa Holders in the US at Risk as Public Charge Rules in Limbo (Updated)

What artists need to know about the suspension of the new public charge rules and maintenance of visa status.

Published: 07 August 2020

Photograph of a man singing passionately into a microphone set up

PRS for Music AGM Announced

PRS for Music has shared information on its 2020 PRS Annual General Meeting (AGM), set to take place at 12:00 pm on Tuesday 18 August, and is encouraging eligible members to participate and have their say.

Published: 07 August 2020

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Digital Skills for Musicians Through Training and Mentoring

Dr Jonathan Savage, Managing Director of UCan Play, talks us through how the organisation plans to help musicians deal with the global pandemic by developing their digital skills through the new training and mentoring programme INTERFACE:RESPONSE.

Published: 06 August 2020

£6M Monthly Losses Leaving British Orchestras Struggling to Survive

We’ve joined forces with the Association of British Orchestras (ABO) to highlight the urgent need for extra funding for freelance musicians.

Published: 06 August 2020

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Calling the Government Out on Its Failure to Help Musicians

Our Head of Communications & Government Relations, Isabelle Gutierrez describes the “woefully inadequate,” response from the Government to protect musicians – and how we are lobbying against it.

Published: 06 August 2020

Free Body Percussion Education Resource Released by Inspire Works

Inspire-works has released a new, Arts Council England funded, educational resource on using body percussion as part of the recovery curriculum before and during Covid-19.

Published: 06 August 2020

Summer Of Live: MU Online Fundraiser #2 Showcases Best of British Folk

Journalist Henry Yates describes how the “second charity livestream for the MU’s Coronavirus Hardship Fund featured homegrown talent performing in Sheffield, Devon, New Orleans and Montreal.”

Published: 04 August 2020

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Let The Music Play Campaign Launches Second Phase

UK Music’s Let The Music Play campaign has launched its second phase, calling for further support for the live sector during these difficult times.

Published: 04 August 2020

Changes to The Government’s Furlough Scheme From 1 August

Since 1 August, employers have been required to pay National Insurance and pension contributions to staff on furlough.

Published: 04 August 2020

A Reflection on Make Music Day 2020

Looking back on this year's Make Music Day – a global celebration of music which took place last month – we examine how it still succeeded during a global pandemic, and where you can go to catch the highlights you may have missed.

Published: 04 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

Photograph of a young child standing in front of a chalk board, learning the violin.

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

Prime Minister Announces Delay to Return of Indoor Live Music

The Prime Minister has announced that the easing of coronavirus restrictions in England will be delayed due to a rise in Covid-19 cases.

Published: 31 July 2020

Photograph of Tom Watson, chair of UK Music and former deputy Labour leader. Tom is wearing a white shirt and glasses, sitting against a bright background.

Tom Watson on the Industry’s Darkest Hour and His Hopes for the Future

Neil Churchman interviews the new Chair of UK Music, and former deputy Labour leader, Tom Watson – discussing his experience of taking the helm at a moment of existential threat for the music industry.

Published: 30 July 2020

Photograph of a line up of different saxophone players in a jazz club background.

Council of Music Makers Urges Support for ‘Broadest Cross-Section of Our Industry’

The UK Council of Music Makers, of which the MU is a part, has released a statement welcoming the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund, and expressing its hopes for the future.

Published: 30 July 2020

Photograph of a jazz band performing outdoors.

£53M of New Funding Announced for Arts and Culture in Wales

The Welsh Government announced today that it will be investing £53 million to help Wales’ diverse culture sector deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Published: 30 July 2020

Photo of musician singing into a microphone on the stage with bright white lights behind.

Provisional Timetable for Easing Lockdown in Scotland Announced

The announcement includes hopes for outdoor events and concerts from 24 August, and live music venues and theatres from 14 September.

Published: 30 July 2020

Photograph of the Liver building in Liverpool

Musicians in Liverpool Encouraged to Take Survey Into City’s Music Sector

Musicians based in Liverpool are being asked to contribute to essential research into the effects of Covid-19 on the region’s musicians and music makers.

Published: 29 July 2020

Photograph of the houses of parliament, viewed from across Westminister bridge and the Thames on a bright, blue day.

Further Details on the Cultural Recovery Fund Announced

Key highlights from the Government’s most recent announcement on how organisations can apply for the £880m being made to organisations in the arts sector in England.

Published: 29 July 2020

Photograph of a young group of musicians hanging out and rehearsing.

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

Photograph of Scottish-Sudanese singer/songwriter Eliza Shadad wearing a red jacket and standing in front of a red background.

The MU Summer Of Live: Our Livestream Festival For Musicians in Need

How we hosted the first in a series of live online music events to raise money for musicians hit by the Covid-19 crisis, by Neil Crossley.

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

Photo of a concert happening indoors at a grassroots music venue, with the band silhouetted against yellow stage lights.

£2.25M to be Distributed to Grassroots Venues in England

The Government have announced that £2.25M of the £1.57BN emergency arts fund will be made available to grassroots music venues in England.

Published: 27 July 2020

Photograph of a person holding a guitar and writing in a notebook

Proposed Changes to PRS for Music’s Governance

PRS for Music is proposing some significant governance changes which, in the opinion of the MU, could be beneficial to songwriters and composers.

Published: 24 July 2020

Photograph of a woman playing piano, concentrating hard on the work.

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

Photo of a big concert celebration with bright lights and cheering crowds

Further Financial Support for Culture Sector in Northern Ireland Announced

In welcome news, the Department for Communities has announced a £4m support package for the arts, creative industries and cultural sector in Northern Ireland.

Published: 24 July 2020

Photograph of a woman sat looking intently at a laptop, golden light on a home office setting in the background

New Series of BBC Lockdown Learning Sessions Opened to FEU Members

The FEU is offering places to members on a series of twice-weekly Lockdown Learning development webinars led by the BBC.

Published: 23 July 2020

Scotland and Northern Ireland Lobbying Update

Scotland & Northern Ireland Regional Organiser, Caroline Sewell, reports on how the region has been, "lobbying hard at local and national level to ensure that the interests of our members remain firmly on the political agenda.”

Published: 23 July 2020

A Lobbying Update for Wales: Highlighting The Need for More Support

Wales and South-West England Regional Organiser, Andy Warnock, reports on how the region has been, engaging and meeting with Welsh Government ministers and officials on a regular basis for several months, and what they hope to achieve.

Published: 23 July 2020

female singer with Acoustic Guitar playing in the Street

Select Committee Report Argues for Fairer Rewards for Musicians

A report released today by the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has picked up on many of the key issues for musicians that we raised in June, calling on the Government to act now.

Published: 23 July 2020

Photograph of three different musicians, with the text

Join for £1 Scheme Extended to Former MU Members

Former members who left the MU five or more years ago can now join again and pay just £1 for their first six months of MU membership.

Published: 22 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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Executive and Regional Committee Nominations are Open

Restrictions Around Singing, Wind and Brass Instruments Relaxed in England

A Great Day in London: The 1962 Terence Donovan Jazz Musicians Photograph

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

Online Festival to Raise Money for our Coronavirus Hardship Fund

Petition to Fix Streaming Receives Over 15,000 Signatures

Cara Dillon: How the Folk Singer and Musician has Emerged With a Concert Film of Real Emotional Power

Discount on Coaching and Mentoring Training Sessions

Visa Holders in the US at Risk as Public Charge Rules in Limbo (Updated)

PRS for Music AGM Announced

Digital Skills for Musicians Through Training and Mentoring

£6M Monthly Losses Leaving British Orchestras Struggling to Survive

Calling the Government Out on Its Failure to Help Musicians

Free Body Percussion Education Resource Released by Inspire Works

Summer Of Live: MU Online Fundraiser #2 Showcases Best of British Folk

Let The Music Play Campaign Launches Second Phase

Changes to The Government’s Furlough Scheme From 1 August

A Reflection on Make Music Day 2020

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

We’re Calling on the ABRSM to Diversify Their Syllabi

Prime Minister Announces Delay to Return of Indoor Live Music

Tom Watson on the Industry’s Darkest Hour and His Hopes for the Future

Council of Music Makers Urges Support for ‘Broadest Cross-Section of Our Industry’

£53M of New Funding Announced for Arts and Culture in Wales

Provisional Timetable for Easing Lockdown in Scotland Announced

Musicians in Liverpool Encouraged to Take Survey Into City’s Music Sector

Further Details on the Cultural Recovery Fund Announced

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

The MU Summer Of Live: Our Livestream Festival For Musicians in Need

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

£2.25M to be Distributed to Grassroots Venues in England

Proposed Changes to PRS for Music’s Governance

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

Further Financial Support for Culture Sector in Northern Ireland Announced

New Series of BBC Lockdown Learning Sessions Opened to FEU Members

Scotland and Northern Ireland Lobbying Update

A Lobbying Update for Wales: Highlighting The Need for More Support

Select Committee Report Argues for Fairer Rewards for Musicians

Join for £1 Scheme Extended to Former MU Members

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