News & Stories for Musicians

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Remembering #TheShowMustBePaused: Two Years on in the Music Industry

The MU’s Education and Equalities Officer Rose Delcour-Min reflects on the changes at the MU and in the music industry since #TheShowMustBePaused and Blackout Tuesday in 2020.

Published: 02 June 2022

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Accessibility Information for the 18 June ‘Demand Better’ March and Rally

Join trade union members from across the UK in London on 18 June to demand better. There is information available about public toilets, wheelchair accessible stations, shortened march routes and more.

Published: 30 May 2022

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MU Legal Team Helps Several Members Achieve Substantial Settlement

The MU has recently assisted several members in achieving a substantial settlement in a long running dispute.

Published: 26 May 2022

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Hundreds of Festivals Sign Up to AIF Safer Spaces Campaign

The UK's Association Of Independent Festivals has relaunched its Safer Spaces campaign today, with more than a hundred festivals on board. The aim is to tackle and combat sexual violence at festivals and large-scale music events.

Published: 17 May 2022

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Acas Updates its Disability Guidance

Public body Acas has updated its disability guidance to provide clear advice on how to support disabled people at work.

Published: 16 May 2022

Becoming a More Accessible Studio: How One Business Owner Is Igniting Change Within the Industry

Hear the five tips for making your recording studio more accessible, and what we can all learn from helping to remove barriers for musicians. This is a repost from the Crown Lane Studio manager John Merriman's blog.

Published: 11 May 2022

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A Basic Income for Everybody: Why the Musicians' Union Backs UBI

The MU’s motion backing universal basic income was presented at TUC Young Workers Conference in April. We assess the concept, the history, and the feasibility of UBI.

Published: 10 May 2022

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MU Welcomes Proposal For Independent Standards Authority

Creative UK and UK Time’s Up proposal for a formal Independent Standards Authority will seek to strengthen efforts to tackle bullying and harassment, and drive greater accountability across the UK’s creative industries.

Published: 05 May 2022

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Outrage Over Cinderella Closure Announcement on Social Media

The MU has expressed its outrage, along with fellow unions, after musicians, cast and crew engaged on West End’s Cinderella only learnt of its planned closure through social media.

Published: 03 May 2022

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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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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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Beware the Buyout

Companies commissioning media composers are now more likely to ask for a buyout – but is that always the best option for music writers or musicians?

Published: 11 April 2022

MU Motion on Universal Basic Income Backed at Young Workers Conference

Young workers from across the trade union movement backed the MU’s motion on universal basic income at TUC Young Workers’ Conference 2022.

Published: 08 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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MU Launches New Guidance on Copyright in Music Education

The copyright guidance, which is likely to be useful to both employed and self-employed musicians who teach, includes advice on making arrangements and protecting your own copyright.

Published: 07 April 2022

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Attitude is Everything Launch Just Ask Campaign to Support Promoters to Welcome Disabled Artists

The MU welcomes the Just Ask campaign, and encourages conversations between promoters and disabled musicians to talk about their access needs and normalise the use of access riders.

Published: 07 April 2022

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BAPAM, Help Musicians, MU and YCAT Launch Mental Health Month for Early Career Musicians

The Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) are partnering with the MU, Help Musicians and British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) to raise awareness of mental health resources available to early career musicians.

Published: 04 April 2022

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Guidance for Clinically Vulnerable Musicians Who Teach

As Covid-19 restrictions and free mass testing end, many CEV musicians who teach are understandably concerned about the safety of the school environment.

Published: 01 April 2022

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One Year On: The Composers Against Buyouts Campaign

On the anniversary of the MU and Ivors Academy campaign launch #ComposersAgainstBuyouts, we celebrate its successes and what more still needs to be done to ensure a fair deal for composers.

Published: 31 March 2022

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National Open Youth Orchestra Virtually Premiere ‘What Fear We Then?’

On 28 January National Open Youth Orchestra virtually premiered a film of ‘What Fear We Then?’ by Alexander Campkin, co-commissioned with Bournemouth Symphony.

Published: 31 March 2022

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Trans Day of Visibility: The Joy of Learning to Love Ourselves

Thursday 31 March is Trans Day of Visibility. We commissioned trans, masc, non-binary DJ artist has S/HE to write this blog celebrating the resilience and inner strength of the trans community.

Published: 31 March 2022

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MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl Adds Name to TUC’s Call for Employment Bill Following P&O Scandal

Following the pre-meditated firing of 800 workers by P&O Ferries, unions including the MU are calling on the Government for an employment bill to strengthen protections for workers, as well the immediate reinstatement of all sacked P&O staff with no loss of pay.

Published: 23 March 2022

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Naomi Pohl Formally Takes Up Role of MU General Secretary

Following her election to the role on Monday 7 March, today on Wednesday 23 March, Naomi Pohl formally takes up the role of MU General Secretary.

Published: 23 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

MU Advice on Increase in Fuel Prices

From April 2022, the MU will update its mileage rates to reflect the fuel and cost of living crisis.

Published: 16 March 2022

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Concern Over Moonbug Entertainment's Performing Rights Royalties

MU and The Ivors Academy condemn demands by Moonbug Entertainment that composers hand over performing rights royalties.

Published: 15 March 2022

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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

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

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Deadline Approaches on Survey to Support Musicians’ Use of Eurostar

The data from this survey will be used to lobby for the St Pancras Eurostar terminal in London to become a designated port for instruments requiring a MIC certificate to travel. Opening up a quick and affordable way for these musicians to access Europe for work.

Published: 02 March 2022

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Prime Minister Announces End to Covid-19 Restrictions and Free Mass Testing in England

The Prime Minister announced on Monday 21 February that Covid-19 restrictions and free mass testing will end in England. Scotland has also announced changes. Restrictions in Wales and Northern Ireland are yet to be reviewed.

Published: 23 February 2022

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FIM Speaks Out Against Egyptian Musicians’ Union Disregard of Fundamental Rights

The MU supports the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) in calling out the Egyptian Musicians’ Union’s systematic attack on the mahraganat music genre.

Published: 21 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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Competition & Markets Authority Market Study Launched in a Win For Fix Streaming

The Competition & Markets Authority has launched its market study into music and streaming services, in a historic win for the Fix Streaming and Broken Record campaigns.

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

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Update to Provider of The MU Personal Injury Claim Service

Morrish Solicitors are the new provider for our personal injury claim service and other legal service benefits.

Published: 07 February 2022

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Concerns Over Proposals to Suspend School Music Lessons

Ofqual boss Ian Bauckham has suggested that schools might consider emergency timetable changes in response to the Omicron surge, that would see music teachers redeployed to other subjects. We advocate strongly against this idea.

Published: 06 January 2022

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Temporary Change to Fit Notes

The Government has announced that employers cannot ask for proof of sickness (such as a fit note) until after 28 days of sickness, including non-working days. This is a temporary measure to give GPs more time to work on the Covid-19 booster.

Published: 04 January 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

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Getting Paid When Asked to Work For Free

Despite the devastating impact of the pandemic, incidences of musicians being asked to play for free are still rife. Neil Crossley examines how the MU is responding and what musicians can do.

Published: 23 December 2021

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Afghan Musicians Seeking Asylum in the UK to Receive Years Free MU Membership

As well as voting to donate to Rainbow Railroad and Refugee Action, the EC has agreed to provide a year’s free membership to Afghan musicians seeking asylum in the UK.

Published: 16 December 2021

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Remembering #TheShowMustBePaused: Two Years on in the Music Industry

Accessibility Information for the 18 June ‘Demand Better’ March and Rally

MU Legal Team Helps Several Members Achieve Substantial Settlement

Hundreds of Festivals Sign Up to AIF Safer Spaces Campaign

Acas Updates its Disability Guidance

Becoming a More Accessible Studio: How One Business Owner Is Igniting Change Within the Industry

A Basic Income for Everybody: Why the Musicians' Union Backs UBI

MU Welcomes Proposal For Independent Standards Authority

Outrage Over Cinderella Closure Announcement on Social Media

MU Member Success at STUC Congress in Aberdeen

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

Beware the Buyout

MU Motion on Universal Basic Income Backed at Young Workers Conference

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

MU Launches New Guidance on Copyright in Music Education

Attitude is Everything Launch Just Ask Campaign to Support Promoters to Welcome Disabled Artists

BAPAM, Help Musicians, MU and YCAT Launch Mental Health Month for Early Career Musicians

Guidance for Clinically Vulnerable Musicians Who Teach

One Year On: The Composers Against Buyouts Campaign

National Open Youth Orchestra Virtually Premiere ‘What Fear We Then?’

Trans Day of Visibility: The Joy of Learning to Love Ourselves

MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl Adds Name to TUC’s Call for Employment Bill Following P&O Scandal

Naomi Pohl Formally Takes Up Role of MU General Secretary

MU at Labour’s National Women’s Conference

MU Advice on Increase in Fuel Prices

Concern Over Moonbug Entertainment's Performing Rights Royalties

Defending the BBC

Free Sexual Harassment Toolkit From The Fawcett Society

Deadline Approaches on Survey to Support Musicians’ Use of Eurostar

Prime Minister Announces End to Covid-19 Restrictions and Free Mass Testing in England

FIM Speaks Out Against Egyptian Musicians’ Union Disregard of Fundamental Rights

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

Competition & Markets Authority Market Study Launched in a Win For Fix Streaming

New Recruitment and Audition Advice for Orchestras

Update to Provider of The MU Personal Injury Claim Service

Concerns Over Proposals to Suspend School Music Lessons

Temporary Change to Fit Notes

Working to Address Discrimination and Inequality in the Music Industry

Getting Paid When Asked to Work For Free

Afghan Musicians Seeking Asylum in the UK to Receive Years Free MU Membership