News & Stories for Musicians

Flags of the United Kingdom and the European Union next to each other.

Organisations from Across UK and Europe Join Forces to Remove Barriers to Touring and Drive Growth

A new UK–EU Cultural Exchange Coalition has launched today, uniting the MU and major creative organisations to push for removing post-Brexit touring barriers. The alliance seeks to turn political promises on cultural exchange into action supporting artists and renewing collaboration.

Published: 03 December 2025

The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves poses outside 11 Downing Street with the red Budget Box before heading to parliament to deliver her Budget.

Chancellor Increases Minimum Wage and Lifts Two-Child Benefit Cap in Autumn Budget

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered the Autumn Budget, outlining the Government's plans for the economy - increasing the National Living Wage and ending the two-child benefit cap.

Published: 26 November 2025

Curriculum and Assessment Review: Final Report Published

The Review has made several positive recommendations relating to music, which the Government has broadly supported.

Published: 06 November 2025

Lisa and Naomi on the MU's stand at Labour Party Conference in 2024, they are against a black and yellow backdrop that says 'We are the MU' and 'We are Union strong'.

MU General Secretary Meets Culture Secretary to Discuss Arts Funding and AI

Naomi Pohl discussed the challenges facing musicians, including the impact of AI, funding shortfalls, and industry standards.

Published: 06 November 2025

Five wooden blocks with the outline of people apart from one which is a weighing scales, representing fair work.

Scotland’s Creative Sector Backs New Fair Work for Freelancers Checklist

29 organisations across Scotland have become the first to endorse a new Fair Work for Freelancers checklist, developed by trade unions representing the creative sector alongside the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC).

Published: 31 October 2025

Instruments and mics in a recording booth with sound proofed walls.

Help Protect UK Recording Studios – Sign the Petition for Fair Business Rates

The MU backs calls for studios to be included in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure business rates relief scheme and urges members to sign the petition to support reclassification.

Published: 20 October 2025

Crowd with hands raised in a small venue watching a band on stage, the image is cast in a pale yellow glow from the stage lights.

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Launches Fan-Led Review of Live Music

As part of the MP-led review, fans are invited to complete a survey about their live music experiences to help shape policy, support touring artists and grassroots venues, and secure the future of UK music.

Published: 16 October 2025

Six people standing in a horizontal row on a hilltop, each person holding a letter sign to spell out the word 'Better'.

Scotland Demands Better: Join the Anti-Poverty March in Edinburgh

Join over 5,000 people in Edinburgh for the Scotland Demands Better march and rally against poverty on Saturday 25 October 2025.

Published: 14 October 2025

Coloured wooden blocks representing people and community.

New Resource Hub for Local Councillors and Constituency Labour Party Members

Support musicians in your community with dedicated resources for local councillors and political party members.

Published: 13 October 2025

Wooden blocks representing people voting in an election.

Members to Receive Ballot Papers for Executive Committee and Regional Committee Elections

Executive Committee (EC) and Regional Committee (RC) ballots are due to take place, asking MU members to elect representatives from the membership to represent them at Regional and Executive level.

Published: 09 October 2025

Person walking into a venue with a cello case on their back.

Government Proposes New Charges for Musical Instrument Certificates

The MU warns proposed fees of up to £200 could place an unfair burden on musicians travelling with instruments containing endangered materials.

Published: 02 October 2025

Bridget Phillipson visits the MU stand at Labour Party Conference 2025

The Musicians’ Union at Labour Party Conference

The MU has been at Labour Party Conference this week asking the Government to ensure that musicians are fairly paid in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) and music streaming.

Published: 30 September 2025

Naomi Pohl speaking on stage at a Labour Party Conference 2025.

MU General Secretary Addresses Artificial Intelligence and Music Streaming at Labour Party Conference

There’s money in music but it doesn’t go to musicians, Musicians’ Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl tells Labour Party Conference 2025.

Published: 30 September 2025

A robot head made up of pink, yellow and teal instruments. Its knuckles say

MU to Call for Copyright Reform with Motion at Labour Party Conference

Ahead of Labour Party Conference, the MU sets out why now is a historic chance to fix copyright law and protect musicians from the impact of AI and streaming.

Published: 26 September 2025

MU Nominates Bridget Phillipson for Deputy Leader of the Labour Party – Plus How MU Members Can Cast Their Own Vote

The MU's Executive Committee has voted to nominate Bridget Phillipson for Deputy Leader. The election will be held by the Labour Party in October 2025.

Published: 22 September 2025

A hand depositing a ballot into a ballot box.

MU Members Invited to Vote for New Labour Party Deputy Leader

The Labour Party will be holding an election for Deputy Leader in October 2025. Find out if you’re eligible to vote and when you can expect to receive your ballot.

Published: 10 September 2025

Two young buskers, one singing and one playing guitar on a sunny street.

Bring Busking Back to Birmingham City Centre

Sign the petition to urge the council to reverse the ban on busking in Birmingham city centre.

Published: 28 August 2025

A graphic with yellow and white design elements and black text.

Nominations Open for MU Executive Committee and Regional Committees

Nominations are now open for members who wish to get involved in our Executive Committee and Regional Committees starting in 2025.

Published: 19 August 2025

Wood cube with the figure of a person on, hands outstretched holding scales in each one which are evenly balanced.

Sign TUC’s Open Letter to Protect Workers’ Rights in Employment Rights Bill

Trades Union Congress (TUC) has launched an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to keep key rights in the Employment Rights Bill.

Published: 14 August 2025

Naomi Pohl on stage addressing Delegates at Conference.

“Collective Action Works”: MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl Addresses Delegate Conference 2025

Last week marked the Union’s 41st biennial Delegate Conference, and the largest attended in our history. We’ll be sharing videos and highlights soon, but in the meantime, you can catch up on MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl’s opening speech, outlining the Union’s work over the past two years.

Published: 31 July 2025

Silhouette of migratory birds flying over the sea at sunset.

Labour Unions Call on UK Government to Immediately Recognise Palestinian State

Labour Unions have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling on the UK Government to immediately recognise the state of Palestine.

Published: 31 July 2025

Close up of hands on a mixing desk in a studio recording music.

Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians

Government recently announced a package of principles and commitments that they say will better remunerate musicians and music creators.

Published: 31 July 2025

Hands holding a tablet with graphics of musical notes, a play bar and button, and controls over the top, representing streaming.

MU in Action: the Fix Streaming Campaign

How did the campaign to fix music streaming start, and where will it go in 2025? MU Campaigns and Social Media Manager Maddy Radcliff explores the Fix Streaming story so far.

Published: 28 July 2025

Dave, Jon and Olga standing in a room in Parliament with MPs and Peers.

MU Meets Labour Movement for Europe to Discuss Next Steps for EU Touring

Last week the Union met with MPs and Peers to press for progress on EU touring barriers at a parliamentary roundtable.

Published: 25 July 2025

Alison McGovern, Labour MP, addressing Conference on stage at day two of Conference.

MU Delegate Conference 2025: Wrapping Up Day Two

Day two of MU Delegate Conference wrapped up with powerful motions on devolution in music and the arts, expanding free childcare for working parents to cover out-of-school hours, opposing the Labour Government’s welfare cuts, ensuring there is no platform for hate in the industry, and more.

Published: 24 July 2025

Two male session musicians in a recording studio, one playing electric guitar and the other drums.

Musicians' Union Reacts to Government and Record Labels’ Announcement

The Government and record labels, including the three major labels, have announced a package of principles and commitments, which they say will better remunerate creators in the streaming era.

Published: 22 July 2025

Top view of an acoustic violin and pernambuco wood bow on a tabletop.

Save Pernambuco Bows: Write to Your MP Today

The MU is calling on members to take urgent action to protect the future of high-quality bow making and the musicians who rely on it, after a proposal to move pernambuco wood from Appendix II to Appendix I.

Published: 10 July 2025

Audience right in front of a stage at a gig, hands raised in the air. Band are on stage, cast in an orange glow from the stage lights.

MU Welcomes Government Focus on the Creative Industries

On Monday the Government published its Creative Industries Sector Plan as part of its Industrial Strategy.

Published: 24 June 2025

Large group of people on the riverside in front of Parliament, holding up various creative banners and signs.

Data Bill Passes Without Generative AI Protections

Parliament has passed the Data Bill without an amendment aimed to protect musicians and creators from generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Published: 13 June 2025

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves on stage making a speech at the Labour Party Conference in 2023.

Increased Money for the Creative Industries in Government Spending Review

Yesterday Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves set out her Comprehensive Spending Review. Having lobbied the Government for additional money for music, it was positive to see the Government announce a "significant increase in funding for the creative industries" as a key “growth sector".

Published: 12 June 2025

Cupped hands holding the light of a rainbow.

 MU Reaffirms Support for Trans Musicians Amid Legal Definition Ruling

The MU stands in solidarity with our trans members following the Supreme Court ruling about the definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010.

Published: 12 June 2025

Mother holding a young baby while she's working on a laptop.

MU Supports Call for Transformation of the Parental Pay and Leave System

An alliance of trade unions and charities is calling on the Business and Trade Secretary for bold reforms to better support new mothers, parents, and families.

Published: 11 June 2025

Annabella Coldrick, Naomi Pohl, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Dave Webster and Tom Kiehl smiling in front of a UK flag.

MU Meets with Minister to Push for Progress on Touring Post-Brexit

Earlier this week, the MU met with Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds to discuss last month’s EU-UK Summit and the next steps for touring artists.

Published: 11 June 2025

Passport with a US Visa against the background of the flag and map of the United States.

Update on the US Travel Ban: Who is Affected?

Trump’s latest proclamation restricts entry to the US from 20 countries, heightening concerns for global cultural exchange. Our colleagues at Tamizdat have shared further details on what we know so far.

Published: 09 June 2025

Silhouette of a young woman playing guitar against a window.

MU Demands Industry and Government Take Action Against Persistent Misogyny in Music

The MU fully backs the latest Misogyny in Music report which, one year on from the original, again urges government and industry to take action— with 11 new recommendations to tackle harassment, unequal pay, bullying, and discrimination faced by women across the music sector.

Published: 04 June 2025

Close up of a child in a red jumper at a drum kit, in a music classroom with other pupils and a tutor.

Welsh Government to Fund National Music Service for a Further Three Years

The MU welcomes the news, although funding levels still aren’t sufficient to meet the Welsh Government's ambitions for music education.

Published: 04 June 2025

Two young musicians in a home studio, one at a desk recording on keyboard with microphone, the other sat behind her playing an acoustic guitar.

MU Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Freelance Creative Workers in Scotland

The MU is calling for immediate action following the publication of a damning new report by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) and Scottish creative industry unions, which revealed that only 6% of over 800 creative freelancers surveyed would describe their working conditions as “good”.

Published: 03 June 2025

Black and white image of a band on a large stage, performing to a crowd outside. From the perspective of the drummer.

MU Joins Industry Wide Call for £10 Million Investment in UK Music Export and Exchange

The MU has joined over sixty music sector organisations in signing an open letter to government, calling for urgent and sustained investment in music export and exchange initiatives.

Published: 29 May 2025

Birdseye view of feet staring down at an EU flag on the ground, representing a border.

EU-UK Summit: Early Outcomes and What it Means for MU Members

The MU welcomes early signs of progress on cultural mobility at the first EU-UK Summit, including youth mobility and faster border access, but calls for further action to ensure musicians are properly supported in post-Brexit negotiations.

Published: 21 May 2025

EU and UK flags flying in front of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament at Westminster Palace, London.

Open Letter Calls for Action on Post-Brexit Touring Barriers Ahead of EU-UK Summit

As over 500 UK and EU music organisations back an open letter to political leaders, MU Head of International Dave Webster updates members on the growing industry pressure to fix post-Brexit touring barriers, ahead of key EU-UK talks.

Published: 14 May 2025

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Organisations from Across UK and Europe Join Forces to Remove Barriers to Touring and Drive Growth

Chancellor Increases Minimum Wage and Lifts Two-Child Benefit Cap in Autumn Budget

Curriculum and Assessment Review: Final Report Published

MU General Secretary Meets Culture Secretary to Discuss Arts Funding and AI

Scotland’s Creative Sector Backs New Fair Work for Freelancers Checklist

Help Protect UK Recording Studios – Sign the Petition for Fair Business Rates

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Launches Fan-Led Review of Live Music

Scotland Demands Better: Join the Anti-Poverty March in Edinburgh

New Resource Hub for Local Councillors and Constituency Labour Party Members

Members to Receive Ballot Papers for Executive Committee and Regional Committee Elections

Government Proposes New Charges for Musical Instrument Certificates

The Musicians’ Union at Labour Party Conference

MU General Secretary Addresses Artificial Intelligence and Music Streaming at Labour Party Conference

MU to Call for Copyright Reform with Motion at Labour Party Conference

MU Nominates Bridget Phillipson for Deputy Leader of the Labour Party – Plus How MU Members Can Cast Their Own Vote

MU Members Invited to Vote for New Labour Party Deputy Leader

Bring Busking Back to Birmingham City Centre

Nominations Open for MU Executive Committee and Regional Committees

Sign TUC’s Open Letter to Protect Workers’ Rights in Employment Rights Bill

“Collective Action Works”: MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl Addresses Delegate Conference 2025

Labour Unions Call on UK Government to Immediately Recognise Palestinian State

Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians

MU in Action: the Fix Streaming Campaign

MU Meets Labour Movement for Europe to Discuss Next Steps for EU Touring

MU Delegate Conference 2025: Wrapping Up Day Two

Musicians' Union Reacts to Government and Record Labels’ Announcement

Save Pernambuco Bows: Write to Your MP Today

MU Welcomes Government Focus on the Creative Industries

Data Bill Passes Without Generative AI Protections

Increased Money for the Creative Industries in Government Spending Review

MU Reaffirms Support for Trans Musicians Amid Legal Definition Ruling

MU Supports Call for Transformation of the Parental Pay and Leave System

MU Meets with Minister to Push for Progress on Touring Post-Brexit

Update on the US Travel Ban: Who is Affected?

MU Demands Industry and Government Take Action Against Persistent Misogyny in Music

Welsh Government to Fund National Music Service for a Further Three Years

MU Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Freelance Creative Workers in Scotland

MU Joins Industry Wide Call for £10 Million Investment in UK Music Export and Exchange

EU-UK Summit: Early Outcomes and What it Means for MU Members

Open Letter Calls for Action on Post-Brexit Touring Barriers Ahead of EU-UK Summit

 MU Reaffirms Support for Trans Musicians Amid Legal Definition Ruling