News & Stories for Musicians

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Music in Crisis in Northern Ireland

We’re publishing an open letter in response to the recent announcement from the Northern Irish Executive that effectively bans live music in Northern Ireland.

Published: 29 September 2020

A white man in a wheelchair is indoors, performing in what appears to be his home on a keyboard, while leaning over to type something into his laptop.

Top Tips for Keeping Your Music Career Ticking Over During Covid-19

Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl spoke to BBC Music Introducing on Saturday night about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, and ways that musicians can keep creating and working.

Published: 29 September 2020

Photograph of the Parliament buildings of Northern Ireland, also referred to as Stormont. The photo is in Golden Hour with a beautiful sunrise sky in the background.

£29 Million Allocated to the Arts and Council Sector in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Executive has allocated £29 million to help the arts and cultural sectors in Northern Ireland endure the Covid-19 pandemic.

Published: 25 September 2020

Photograph of Louise, wearing a dark, professional looking shirt and smiling whilst holding a wind instrument. The background is white, bright and sunny.

Misconceptions on Wind Players Have Been Corrected, But the Damage is Done

Member and orchestral, theatre and chamber musician Louise Braithwaite discusses the effect of coronavirus and misinformation on wind players, and the wider industry.

Published: 10 September 2020

'This is not a hobby, it's our profession' #WorkNotPlayMU

Musicians Reject Calls to Work for Free During Covid-19 Pandemic

The Musicians’ Union has received new reports of venues and events asking musicians to work for free. This is not acceptable.

Published: 19 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

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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

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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

MU Member's Response to the Guidance on Playing Wind and Brass Instruments

Richard Steggall has written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, in response to the recent announcements regarding the guidance on playing wind and brass instruments.

Published: 10 July 2020

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Concerns on New Arts Package Raised in Parliament

The Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Jo Stevens MP, asked an urgent question to the Minister for Culture, Caroline Dinenage MP, in parliament today on the subject of the arts package announced this week by the Government.

Published: 07 July 2020

£4m Lifeline for the Arts Sector in Northern Ireland Announced

Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín announced a major £4 million lifeline for the arts sector in Northern Ireland, as part of the Executive’s June Monitoring round.

Published: 02 July 2020

Jazz bar with a stage with black piano and cello

The MU Reacts to Government Guidance for Restaurants, Pubs and Bars Reopening

The MU's Live Performance Department look at the latest Government guidance for restaurants, pubs and bars - and the bitter blow it delivers for live music.

Published: 29 June 2020

Empty seats in the The Shakespeare's Globe theatre

The MU Cautiously Welcomes Government Road Map for Live Sector

While the five-step road map for getting theatres open is welcome, without sector specific financial support, many theatres will struggle to reopen their doors and much of the talent will be forced out of the profession.

Published: 26 June 2020

Photograph of person sat at a computer with their guitar set up to play.

Music Making Online in Real-Time

Musician and educator Alastair Penman discusses web platforms that can make playing together over the internet a possibility, and how to optimise your own system to get the best results.

Published: 25 June 2020

Photo of a young student practicing the violin.

UK Classical Music Sector Highlighted in Letter to Secretary of State

The MU, Association of British Orchestras, BPI, Ivors Academy, Music Publishers Association and PRS for Music have written an open letter to Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport today, to highlight the importance of the UK's classical music sector.

Published: 12 June 2020

Photograph of a piano player sat at the keyboard

Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Black Lives Matter UK are calling on the on the public to show support for Black members of the community who are being disproportionately affected by Covid-19 with a musical response on Thursday 4 June.

Published: 03 June 2020

Our Survey Results Highlight a Growing Threat to Theatre Musicians’ Livelihoods

The results of our survey of theatre musicians across the UK has confirmed the increasing financial hardship that our world-famous musical theatre industry will face in the coming months.

Published: 29 May 2020

Photo of a microphone on an empty stage, under a spotlight

An Open Letter to Theatre and Performance Makers

Organisations from across the UK released an open letter earlier this week, addressed to all the freelance and self-employed workers involved in theatre.

Published: 29 May 2020

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Self Employed Income Support Scheme Extended

We welcome the Government’s announcement that the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will now open for a second round of applications in August.

Published: 29 May 2020

Empty garden with brightly coloured bunting strung up.

A Return to Work: Pop up Gigs, Car Parks and Afternoon Tea

As we lobby for pop up gigs and other ways for musicians to return to work safely, MU Executive Committee and the North of England Regional Committee member Vernon Fuller talks about his first pop up gig in a care home car park and the difference it made to staff and residents.

Published: 28 May 2020

Photograph of a record player, stack of records with earphones on top.

Twitter Listening Party Raises over £6,000

The Broken Record Appeal, a Twitter listening party held by Tim Burgess over the weekend, smashed it’s fundraising target to raise over £6000 in funds. The money will be split between the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund and the

Published: 27 May 2020

Over Three-Quarters of Theatre Musicians Face Hardship if Unable to Work Until September

We surveyed our members who work in theatre, and discovered that over 77% of those that responded felt they were likely to be in financial hardship if they aren’t able to return to work until September.

Published: 18 May 2020

Photograph of a person working at a recording studio deck.

Getting Recording Session Musicians Back to Work

To start developing proposals to get UK recording session musicians back to work the MU is meeting with representatives from the major recording studios and media ensemble contractors.

Published: 12 May 2020

HMRC to Begin Contacting Those Eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme

HMRC is inviting those who believe they may be eligible for the Government’s Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) to complete a quick online check.

Published: 06 May 2020

Leading Live Music Workshops Online: From Hysterical Disasters to Lifting Spirits

Mike Simpson, co-founder of Inspire-works, talks us through his own personal trial and error learning experience of setting up group lessons online, and the surprise benefits that he’s discovered.

Published: 04 May 2020

Scottish Government Opens Hardship Fund for the Newly Self Employed

As part of its second phase of funding to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, the Scottish Government have put £34M behind a hardship fund for those due to miss out on UK Government funding due to being newly self-employed.

Published: 04 May 2020

Northern Ireland Launches Support Fund for Arts Sector

Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has announced funding of £1.5 million to support individuals and organisations in the Arts Sector in response to Covid-19.

Published: 27 April 2020

a child learning to play piano online from home

Jumping into Online Teaching: Points to Consider

Rick Finlay, aiming to answer a few questions, and arming us to "get stuck in and see what happens".

Published: 22 April 2020

headphones and a microphone for recording

Recording from Home: Working as a Session Musician Remotely

Trumpet player, contractor, and executive director of Music Creation Paul Spong talks about remote sessions in the time of Covid-19, what you need for your home setup, and lessons he’s learned along the way.

Published: 20 April 2020

12 Social Media Tips For Musicians and Bands During Lockdown

Sean Adams, founder of Drowned in Sound and Social Media Producer for BBC Radio 6 Music, talks us through how to use lockdown to work on your social media.

Published: 17 April 2020

8 Tips on Using Radio to Boost Your Music Career from Isolation

Shell Zenner, a radio presenter, producer, and new-music obsessive talks us through how you can best use radio to your advantage during the coronavirus outbreak, generating income, reaching new audiences and building your presence.

Published: 17 April 2020

10 Tips on Recording and Streaming Your Live Show From Home

Bass player Steve Lawson is no stranger to streaming shows from his home. Here is his advice from setting up your equipment, to choosing the right streaming platform.

Published: 17 April 2020

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Belfast City Hall in Northern Ireland, UK

Arts Council Northern Ireland Announce Funding for Key Arts Organisations

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI) have announced annual funding of £12.9 million for 97 key arts organisations from its exchequer and National Lottery resources.

Published: 16 April 2020

Anna Neale dressed in green dress, standing on a beach with a guitar

Music as a Way of Getting Through

Singer-songwriter Anna Neale tells us how, "Music is one the greatest expressions of human identity. It's what's getting a lot of people through this crisis. Hold on to that, reach out, and ask."

Published: 14 April 2020

Setting Up to Perform Online

Facing the cancellation of shows and other Covid-19 disruptions, artist and composer Robin Rimbaud tells us how he, “felt it was important to immediately embrace the tools at hand, and like many creatives use the power of technology to respond positively.”

Published: 08 April 2020

Making marks on a sheet music in front of a piano

New Sustaining Creativity Fund from PRS Foundation

PRS Foundation is offering grants to support artists, songwriters and composers in creating, developing and music making – however that looks in our current times.

Published: 06 April 2020

Older image on Andi sat in concert style seating.

Working in Isolation: “If Anyone Can Get Through This, Musicians Can.”

Andi Hopgood, musician, vocalist, tutor and Vice Chair of the MU Executive Committee, tells us about what happened when she had to "make the difficult decision to isolate early on the 16 March".

Published: 03 April 2020

Jumping into online teaching

In this first-hand account, Rick Finlay - professional drummer, teacher, and vice-chair of our Executive Committee - charts the ups and downs of moving his teaching practice into the online world.

Published: 01 April 2020

Northern Ireland Communities Minister Announces Support for Performers

Northern Ireland Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA instructed officials to put in place immediate and practical steps to help support Artists, Performers and Creative Producers across the arts and cultural sector.

Published: 30 March 2020

Applications Open for New Coronavirus Hardship Fund for MU Members

In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit our profession as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have taken the decision to set up a £1M hardship fund that members with genuine and pressing hardship can apply to.

Published: 22 March 2020

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Music in Crisis in Northern Ireland

Top Tips for Keeping Your Music Career Ticking Over During Covid-19

£29 Million Allocated to the Arts and Council Sector in Northern Ireland

Misconceptions on Wind Players Have Been Corrected, But the Damage is Done

Musicians Reject Calls to Work for Free During Covid-19 Pandemic

Restrictions Around Singing, Wind and Brass Instruments Relaxed in England

Let The Music Play Campaign Launches Second Phase

Further Financial Support for Culture Sector in Northern Ireland Announced

MU Member's Response to the Guidance on Playing Wind and Brass Instruments

Concerns on New Arts Package Raised in Parliament

£4m Lifeline for the Arts Sector in Northern Ireland Announced

The MU Reacts to Government Guidance for Restaurants, Pubs and Bars Reopening

The MU Cautiously Welcomes Government Road Map for Live Sector

Music Making Online in Real-Time

UK Classical Music Sector Highlighted in Letter to Secretary of State

Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Our Survey Results Highlight a Growing Threat to Theatre Musicians’ Livelihoods

An Open Letter to Theatre and Performance Makers

Self Employed Income Support Scheme Extended

A Return to Work: Pop up Gigs, Car Parks and Afternoon Tea

Twitter Listening Party Raises over £6,000

Over Three-Quarters of Theatre Musicians Face Hardship if Unable to Work Until September

Getting Recording Session Musicians Back to Work

HMRC to Begin Contacting Those Eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme

Leading Live Music Workshops Online: From Hysterical Disasters to Lifting Spirits

Scottish Government Opens Hardship Fund for the Newly Self Employed

Northern Ireland Launches Support Fund for Arts Sector

Jumping into Online Teaching: Points to Consider

Recording from Home: Working as a Session Musician Remotely

12 Social Media Tips For Musicians and Bands During Lockdown

8 Tips on Using Radio to Boost Your Music Career from Isolation

10 Tips on Recording and Streaming Your Live Show From Home

Arts Council Northern Ireland Announce Funding for Key Arts Organisations

Music as a Way of Getting Through

Setting Up to Perform Online

New Sustaining Creativity Fund from PRS Foundation

Working in Isolation: “If Anyone Can Get Through This, Musicians Can.”

Jumping into online teaching

Northern Ireland Communities Minister Announces Support for Performers

Applications Open for New Coronavirus Hardship Fund for MU Members