News & Stories for Musicians

MU members and street performers sranding on the pitch together in front of a microphone.

Westminster Buskers Say Goodbye for the Summer With a ‘Big Busk’

This Monday saw the buskers of Westminster come together for a community ‘Big Busk’ to say goodbye to the last viable amplified busking pitch before it closes for summer events in Trafalgar Square.

Published: 17 June 2026

Marcelo and another busker in yellow M U campaign t-shirts holding pink cut out guitars at a demo last August.

Protecting Amplification in Busking

One year on from the Leicester Square busking ban, MU member Marcelo Cervone reflects on how amplification shapes public space, challenges misconceptions on busking volume and makes the case for protecting performers’ pitches.

Published: 08 May 2026

Buskers and supporters, some wearing M U t-shirts, gathered around a singer, holding placards saying “Street Music is Not a Crime’. ‘Keep Music Live’, and ‘Westminster, Stop Killing Culture”.

Buskers Mark One Year Anniversary of the Leicester Square Busking Ban

Buskers are continuing their high-profile campaign, calling on Westminster Council to find new viable and accessible busking pitches in the borough to replace what was lost.

Published: 15 April 2026

A group of buskers standing on the steps of Westminster Council holding campaign placards.

London Buskers Secure Campaign Support at Westminster Council Meeting

Buskers went to Westminster Council to speak to their representatives about new viable, accessible pitches for the festive season and beyond.

Published: 24 November 2025

A photo of musicians at a protest in Leicester Square, holding up banner and signs.

Luke Silva Posts Video in Support of Westminster Busking Campaign

Busker Luke Silva backs the campaign for new viable and accessible busking pitches in Westminster in his latest video.

Published: 05 November 2025

Professional photo of London Mayor Sadiq Khan in front of the Thames waterfront.

Mayor Sadiq Khan Backs Access to Viable and High Profile Busking Pitches Across London

Mayor Sadiq Khan called buskers "integral to the city's vibrant culture" and backed "all efforts" to ensure access to viable busking pitches.

Published: 23 October 2025

Dawn Butler MP Backs London Buskers Campaign

Dawn Butler MP shared her support for Musicians’ Union members campaigning for new viable and accessible pitches after a court ruling banned busking in Leicester Square.

Published: 15 October 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

Close up of person in jeans and boots, carrying their guitar case and amp over stone steps.

MU Responds to Birmingham Council’s City Centre Busking Ban

The MU will continue campaigning to overturn the ban as Birmingham becomes the first UK city to entirely outlaw all city-centre busking.

Published: 19 August 2025

Group of buskers, supporters, and MU staff outside at the site of the Leicester Square busking pitch. Some are wearing t-shirts, or holding posters and props, that say ‘back your buskers’.

Green Party’s Zack Polanski Backs Buskers in Call for New Westminster Pitches

On 7 August, London Assembly Member Zack Polanski joined buskers, supporters and MU officials for a photocall and leafleting session as part of the campaign for new viable, accessible Westminster busking pitches to replace those lost in Leicester Square.

Published: 14 August 2025

A busker wearing a yellow Musicians' Union t-shirt surrounded by supporters with signs saying 'keep music live' at a busking demo in London in April.

Westminster Council: Back Your Buskers!

Sign the petition calling for new pitches in Westminster to replace those lost due to the Leicester Square busking ban.

Published: 09 July 2025

Close up of male musician busking on the street, playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone.

MU Members Urged to Challenge Birmingham’s Busking Ban

MU members are being urged to challenge Birmingham’s busking ban by responding to the council’s consultation and logging their objections to the proposed new Public Space Protection Order by Sunday 25 May 2025.

Published: 20 May 2025

MU Protests Against Potential Busking Ban in Leicester Square

The MU and buskers gathered in Leicester Square to mark what could be the last day of busking in the area, following a noise abatement notice from the City of London Magistrates' Court.

Published: 17 April 2025

A musician busking on the street with a crowd around him.

Have Your Say on the Future of Busking in Edinburgh

Take part in a two-minute survey about busking in Edinburgh to make sure artist needs are represented in future council decisions.

Published: 15 October 2024

Busker sat on a small camping stall in London next to a red phone box, playing acoustic guitar on his knee with a guitar case open for passers-by.

MU Reaffirms Support for Buskers

Further to discussions on Good Morning Britain last week, which considered whether busking should be banned, the MU confirms that it stands firmly against the notion of licensing buskers, and that they deserve respect and recognition for their work.

Published: 04 August 2023

Busker Charlotte Campbell, a white woman with long blonde hair sings in an outdoor location, smiling into the microphone and strumming an acoustic guitar.

Singer-Songwriter Charlotte Campbell on Making Connections Through Busking

For Charlotte Campbell, busking is so much more than a career stepping stone. It’s a medium that offers immediacy and a powerful way to connect with her audience. We follow her career from the BRIT School to the Southbank.

Published: 03 May 2023

A guitar case lies in the street with a pool of coins on it, in the background is a mic stand, a guitar and an amp.

Busking and Street Entertainment Policy Review Survey

Members who are currently licensed under, or have been licensed under Westminster City Council’s busking and street entertainment policy are encouraged to take their survey, to help the council understand its key themes and issues.

Published: 01 December 2022

Dollar bills visible in busker's guitar case on cobbled street.

MU Backs Buskers in Birmingham Noise Ban

The Union fiercely opposes a new ‘noise ban’ in Birmingham which will see buskers face a £1,000 fine for performing in key city center areas.

Published: 12 August 2022

Close up of the Birmingham Bullring shopping centre with a sunny and cloudy sky reflected in the mirrors of the building

Sign the Petition to Stop the Busking Ban in Birmingham

MU asks musicians to sign the petition against new proposals in Birmingham that would ban busking in many of the prime pitches in the city.

Published: 26 January 2022

Red guitar case on street open for donations to busker, crowd out of focus in background

Busk In London Initiative Given Green Light to Continue This Christmas

Despite the recent reintroduction of mandatory face coverings, festive performances can still continue this year, thanks to the work of Busk in London.

Published: 09 December 2021

Photograph of a saxophone up close, the background of a brick outdoor wall implies that the performer is outside, we can only see the performers arm and hand.

MU Calls for Busking to Be Permitted

An update on our call for busking to be permitted again in England, following the Government’s Spring 2021 roadmap – plus further legal advice for buskers.

Published: 15 March 2021

Photograph of a busker, their head isn't visible but they are wearing blue jeans and holding a plugged in electric guitar. In the background an open guitar case has money collected in it.

Joint Statement on Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's New Proposals for Busking

The MU has serious concerns over Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's recently published consultation and its potential effects on busking. Members are encouraged to have their say by responding to the council’s consultation.

Published: 04 January 2021

Photograph of a busker playing outdoors on a guitar on a busy street, the focus is on the amplifier with the performer blurred in the background.

Protect Busking Culture in the West End by Responding to Council’s Consultation

The MU has serious concerns over Westminster City Council's recently published consultation and its potential effects on busking. Members are encouraged to have their say by responding to the council’s consultation.

Published: 12 October 2020

Photograph of a keyboard set up by a busker out in a busy open space

Keep Streets Live Releases New Socially-Distanced Busking Guidance

Keep Streets Live, a not-for-profit company that campaigns to protect public spaces for informal offerings of music and the arts, has released new guidance to help buskers comply with social distancing.

Published: 19 June 2020

Photograph of a sign in Westminster, pointing towards Leicester Square, Soho, Piccadilly Circus and other famous locations

Protect Busking Culture in the West End by Responding to Council’s Consultation

The MU has serious concerns over Westminster County Council's recently published consultation and its potential effects on busking. Members are encouraged to have their say by responding to the council’s consultation.

Published: 27 January 2020

Kensington & Chelsea Busking Ban Update

The Musicians’ Union continues to campaign with Keep Streets Live against the recent decision made by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to ban buskers from performing in some of London’s most iconic locations.

Published: 28 August 2019

Disappointment at Busking Ban Decision

The MU is extremely disappointed by the decision of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to ban busking in certain areas and enforce these bans through Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO).

Published: 18 July 2019

Petition to Stop the Busking Bans in Kensington and Chelsea

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are proposing to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order which means that buskers could be subjected to a fine of up to £1000.

Published: 17 May 2019

Mayor of London unveils plan to boost busking and street performance across London

Following last year's #BackBusking campaign the Mayor's Busk in London scheme is now up and running.

Published: 24 March 2015

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Westminster Buskers Say Goodbye for the Summer With a ‘Big Busk’

Protecting Amplification in Busking

Buskers Mark One Year Anniversary of the Leicester Square Busking Ban

London Buskers Secure Campaign Support at Westminster Council Meeting

Luke Silva Posts Video in Support of Westminster Busking Campaign

Mayor Sadiq Khan Backs Access to Viable and High Profile Busking Pitches Across London

Dawn Butler MP Backs London Buskers Campaign

Bring Busking Back to Birmingham City Centre

MU Responds to Birmingham Council’s City Centre Busking Ban

Green Party’s Zack Polanski Backs Buskers in Call for New Westminster Pitches

Westminster Council: Back Your Buskers!

MU Members Urged to Challenge Birmingham’s Busking Ban

MU Protests Against Potential Busking Ban in Leicester Square

Have Your Say on the Future of Busking in Edinburgh

MU Reaffirms Support for Buskers

Singer-Songwriter Charlotte Campbell on Making Connections Through Busking

Busking and Street Entertainment Policy Review Survey

MU Backs Buskers in Birmingham Noise Ban

Sign the Petition to Stop the Busking Ban in Birmingham

Busk In London Initiative Given Green Light to Continue This Christmas

MU Calls for Busking to Be Permitted

Joint Statement on Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's New Proposals for Busking

Protect Busking Culture in the West End by Responding to Council’s Consultation

Keep Streets Live Releases New Socially-Distanced Busking Guidance

Protect Busking Culture in the West End by Responding to Council’s Consultation

Kensington & Chelsea Busking Ban Update

Disappointment at Busking Ban Decision

Petition to Stop the Busking Bans in Kensington and Chelsea

Mayor of London unveils plan to boost busking and street performance across London