HE Cuts: “The Cultural Sector is Absolutely Right to be Angry” What the Government’s proposed higher education (HE) cuts could mean for students and course providers – from affecting the financial viability of courses to cutting access for less privileged students and disproportionately affecting disabled people. Published: 07 May 2021 Read more about HE Cuts: “The Cultural Sector is Absolutely Right to be Angry”
Devastating For Arts and Humanities: The MU Responds to 50% Higher Education Funding Cut Consultation The MU strongly opposes Government plans to impose a catastrophic 50% funding cut to arts subjects including music at Higher Education (HE) level in England. Published: 06 May 2021 Read more about Devastating For Arts and Humanities: The MU Responds to 50% Higher Education Funding Cut Consultation
Reconsider Proposed Catastrophic 50% Funding Cut MPs Tell Secretary of State Shadow secretaries of state Jo Stevens MP and Kate Green MP have written to Gavin Williamson calling on the Secretary of State for Education to drop proposals for a catastrophic 50% funding cut to arts subjects at the Higher Education level in England. Published: 06 May 2021 Read more about Reconsider Proposed Catastrophic 50% Funding Cut MPs Tell Secretary of State
Lobbying Update: Using Our Brexit Survey Issues to Press for Change In this lobbying update, MU Head of Communications and Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez discusses how we will be using the results from our Brexit survey when it closes next week, and other actions in Parliament. Published: 29 April 2021 Read more about Lobbying Update: Using Our Brexit Survey Issues to Press for Change
Social Media Blackout in Response to Sustained Racist Abuse Online The MU will be standing in solidarity with this weekend’s social media boycott, to highlight social media company inaction on eradicating online hate and racism. Published: 29 April 2021 Read more about Social Media Blackout in Response to Sustained Racist Abuse Online
Extend Government-Backed Pilots to Allow More Events to Go Ahead, Say MPs In the absence of a wider insurance scheme for the events industry, the Government liability that will enable pilot events to go ahead this summer should be extended to cover a wider range of events to prevent further cancellations, say MPs. Published: 29 April 2021 Read more about Extend Government-Backed Pilots to Allow More Events to Go Ahead, Say MPs
Over 5000 Musicians and Songwriters Back Fix Streaming Petition Over 5,000 musicians, songwriters and fans have signed the Fix Streaming petition, after 150 artists including Annie Lennox, Paul McCartney and Kate Bush made headlines calling on the Government to act. Published: 27 April 2021 Read more about Over 5000 Musicians and Songwriters Back Fix Streaming Petition
The Copyright Directive In this feature Mark Sutherland discusses the European Copyright Directive in detail, and looks at the vital actions that must take place to protect UK music industry in the post-Brexit environment. Published: 26 April 2021 Read more about The Copyright Directive
UK Music Survey Reveals 1 in 5 Disabled People Face Discrimination At Work UK Music is calling on music industry leaders to ensure disabled people and people with long term health conditions can realise their dreams by removing potential barriers to job opportunities. Published: 22 April 2021 Read more about UK Music Survey Reveals 1 in 5 Disabled People Face Discrimination At Work
Buying and Selling Used Musical Instruments For professional musicians, buying and selling musical instruments can be a challenging and time-consuming process. Neil Crossley examines the options and assesses how to ensure you get the best outcome with the minimum hassle. Published: 20 April 2021 Read more about Buying and Selling Used Musical Instruments
MU Signs Open Letter to The Prime Minister to Reject ‘Insulting’ Report and Act on Race Equality at Work 36 trade union general secretaries –including the MU’s – have signed a letter to the PM, calling on him to take a different path to that recommended in the report from the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Disparities. Published: 20 April 2021 Read more about MU Signs Open Letter to The Prime Minister to Reject ‘Insulting’ Report and Act on Race Equality at Work
Calling On The PM to Put The Value of Music Back “In The Hands of Music Makers” An extraordinary roll call of music’s great and good call on the Prime Minister to reform the music industry by fixing streaming. Published: 19 April 2021 Read more about Calling On The PM to Put The Value of Music Back “In The Hands of Music Makers”
5 Things to Help Include More Autistic People at Gigs It’s World Autism Day on 2 April! To celebrate we asked Autism consultant and Heart N Soul creative associate Robyn Rocket to write a blog for us with a few pointers on how we can consider inclusion for Autistic musicians and listeners when the world opens again post-Covid. Published: 01 April 2021 Read more about 5 Things to Help Include More Autistic People at Gigs
Call for a Violence Against Women & Girls Stategy in Northern Ireland Members are encouraged to sign Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland’s petition calling for a Violence Against Women & Girls Strategy in Northern Ireland, which is quickly amassing signiaturies on Change dot org. Published: 22 March 2021 Read more about Call for a Violence Against Women & Girls Stategy in Northern Ireland
MU Broadly Welcomes BBC Initiative While Highlighting Importance of Future Work for Musicians The MU responded today to the announcement by the BBC that the corporation is set to move a selection of its key departments and staff away from London with the aim of making it more inclusive of the entire UK. Published: 18 March 2021 Read more about MU Broadly Welcomes BBC Initiative While Highlighting Importance of Future Work for Musicians
Women’s History Month: The Year I Used My Voice In a specially commissioned blog for Women’s History Month – acclaimed singer, songwriter and MU member Kelli-Leigh discusses her own experiences and asks the music industry, “Can you open up doors to talent that may have been closed to them previously?” Published: 08 March 2021 Read more about Women’s History Month: The Year I Used My Voice
MU Secures ATA Carnet Discounts for Touring Musicians Whilst the MU lobbied hard against Brexit, the agreement reached with the EU means that currently ATA Carnets (a travel document needed for instruments and equipment) are a reality for musicians working in the EU. Published: 11 February 2021 Read more about MU Secures ATA Carnet Discounts for Touring Musicians
EasyJet’s New Baggage Policy Continues to be a Bitter Blow to Musicians Despite our correspondence with airline EasyJet, we have been unable to persuade them to amend their new baggage policy, which will come into play from 10 February 2021. Published: 08 February 2021 Read more about EasyJet’s New Baggage Policy Continues to be a Bitter Blow to Musicians
Second Phase of Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Funding Programme Opens The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (NI) Individuals Emergency Resilience Programme has opened up for a second wave of funding applications, as of Thursday 17 December. Published: 17 December 2020 Read more about Second Phase of Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Funding Programme Opens
Advice for Music Teachers Updated for all of UK Over the last week we’ve updated our advice for music teachers working in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England to reflect changes to – and clarifications we’ve received on – the Coronavirus restrictions across the UK. Published: 30 November 2020 Read more about Advice for Music Teachers Updated for all of UK
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Stability and Renewal Programme Opens The £7.75m Stability and Renewal Programme is now open to support arts and cultural organisations in Northern Ireland. Published: 29 October 2020 Read more about Arts Council of Northern Ireland Stability and Renewal Programme Opens
Further Funding for Individuals in Northern Ireland Announced Department for Communities minister Carál Ní Chuilín has announced that a further £3m has been allocated to the Arts Council Northern Ireland (ACNI) for distribution to individuals in the arts and creative industries. Published: 19 October 2020 Read more about Further Funding for Individuals in Northern Ireland Announced
Scottish Fund for Creative Freelancers Opening Soon Creative Scotland’s Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers will be opening at 12:00 pm on Monday 26 October, and today they have announced their delivery partners. Published: 15 October 2020 Read more about Scottish Fund for Creative Freelancers Opening Soon
Four Week “Circuit Breaker,” Announced for Northern Ireland The Northern Ireland Executive have announced a number of new restrictions in the form of a four week “circuit breaker” exercise in order to curb the current increase in coronavirus infections. Published: 14 October 2020 Read more about Four Week “Circuit Breaker,” Announced for Northern Ireland
Central Belt of Scotland Restrictions Apply to Non-Professional Activities The new lockdown restrictions for the central belt of Scotland mean that between 10 and 25 October, organised non-professional performing arts activities are not permitted outdoors. Published: 13 October 2020 Read more about Central Belt of Scotland Restrictions Apply to Non-Professional Activities
An Update the Latest Covid-19 Restrictions in Scotland 16 days of new, tougher measures, have been announced for Scotland, which will implemented nationwide from Friday 9 October. Published: 08 October 2020 Read more about An Update the Latest Covid-19 Restrictions in Scotland
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 Read more about Music in Crisis in Northern Ireland
Ask Your MLAs to Support Musicians During the Covid-19 Pandemic Music is a crucial part of the creative economy in Northern Ireland. Live music is worth £70m in GVA and generates £8m in music tourism. But all this is on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with real consequences for musicians. Published: 29 September 2020 Read more about Ask Your MLAs to Support Musicians During the Covid-19 Pandemic
£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 Read more about £29 Million Allocated to the Arts and Council Sector in Northern Ireland
Singing, Brass and Woodwind Restrictions Relaxed in Scotland New guidance from the Scottish Government means that singers, and brass and woodwind players, can rehearse in groups, provided certain conditions are met. Published: 18 September 2020 Read more about Singing, Brass and Woodwind Restrictions Relaxed in Scotland
Scotland Announces Six Person Restriction The Scottish Government has announced that gatherings will be limited to a maximum of six people from two households from Monday. Published: 10 September 2020 Read more about Scotland Announces Six Person Restriction
Funding For the Arts Sector Announced for Scotland The Scottish Government have announced a £59m funding package for the culture and heritage sector to protect jobs and support the industry in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. Published: 02 September 2020 Read more about Funding For the Arts Sector Announced for Scotland
US Visa Fee Increase as of October New ruling from US Department of Homeland Security imposes steep increase to O and P visa filing fees. Published: 02 September 2020 Read more about US Visa Fee Increase as of October
Scottish Government Publish New Guidance for Venues and Performing Arts The guidance is intended to assist the performing arts and venues sector in Scotland on safe re-opening during the Covid-19 pandemic. Published: 25 August 2020 Read more about Scottish Government Publish New Guidance for Venues and Performing Arts
Socially Distanced Theatre and Live Music Could Return to Scotland in September Some outdoor live events in Scotland will be able to return with physical distancing, enhanced hygiene measures and restricted numbers from Monday 24 August. Published: 20 August 2020 Read more about Socially Distanced Theatre and Live Music Could Return to Scotland in September
A-Level Results to be Based on Teacher Assessed Grades We are pleased that the governments across all four nations of the UK will now be basing their A-level grades on teacher assessed grades. Published: 18 August 2020 Read more about A-Level Results to be Based on Teacher Assessed Grades
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 Read more about Provisional Timetable for Easing Lockdown in Scotland Announced
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 Read more about Further Financial Support for Culture Sector in Northern Ireland Announced
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 Read more about Scotland and Northern Ireland Lobbying Update
Scottish Government Gives Green Light For Live Drive-in Events The Scottish government have given the go ahead for live events to be held as drive-in entertainment from Wednesday 22 July. Published: 21 July 2020 Read more about Scottish Government Gives Green Light For Live Drive-in Events