News & Stories for Musicians

Photograph a vintage looking recording studio.

Member Petitions for Glasgow Recording Studios to be in Covid Business Rates Relief Scheme

Members in Glasgow and surrounding areas are encouraged to sign this petition calling on Glasgow City Council to include music studios in the 100% Covid council tax relief awarded to retail, leisure and hospitality.

Published: 04 January 2021

Photograph of a singer, who we can not clearly see, silhouetted against bright stage lights on a smokey stage.

Songwriting Virtuosos Launch Masterclass for Creatives Impacted by the Pandemic

Songwriting virtuosos Boo Hewerdine and Findlay Napier have announced the launch of a series of songwriting workshops aimed at creative people in Scotland whose livelihoods have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Published: 23 December 2020

A photograph of a retro looking radio against a grey background.

Recorded Background Music Now Permitted in Scottish Hospitality Venues

The Scottish Government have changed their Coronavirus restriction rules to allow recorded background music to be played at hospitality venues throughout out the five tiers.

Published: 16 December 2020

Photograph of a small child sat wearing a facemask in front of a piano keyboard.

Private Teachers in Scotland Resume Face-to-Face in Levels 0-3

Updated guidance from the Scottish Government means that private teachers can resume face-to-face teaching in levels 0-3.

Published: 11 December 2020

Photograph of a young woman, concentrating on playing the piano.

Scottish Women Encouraged to Complete Survey on Sexual Harassment

Women across the Scottish music scene are encouraged to complete POWA’s survey – to shape their work to better protect and support women across the arts.

Published: 01 December 2020

Photograph of an assortment of percussive instruments set out for use in a classroom.

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

Photograph of an aerial view of Glasgow, the sky above is blue and the trees are bright green.

Updated Guidance for Teachers in Scotland

Further clarification from the Scottish Government means that we have now updated our guidance for teachers in Scotland, with more detailed advice for working across the five tier system.

Published: 20 November 2020

Photograph of a classroom, the sun is rising from the far window filling the room a golden yellow glow.

Research Fuels Call on Scottish Government to Revise Teaching Policy

Scottish Charity, the Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG), points towards research that singing is no more risky than talking, and calls on the Scottish Government to revise their current position on singing, brass and woodwind teaching.

Published: 16 November 2020

Photograph of a musicians hand poised over a mostly blank score, they are holding a pen and have notated a few music notes.

MU at STUC Fringe Event on Building Back Better

MU Regional Organiser for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Caroline Sewell, will be presenting on Thinking outside the box: creative solutions to building back better, online on Sunday 15 November.

Published: 13 November 2020

Photograph of a masked musician practicing guitar in front of a laptop, in what appears to be a living room in a home.

Updates to Guidance for Scotland’s Five Tier System

The Performing Arts and Venues guidance, Events Sector guidance and Creative Studio guidance have all been updated – here’s a walk through on how this may affect musicians and where to learn more.

Published: 06 November 2020

Fife coastal path from Burntisland to Kirkcaldy photographed from above, the path is empty.

New Five Tier System for Scotland Unveiled

Nicola Sturgeon has unveiled new Covid restrictions for Scotland today, the new five tier system will come into force from 6:00 am on Monday 2 November.

Published: 29 October 2020

Photograph of a flute player, with just the flute and the performers hands visible. Other musicians are blurred in the background.

Eligibility Criteria for Creative Scotland Hardship Fund Announced

Applications for the £5m Hardship Fund will open for creative freelancers in Scotland at 12:00 pm on Monday 26 October.

Published: 22 October 2020

Photograph of two live performers, only the people's legs and the bottom of the microphone is visible. One of the people is wearing very stand-out brightly pattered trousers.

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

Photograph of a stretch of bridge over the Clyde River in Glasgow.

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

Photograph of empty Parliament Square in Edinburgh, during the heaviest of social distancing measures earlier this year.

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

Photograph of an empty stage set up in a band, with double bass, drum kit and piano.

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

Trumpet player in a red t-shirt performing to an audience who are blurred in the background. Just the hands of the player are visable.

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

Photograph of a woman holding a violin in what appears to be an orchestral setting, other stringed instruments can be seen in the blurred background along with a music stand.

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

Riverside of the Clyde at Pacific Quay. The Clyde Auditorium, SSE Hydro concert venue

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

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

Photograph of a guitarist and saxophonist performing to an outdoor audience.

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

Young woman dancing at a festival, back view

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

Teenage Pupil Playing Drums In Music Lesson

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

Photo of musician singing into a microphone on the stage with bright white lights behind.

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

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

Two people sitting in the car moving to live music facing the sun

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

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

The Usher Hall, a concert hall in Edinburgh

Vital Performing Arts Venue Funding Announced for Scotland

A £10 million fund to support Scotland’s performing arts venues has been announced by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop.

Published: 03 July 2020

Recording Studio Guidance Published by Scottish Government

The Scottish Government has published new guidance for the creative industries, in particular for providers and users of creative studios in Scotland, for safer working during the coronavirus pandemic.

Published: 01 July 2020

A memorial outside of the Stonewall Inn during Pride month 2016, marking the Orlando shootings which affected Black and POC LGBT communities that year

Pride Month: The First Pride was a Riot

Our Education and Equalities Officer, Rose Delcour‑Min, discusses how supporting the present and future of LGBTQ rights must involve recognising the ways that sexuality, gender and race intersect.

Published: 23 June 2020

a mother holding her daughter on her shoulders

Legal Action Against the Chancellor for Indirect Sex Discrimination Supported by MU

Pregnancy rights charity, Pregnant then Screwed, with support from Doughty Street Chambers and law firm Leigh Day, is threatening legal proceedings against the Chancellor for discriminating against women in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

Published: 12 June 2020

We Will be Participating in #TheShowMustBePaused in Solidarity With our Black Members

The MU stands with our Black members and all Black communities against all forms of racism, violence and discrimination. When we say “behind every musician”, we mean it.

Published: 01 June 2020

Man using phone with stabiliser and taking pictures and live video

BBC Academy’s Lockdown Learning Now Open to FEU Freelance Members

The BBC Academy have opened up their training programs to members of the Federation of Entertainment Unions – of which the MU is a part. Our members can now pick up training on a wide variety of programs between 18 May and 31 July.

Published: 20 May 2020

Scottish Members Encouraged to Submit Stories to Scottish Parliament

Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on the culture and tourism sectors. They’re keen to hear from artists, including individual musicians, to bolster their understanding.

Published: 20 May 2020

Support Fair Play Venues Affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic

Many live music venues are having to fundraise to secure their futures, here is a list of crowdfunders that have been set up for venues which have signed up to our Fair Play scheme. If you are in a position to donate, or to share their crowdfunders on your social channels, please do.

Published: 15 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

Photograph of two people playing fiddle at a wedding. Photo credit: Shutterstock

Creative Scotland Opens Bridging Bursary for Second Phase of Requests

Creative Scotland have announced an extra £2M of funding, open to individual artists and freelancers in Scotland who have lost income from their creative work due to COVID-19.

Published: 21 April 2020

Old town Edinburgh and Edinburgh castle in Scotland UK

Scottish Government Announces Second Phase of Funding

There has been a funding update from the Scottish Government, who have announced a second phase of funding to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

Published: 16 April 2020

three people sitting hold the shapes of comment boxes and thought clouds

Scottish Members Encouraged to Respond to STUC Survey on Job Security

Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) launches new survey to find out what is happening to workers’ safety and jobs across Scotland.

Published: 31 March 2020

Happy man with a guitar against blue background

Creative Scotland Launches Three New Funding Programs

The new funds announced by Creative Scotland on 27 March are designed to provide further support to sustain Scotland’s creative community during the coronavirus outbreak. Two of these funds open for applications today.

Published: 30 March 2020

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