News & Stories for Musicians

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Arts Council Wales Outlines Response to COVID-19

Arts Council Wales have updated their Coronavirus response page to outline their funding response going forward.

Published: 18 March 2020

Photo of young brass band preparing to play. Photo credit: Shutterstock

The Future of Funding for Culture in Dorset: Have Your Say

Dorset Council are proposing significant changes to how funding is awarded to organisations in the culture, community, and voluntary sectors in the county.

Published: 06 March 2020

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Flybe Amends Cabin Baggage to Allow for Small Instruments

Flybe has listened to the concerns of musicians, and following a letter sent by the MU late last year, has amended its cabin baggage terms and conditions to accommodate small instruments.

Published: 06 January 2020

16 Days of Activism with UN Women: Protected Characteristics

Over 48% of Musicians’ Union members surveyed have experienced sexual harassment at work. Shockingly, a third of those people say their harassment was related to a protected characteristic, and another 21% said they were not sure.

Published: 03 December 2019

Woman waves keyboard around in a gym setting.

New BAPAM Healthy Performance Training Series to be Held in Cardiff

These introductory two-hour sessions are designed for performing arts professionals and students, and will outline risk factors and key strategies to maintain good physical health throughout a sustainable career.

Published: 31 October 2019

MU/UK Theatre agreement

Following the agreement being implemented in 2018 for a 3 year period.

Published: 28 August 2019

Invite Your MP to Talk to the MU this Party Conference Season

Is your MP from the Labour or Conservative party? Invite them to talk to us this party conference season, as we go to Labour and Conservative party conferences to talk about the big issues affecting musicians.

Published: 21 August 2019

Empty stage in the dark with the microphone in the spotlight

Standing Up for Diversity in Music Industry

MU members have raised concerns regarding a promoter's view that bands should not highlight their diverse make up, and that doing so is a form of tokenism that will prevent them from being booked.

Published: 30 July 2019

conference room filled with members , Dave Webster leading the discussion

First Ever Members' Conference Brings in Voices from Across the Union

MU General Secretary Horace Trubridge today introduced the Union’s first ever Members' Conference – which saw members and officials from across the regions, as well as the Union’s Executive Committee (EC), coming together to discuss essential decisions for the future of the MU.

Published: 24 July 2019

MU Conference Plea to New Prime Minister – Don’t Drag Us Off The Cliff

The first MU conference under General Secretary Horace Trubridge kicked off today with clear calls for the Government to protect freedom of movement for touring musicians and to invest in the music education sector.

Published: 23 July 2019

Photo from the Women's march in 2018, person holding large sign reading

MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl talks to BBC Woman’s Hour about sexual harassment in music

MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl spoke to BBC Woman’s Hour about sexism, sexual harassment and abuse in the music industry following a Newsbeat investigation into the harassment experienced by fans.

Published: 11 June 2019

The Senedd or National Assembly Building in Cardiff

Welsh Government Shifts Position on Brexit

The MU welcomes the news that the Welsh Government has officially announced that it will now primarily argue for the UK to stay in the EU.

Published: 06 June 2019

Image of colourful houses on a hill in Bristol

Bristol MU Members Called to Complete Survey into Cumulative Impact Areas Consultation

Bristol @ Night, an advisory group on the night time economy for Bristol Council, is calling on musicians to assist them in their consultation into Cumulative Impact Areas (CIAs) in Bristol by completing a short survey.

Published: 31 May 2019

MU and ABO launch Manifesto for British Orchestras

The MU and the ABO have created a joint Manifesto for British Orchestras and are collectively inviting orchestras to sign up.

Published: 21 March 2019

Mentoring Scheme for Female MU Members Launched

The MU and shesaid.so have combined forces to support women in the industry by matching fellow musicians together, to help one another grow and succeed in their careers.

Published: 13 March 2019

Join the MU on the Save Gwdihw March

Musicians’ Union (MU) members are encouraged to join a march on Saturday, 19 January, to protect Cardiff grassroots music venue Gwdihw.

Published: 14 January 2019

Free Folk Workshop for 12-18 Year Olds in Somerset

An exciting opportunity has opened up for talented young musicians to learn from National Youth Folk Ensemble leaders and inspirational folk performers Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron, at this free workshop.

Published: 09 January 2019

Much-loved Cardiff Music Venue Gwdihŵ is to Close in January

The Musicians’ Union (MU) is calling on members to protect vital Cardiff music venue Gwdihŵ Café Bar by signing an urgent petition.

Published: 13 December 2018

Members Urged to Sign Petition for National Plan for Music Education in Wales

A petition to the National Assembly for Wales, highlighting some of the current issues in music education across Wales and calling for action, is gathering signatures.

Published: 03 December 2018

Musicians' Union Calls for Support to Strengthen Music Education Provision in Wales

The Musicians’ Union (MU) is calling on Welsh Government, Local Authorities, and other organisations in Wales to support and strengthen music education provision.

Published: 03 July 2018

UK’s First Live Music Census Reveals Ongoing Threats to Small Venues

Small venues continue to face threats that could affect their long-term future, warns UK’s first Live Music Census.

Published: 16 February 2018

Cardiff named as the UK's first 'music city'

Music has been placed at the heart of Cardiff’s future with the Welsh capital being officially declared a Music City - the first of its kind in the UK.

Published: 20 December 2017

Cross-Party Support Grows for Agent of Change Law to Protect Music Venues

Support at Westminster is mounting for a new law to protect music venues – something the Musicians’ Union (MU) has been lobbying for individually and as part of music industry umbrella group UK Music.

Published: 24 November 2017

Celebrating 90 years with BBC National Orchestra of Wales

In the spring of 2018 BBC National Orchestra of Wales celebrates its 90th birthday, and to mark this milestone the orchestra is inviting people to share their stories and experiences.

Published: 21 November 2017

Bristol Live Music Venue Thekla Under Threat From Nearby Development

The Musicians’ Union (MU) is disheartened to hear of yet another small venue under threat from adjacent development – this time Bristol’s Thekla. #SaveThekla #KeepMusicLive

Published: 09 November 2017

The MU is Here to Support You If You Face Inappropriate Behaviour at Work

We are here to offer support and guidance if you face sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse at work. If you are an employed or self-employed musician, regardless of which part of the industry you work in, you can talk to us. We will listen.

Published: 19 October 2017

Victory for Womanby Street Campaigners

Plans to build flats on Cardiff’s Womanby Street, that would have put local venues including Clwb Ifor Back under threat, have been withdrawn.

Published: 17 October 2017

MPs & Peers: Please Support Musicians Working in the EU

The Musicians’ Union (MU) is calling on MPs to support musicians working in the EU – share the pledge! #WorkingInTheEU

Published: 02 June 2017

General Election 2017

The Musicians’ Union (MU) is pleased by many of the policies in the Labour manifesto, and that the Labour Party has acknowledged major concerns that musicians have around Brexit.

Published: 31 May 2017

Memorial Service for Tom Edwards

The memorial service for former bassist and MU Executive Committee member Tom Edwards will be taking place on the afternoon of Friday 2 June at Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff.

Published: 30 May 2017

Save Womanby Street march to Cardiff City Hall

Save Womanby Street Campaign Victory

Save Womanby Street campaigners in Wales have won a significant victory in their battle to protect live music venues, as the Welsh government is set to revise its planning policy in line with the Agent of Change principle.

Published: 23 May 2017

Delegation from the MU at the Save Womanby Street march to Cardiff City Hall

The Musicians’ Union Attends Save Womanby Street March to City Hall

Over 1000 people, including a delegation from the Musicians’ Union, attended the highly successful Save Womanby Street march to Cardiff City Hall on Saturday 29 April.

Published: 05 May 2017

Cardiff AMs call for Agent of Change to save city centre live music

Two Cardiff AMs are calling on the Welsh Government to change planning laws in Wales to protect the future of live music venues in the centre of Cardiff.

Published: 14 April 2017

Save Stephen Campaign Raising Money to Help Musician Beat Cancer

Musician Stephen Sykes was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in February 2016. Donate via GoFundMe ot sign up to be a potential blood stem cell donor.

Published: 10 April 2017

MU success at TUC Young Workers’ Conference

TUC Young Workers’ Conference supports MU motion on protecting freelance workers.

Published: 07 April 2017

MU responds to Planning Application Adjacent to Iconic Cardiff Venue

The MU has written to Cardiff Council expressing its concern over a planning application that puts iconic live music venue Clwb Ifor Bach at risk.

Published: 31 March 2017

Horace Trubridge wins MU General Secretary election

Horace Trubridge has today been confirmed as the next General Secretary of the Musicians’ Union (MU).

Published: 27 March 2017

BBC invests more in Scotland and Wales

The BBC has announced a new TV channel in Scotland and an extra £8.5m a year in English language television programmes for Wales.

Published: 02 March 2017

MU welcomes £1m National Endowment for Music Fund announced by the Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has announced a new £1m endowment fund to encourage more children to become musicians. This is very welcome news.

Published: 16 February 2017

John Shortell leads the LGBT History Month Panel Discussion Panel

We Need to Talk About LGBT Venues! What Happened Next…

In 2016, we hosted a panel examining recent closures of LGBT venues and what we could do to preserve them in the future. A year on, things are beginning to change.

Published: 26 January 2017

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