News & Stories for Musicians

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

Five Free Tickets Available for Birmingham BAPAM Healthy Performance Workshops

These introductory two-hour sessions are designed for performing arts professionals and students and will outline risk factors and key strategies to maintain good 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 of Millicent Stephenson holding a saxophone, with banner reading

Why I Joined the MU: Millicent Stephenson

Multi award winning saxophonist, Millicent Stephenson, tells us how joining the MU helped her develop her passion for music into a full-time career.

Published: 01 July 2019

Children of The Windrush Generation Make Music

Millicent Stephenson explores the impact of the Windrush Generation on both her personal musical development, and on the development of music in the UK as a whole.

Published: 18 June 2019

Call for Stewards at the Women Chainmakers’ Festival in Cradley Heath

The Women Chainmakers’ festival will be held 11:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday 6 July in Mary Macarthur Gardens, Cradley Heath, B64 5AB. The MU is looking for volunteers to steward or help on the stall on the day.

Published: 13 June 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

Photo of Sally Rea Morris, with caption reading reading

Sally Rea Morris: "The MU Have Felt Like a Much-needed Support System"

Country singer-songwriter Sally Rea Morris tells us how becoming a member of the MU made taking the leap into being a full time, self-employed musician a little less scary.

Published: 03 June 2019

The MU at Birmingham Pride

The MU joined Birmingham Pride march on 25 May 2019.

Published: 30 April 2019

Three event participants sit under a slide reading

Home of Metal Symposium and Workshop: Call for Papers and Workshop Participants

Home of Metal is a celebration of the music that was born in Birmingham. It’s exhibitions and events seek to join the dots between music, social history, visual art and fan cultures to produce a new perspective on Heavy Metal.

Published: 28 March 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

Musicians in the Midlands Encouraged to Take Part in Arts Council England Research Survey

Arts Council England (ACE) are running a survey to identify and assess the challenges, opportunities and funding needs within the Midlands’ music scene, enabling them to target future support effectively.

Published: 18 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

Musicians’ Union Responds To Geronimo Festival Liquidation Proceedings

The Musicians’ Union (MU) has expressed its concerns about liquidation proceedings being commenced for 'Geronimo Festival UK Ltd’ which owes MU members several thousand pounds.

Published: 15 August 2018

Help keep the Stratford ArtsHouse open

It was announced on Thursday that the Stratford ArtsHouse – home to the Orchestra of the Swan – is due to close on 5 May. Act now to help secure the future of this essential community space.

Published: 26 February 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

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

The MU at the Women Chainmakers’ Festival

Musicians’ Union (MU) highlights from the Women Chainmakers’ Festival, supported by the MU Midlands Region.

Published: 06 July 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

Midlands TUC Cultural Manifesto

The Culture Manifesto aims to achieve a sustainable cultural economy, and provide long term work opportunities for musicians and other creative workers.

Published: 24 April 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

MU Discusses Dirty Dancing’s ‘Dirty Dealing’ on BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire

MU Midlands Organiser Stephen Brown discussed Dirty Dancing’s ‘dirty dealing’ on The Breakfast Show with Trish Adudu, BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire.

Published: 30 January 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

Coventry music teachers made redundant

The MU has expressed its dismay at Coventry Council’s decision to make all of its peripatetic music teachers redundant from April this year.

Published: 18 January 2017

Musicians’ Union Supports Independent Venue Week

Independent Venue Week is a seven-day celebration of small music venues around the UK, and the Musicians’ Union is proud to be involved once again.

Published: 17 January 2017

Upcoming Dirty Dancing Protests in the Midlands

Join MU members demonstrating in support of live music prior to performances of Dirty Dancing in Northampton, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton. Keep music live!

Published: 24 October 2016

Entertainment Unions Launch Alternative Vision for BBC

The Federation of Entertainment Unions (FEU) is launching its BBC Alternative White Paper in Parliament today (Tuesday 15 March).

Published: 15 March 2016

We Need to Talk About LGBT Venues!

Highlights from our LGBT History Month panel discussion on the future of LGBT venues.

Published: 05 February 2016

Trade Union Bill in the House of Lords

Over the next few weeks the House of Lords will be discussing the Trade Union Bill, which amongst other things threatens the basic right to strike.

Published: 21 January 2016

Frances O'Grady speaking into microphone

MU condemns ‘unnecessary’ Trade Union Bill

The Government has now published its Trade Union Bill, which includes plans to criminalise picketing, permit employers to hire strike-breaking agency staff and a requirement that at least 40% of those asked to vote support the strike in most key public services.

Published: 16 July 2015

Various instruments and sheet music stands set up on stage

Major rights group launches online campaign for artists

In May, four organisations representing more than 500,000 performers in Europe joined forces to campaign for the fair remuneration of online revenues.

Published: 21 May 2015

Tribute to Johnnie Gray

One of the great characters of British jazz, Johnnie Gray has passed away aged 94. Born in Coventry in 1920, he took up the tenor saxophone at school before becoming an engineering apprentice at Rolls-Royce.

Published: 17 July 2014

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