News & Stories for Musicians

Andy Payne and his band The Heretic Order

Why I Joined the MU: Andy Payne

Drummer and teacher Andy Payne tells us about how advice from the MU has proved invaluable when making career choices.

Published: 21 June 2019

Photo of Lester Clayton the band, with Lester Clayton on the far right.

Lester Clayton on Taking Advantage of the MU's Legal Advice and Assistance

When an MU member found his band in a tricky situation, legal support from the MU took a weight off his shoulders.

Published: 12 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

Monthly Feldenkrais classes starting from May 2019

The Musicians’ Union (MU) will be holding a series of workshops exploring how your habits of movement can constrain your potential – both on and off the stage.

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’ Union Support for the People’s Vote March

The Musicians' Union (MU) will have a presence at the People’s Vote march in London on 23 March, and has t-shirts and placards available for members who plan to attend.

Published: 15 March 2019

A Tribute to John Edney

A tribute to John Edney, 30 August 1935 – 23 January 2019. Compiled from tributes by Nigel Douglas, Steve Dagg and John Smith.

Published: 14 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 Will Need to be Aware of New Ultra Low Emission Zone in Central London

An Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will be in place in central London from 8 April 2019.

Published: 22 January 2019

BBC Introducing Live Festival Includes Musicians’ Union Takeover Panel

BBC Introducing Live at Tobacco Docks is a new three-day music festival, hosting over 100 masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions – and featuring over 250 speakers from across the music industry, including representatives from the MU.

Published: 29 October 2018

Young Guns Network Launches Year-Long Event Programme for Young Music Industry Professionals

Young Guns Network (YGN), a networking group for young professionals in the music industry, will celebrate its fifth anniversary with the launch of a year-long programme of seminars and events in London.

Published: 04 October 2018

Islington Venue ‘The Garage’ Launches Campaign to Safeguard Its Future Ahead of 25th Anniversary

North London music venue The Garage has launched a campaign to safeguard its future, in the face of an increasingly tough environment that has seen more than 40 percent of grassroots venues close in the capital over the last decade.

Published: 03 August 2018

Musicians’ Union Releases Practical GDPR Examples for Members

The Musicians’ Union (MU) have put together some practical examples of how the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) may impact musicians.

Published: 05 July 2018

MU Delighted by BBC Development in East London

The Musicians’ Union has expressed its delight at the exciting news that the BBC has announced plans for new music studios in Stratford.

Published: 06 June 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

Outside view of Queen's Theatre, West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue

LGBT History Month: "The West End is a Great Place to Work... All Kinds of Musicians Should Get the Chance to Experience It"

This LGBT History Month, we asked MU members to tell us about their experiences working in the music industry. Here, one musician shares their thoughts on life in London’s West End. #LGBTHM2018

Published: 12 February 2018

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

Met Police Scraps Form 696

The Musicians’ Union (MU) is delighted that concerns raised by the MU, British Underground, UK Music and other industry bodies as well as countless musicians to the Metropolitan Police have been listened to and form 696 has been scrapped.

Published: 10 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

Welcome News for AIR Studios

The Musicians’ Union (MU) is delighted that AIR Studios in Hampstead, London, may be another step closer to winning its battle to prevent a neighbouring basement excavation.

Published: 17 October 2017

Sign the Petition to Reverse Ban on Musicians at St. Sepulchre's

The Musicians' Union (MU) added its voice to calls to reverse the recently imposed ban on musicians at St Sepulchre's, known as the National Musicians' Church. Please sign the petition and support music at this historic venue.

Published: 30 August 2017

Planning Hearing to Determine AIR Studios’ Future – Show Your Support

AIR Studios has been fighting a planning application for major alteration works that would cause such disruption that the studio would most likely close. Show your support at the upcoming planning hearing.

Published: 08 August 2017

Carrabinos Score Vital Court Victory For Musicians

A London couple have won their long-running legal battle with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council over a noise abatement notice that severely restricted the amount of time their children could practise the piano in their own home.

Published: 15 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

MU success at TUC Young Workers’ Conference

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

Published: 07 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

New Emissions Surcharge to be introduced in London

London mayor responds to the consultation on proposals to tackle air quality in London.

Published: 05 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

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

Disability History Month: Lizzie Emeh & Heart n Soul

Lizzie Emeh shares her experience working with Heart n Soul, a creative arts charity in South London that believes in the talents and power of people with learning disabilities.

Published: 15 December 2016

Have Your Say on Extra £10 Emission Charge on Older Vehicles in London

Have your say on the Mayor of London’s proposal to charge older/more polluting vehicles an extra £10 per day whilst in the congestion charging zone.

Published: 01 December 2016

“It’s Your Chance to be Directly Part of a Governing Body and Help Create Change for the Better”

Natalie Witts-Kilshaw on why she joined the MU as a member.

Published: 16 November 2016

Rebekah Ubuntu: “Without the MU, the Music Industry Would Be a Confusing Dispersed Abyss"

Performance artist and musician Rebekah Ubuntu explains how she benefits from being a member of the MU.

Published: 02 November 2016

Sherika Sherard at home with music equipment

Sherika Sherard: "Joining the MU Made Me Feel Protected"

Singer-songwriter Sherika Sherard shares why she joined the Union, and how it feels to be an MU member.

Published: 26 October 2016

Singer-songwriter Nadine Wild-Palmer: "If you are serious enough to invest in your career, The MU is a great place to start!"

Nadine Wild-Palmer shares how she found her voice, and how the Musicians' Union has supported her and her career.

Published: 20 October 2016

Why I joined the MU: Abi Jenaé

Abi Jenaé shares why she joined the Musicians’ Union, and how the Union has supported her career, in celebration of Black History Month.

Published: 17 October 2016

London Drum Show, Olympia, discounted ticket offer

The London Drum Show returns to London’s Olympia once more this year and MU members can benefit from a discounted advance ticket offer.

Published: 12 October 2016

March to Save Passing Clouds from Closure

March with over 2000 people against the closure of Passing Clouds, a renowned multicultural live music venue in London.

Published: 15 September 2016

Health and Wellbeing Month in association with Help Musicians UK, BAPAM and Musicians’ Union

For the entire month of August, Help Musicians UK (HMUK), the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) and the Musicians' Union (MU) will partner to provide a range of events about how to look after yourself as a professional musician.

Published: 07 July 2016

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