News & Stories for Musicians

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We’ve Now Allocated Over £1m to Musicians Facing Hardship

Valuable PPL contributions have assisted our crucial payments to artists facing hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Published: 08 July 2020

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Free Group Coaching from RE:SET

We’re supporting RE:SET, a new virtual action learning programme for artists and creative freelancers, developed by creative agitators the hub.

Published: 08 July 2020

The Great (Livestreamed) Gig in the Sky: Part-One

In part-one of musician and lecturer Sam Leak’s blog on monetising live performances he discusses paywalls, ticketing and how to keep your audience engaged.

Published: 07 July 2020

Summer of Live Festival in Aid of Our Coronavirus Hardship Fund for Musicians

We’re joining forces with the British Underground to present a Summer of Live Online event on Saturday 18 July, hosted by the award-winning Greg Russell and featuring the talents of John Smith, Lady Nade and Chloe Foy.

Published: 07 July 2020

musician with a guitar on the stage with the backlight

Concerns on New Arts Package Raised in Parliament

The Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Jo Stevens MP, asked an urgent question to the Minister for Culture, Caroline Dinenage MP, in parliament today on the subject of the arts package announced this week by the Government.

Published: 07 July 2020

Photograph of an empty backstage, set up for a music performance to go live

£1.57bn Cultural Fund Announced by the Government

The announcement brings welcome reassurance for live music venues and theatres, but must be followed by financial support for creative workers.

Published: 06 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

We’re Calling on Local Authorities to Support Open Air Music Performance

We’re calling on the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government and local authorities to encourage the generation of local culture through live music, whilst respecting safe distancing in keeping with the latest government guidelines.

Published: 03 July 2020

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Let The Music Play Campaign Calls for Vital Financial Support from the Government

Today UK Music, an umbrella organisation of which the MU is a part, has launched a campaign highlighting the huge challenges the music industry is currently facing and possible solutions.

Published: 02 July 2020

Understanding Your Value as a Musician: Making The Most of Working From Home

Musician Sherika Sherard talks to us about her lockdown experience, from her last day of busking, to slowly finding her rhythm from home and the things that she’s learnt along the way.

Published: 02 July 2020

£4m Lifeline for the Arts Sector in Northern Ireland Announced

Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín announced a major £4 million lifeline for the arts sector in Northern Ireland, as part of the Executive’s June Monitoring round.

Published: 02 July 2020

Member Discount for Level Three Education and Training Online Course

London College of Arts & Media are offering MU members a discount of over 75% on their Level 3 Award in Education and Training.

Published: 02 July 2020

Talking Classical Podcast Discusses Racism

Double Bassist Leon Bosch discusses his personal experiences of racism in classical music in a recent episode of Talking Classical, which you can listen back to online.

Published: 02 July 2020

View of Big Ben from Westminister Bridge

Our Call for Financial Support Referenced in PMQs

Bambos Charalambous MP asked the Prime Minister to heed calls from the MU to provide financial support and ensure the survival of the arts sector.

Published: 01 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

Photograph of musician performing on stage.

Take Action and Call for Vital Financial Support

Ask your MP to support a sector specific financial support package to protect our vital cultural assets – and the musicians who work in them.

Published: 01 July 2020

Photograph of a young percussion student sat behind a drum kit.

Members’ PLI Valid from 4 July for Face to Face Teaching

We’ve had confirmation that the Public Liability Insurance which our members are covered by will be valid for face to face teaching in England from 4 July.

Published: 01 July 2020

Orchestras Begin Tentative Start on the Comeback Trail

Following the Culture Secretary’s vague lockdown easement plan, we discuss how important it is that every attempt must be made to mitigate risk, the tentative first steps that some Orchestras have been taking, and the collective determination of musicians to be heard.

Published: 30 June 2020

Frustration as Pubs Reopen with No Live Entertainment, a Lobbying Update

Our Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez discusses the actions the MU are taking to lobby government and make sure that no musician is left behind.

Published: 30 June 2020

Unclaimed Royalties List Published

Members are encouraged to check AFM & SAG-AFTRA’s list of performers who have not received payment for the work that they have done.

Published: 30 June 2020

Get Business Ready Online Event Offers Final Few Spaces

Get Business Ready is a training morning to help you rethink the way you work, in some cases in an online environment, and consider how your ‘business’ may function beyond the pandemic when live activities resume.

Published: 30 June 2020

Jazz bar with a stage with black piano and cello

The MU Reacts to Government Guidance for Restaurants, Pubs and Bars Reopening

The MU's Live Performance Department look at the latest Government guidance for restaurants, pubs and bars - and the bitter blow it delivers for live music.

Published: 29 June 2020

Watch the MU Summer of Live on IGTV

Catch up with live music and chat from Eliza Shaddad, Jack Curley, Prima and Kinkai as part of the MU Summer of Live.

Published: 26 June 2020

Empty seats in the The Shakespeare's Globe theatre

The MU Cautiously Welcomes Government Road Map for Live Sector

While the five-step road map for getting theatres open is welcome, without sector specific financial support, many theatres will struggle to reopen their doors and much of the talent will be forced out of the profession.

Published: 26 June 2020

Photograph of person sat at a computer with their guitar set up to play.

Music Making Online in Real-Time

Musician and educator Alastair Penman discusses web platforms that can make playing together over the internet a possibility, and how to optimise your own system to get the best results.

Published: 25 June 2020

Photograph of a earbud earphones stuck to a bright background with a first-aid style sticking plaster

User Centric Model Support by Labour Party

We’re delighted that the user centric model of paying out streaming royalties has Labour Party support.

Published: 24 June 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

Mans Hand Reaching For Red Ladder Leading To A Blue Sky

Free Support From Guildhall’s Lockdown Lounge

Guildhall Coaching Associates are offering a supportive thinking space for artists through the Covid-19 pandemic, which will be held online bi-weekly and are free to attend.

Published: 23 June 2020

a man listening to music on his earphones

Songs for Refugee Week

For Refugee Week, we asked you to share songs you love in another language, about home, about displacement or imagining a different future.

Published: 23 June 2020

New Covid-19 Recovery Measures Announced by the Government

In the latest announcement from the Government, a number of measures to ease the lockdown in England were announced, as well as the commitment to continue to work together with the devolved governments.

Published: 23 June 2020

Photograph of a keyboard set up by a busker out in a busy open space

Keep Streets Live Releases New Socially-Distanced Busking Guidance

Keep Streets Live, a not-for-profit company that campaigns to protect public spaces for informal offerings of music and the arts, has released new guidance to help buskers comply with social distancing.

Published: 19 June 2020

Photograph of a Black father and his young daughter dancing and joyful in the livingroom

Windrush Day Socially-Distanced Celebrations

Windrush Day on Monday 22 June, is a time to celebrate the huge contributions of the Windrush generation and there has never been a more important time to celebrate.

Published: 19 June 2020

Photograph of Cardiff City Hall in the sunshine

Black Workers’ Experience Surveyed by TUC Wales

Wales TUC have received numerous worrying reports of BME workers facing discrimination in Welsh workplaces during the coronavirus crisis, and are working to identify the scale and complexity of the problem.

Published: 19 June 2020

Model skeleton sat at desk working, wearing eye glasses.

Access Online Healthy Performance Courses on BAPAM’s New Website

Browse BAPAM’s series of events designed to improve health in the performing arts and support enhanced performance excellence through wellbeing and good practice.

Published: 19 June 2020

Panel of logos for BECTU, Equity, CULT Cymru, MU, WGGB

CULT Cymru Launches Online Coaching and Mentoring Programme

CULT Cymru has partnered with the Professional Development Centre, Wales to deliver an exciting Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) endorsed coaching and mentoring programme.

Published: 19 June 2020

Photograph of a happy graduate making rock star hand gestures

Join For a Pound Scheme Extended to Graduate Members

Student members of the MU can now renew their membership after graduation for £1 and get their first six-months for free.

Published: 18 June 2020

Man in a mask playing guitar in front of a laptop

Top-up Payments to Coronavirus Hardship Fund Grants

We’re making a top-up payment of £100 to previously successful applicants to our Coronavirus Hardship Fund this month.

Published: 18 June 2020

Summer of Live Online Festival Launch

The MU is launching its Summer of Live Online Festival this Sunday, 21 June, with the inaugural event being hosted by Shell Zenner, radio presenter, producer and DJ, and featuring the talents of Penfriend, Jack Curley, Prima and Kinkai.

Published: 17 June 2020

Photograph of a small child sat learning the Ukulele

Boost Diversity in the Music Industry with UK Music’s Survey

UK Music, the voice of the UK’s commercial music industry, has launched a Music Industry Workforce Diversity Survey to help bring about “major change at pace”.

Published: 17 June 2020

Photograph of a stack of different multi coloured records

An Update on the Fix Streaming Campaign

Our Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl, and Crispin Hunt, Chair of the Ivors Academy, outline the reasons behind the organisations’ joint campaign seeking a review of streaming royalties.

Published: 17 June 2020

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We’ve Now Allocated Over £1m to Musicians Facing Hardship

Free Group Coaching from RE:SET

The Great (Livestreamed) Gig in the Sky: Part-One

Summer of Live Festival in Aid of Our Coronavirus Hardship Fund for Musicians

Concerns on New Arts Package Raised in Parliament

£1.57bn Cultural Fund Announced by the Government

Vital Performing Arts Venue Funding Announced for Scotland

We’re Calling on Local Authorities to Support Open Air Music Performance

Let The Music Play Campaign Calls for Vital Financial Support from the Government

Understanding Your Value as a Musician: Making The Most of Working From Home

£4m Lifeline for the Arts Sector in Northern Ireland Announced

Member Discount for Level Three Education and Training Online Course

Talking Classical Podcast Discusses Racism

Our Call for Financial Support Referenced in PMQs

Recording Studio Guidance Published by Scottish Government

Take Action and Call for Vital Financial Support

Members’ PLI Valid from 4 July for Face to Face Teaching

Orchestras Begin Tentative Start on the Comeback Trail

Frustration as Pubs Reopen with No Live Entertainment, a Lobbying Update

Unclaimed Royalties List Published

Get Business Ready Online Event Offers Final Few Spaces

The MU Reacts to Government Guidance for Restaurants, Pubs and Bars Reopening

Watch the MU Summer of Live on IGTV

The MU Cautiously Welcomes Government Road Map for Live Sector

Music Making Online in Real-Time

User Centric Model Support by Labour Party

Pride Month: The First Pride was a Riot

Free Support From Guildhall’s Lockdown Lounge

Songs for Refugee Week

New Covid-19 Recovery Measures Announced by the Government

Keep Streets Live Releases New Socially-Distanced Busking Guidance

Windrush Day Socially-Distanced Celebrations

Black Workers’ Experience Surveyed by TUC Wales

Access Online Healthy Performance Courses on BAPAM’s New Website

CULT Cymru Launches Online Coaching and Mentoring Programme

Join For a Pound Scheme Extended to Graduate Members

Top-up Payments to Coronavirus Hardship Fund Grants

Summer of Live Online Festival Launch

Boost Diversity in the Music Industry with UK Music’s Survey

An Update on the Fix Streaming Campaign