News & Stories for Musicians

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Horace Trubridge Responds to BBC Article on Relaxing Two-metre Rule

MU General Secretary Horace Trubridge explains, “we do not want musicians to go back to the workplace if by doing so they are risking their health or the health of others.”

Published: 08 June 2020

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Health and Safety Measures are Essential to Protecting Working People

The MU fully supports health and safety measures to control the virus and protect working people. We are discussing the relaxation of the two-metre rule with the Government only when it is safe to do so.

Published: 06 June 2020

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Fundraiser on Bandcamp Friday 5 June

Music platform Bandcamp are waiving their revenue share for all sales, from 8:00 am on Friday 5 June to 8:00 am on Saturday 6 June.

Published: 05 June 2020

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Select Committee on the Impact of Covid-19 on the Creative Industries

Our General Secretary Horace Trubridge will be giving evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the creative industries on Tuesday morning.

Published: 05 June 2020

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Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Black Lives Matter UK are calling on the on the public to show support for Black members of the community who are being disproportionately affected by Covid-19 with a musical response on Thursday 4 June.

Published: 03 June 2020

Protesters at a Black Lives Matter march in London.

Reflecting on #TheShowMustBePaused

Following #TheShowMustBePaused, we must now turn awareness into action in order to create meaningful, long-term impact.

Published: 03 June 2020

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Changes to Furlough Scheme From August Announced

Members who are employed, and currently being paid through the Government’s furlough scheme, should be aware of changes that will come into play from August onwards.

Published: 01 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

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New Ways of Working: Teaching Choirs Online

Kerry Boyle, an experienced singing teacher and choral director, talks us through her personal experience of moving to online teaching with the choirs she works with, and the lessons she’s learnt along the way.

Published: 29 May 2020

Our Survey Results Highlight a Growing Threat to Theatre Musicians’ Livelihoods

The results of our survey of theatre musicians across the UK has confirmed the increasing financial hardship that our world-famous musical theatre industry will face in the coming months.

Published: 29 May 2020

Feldenkrais and Practice

Emma Alter, tutor for our regular (now Zoom based) Feldenkrais classes, discusses, “How do we as musicians incorporate or involve Feldenkrais in our instrumental (or singing) practice?” and how we can practice embodiment in our everyday movement too.

Published: 29 May 2020

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An Open Letter to Theatre and Performance Makers

Organisations from across the UK released an open letter earlier this week, addressed to all the freelance and self-employed workers involved in theatre.

Published: 29 May 2020

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BBC Proms Will Go Ahead in a New Format

The organisers behind the BBC Proms have stated that they are standing with music lovers everywhere, and musicians around the world affected by Covid-19, and that this year they plan to host the “Not the proms as we know them, the Proms as we need them.”

Published: 29 May 2020

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Self Employed Income Support Scheme Extended

We welcome the Government’s announcement that the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will now open for a second round of applications in August.

Published: 29 May 2020

Recording Sessions: A First Step Back on the Road to Recovery

Our Assistant General Secretary, Phil Kear, describes how the “Recording studios in England are on the threshold of welcoming back session musicians to fulfil a programme of recordings for film, TV, video games and commercial audio recordings.”

Published: 29 May 2020

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A Return to Work: Pop up Gigs, Car Parks and Afternoon Tea

As we lobby for pop up gigs and other ways for musicians to return to work safely, MU Executive Committee and the North of England Regional Committee member Vernon Fuller talks about his first pop up gig in a care home car park and the difference it made to staff and residents.

Published: 28 May 2020

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Call on the Treasury to Extend Government Support for the Self Employed

The Self Employment Income Support Scheme, the Government’s support for freelancers, comes to an end in June. We urge the Government to continue to provide SEISS until at least October. Add your voice to our call.

Published: 28 May 2020

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Twitter Listening Party Raises over £6,000

The Broken Record Appeal, a Twitter listening party held by Tim Burgess over the weekend, smashed it’s fundraising target to raise over £6000 in funds. The money will be split between the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund and the PRS Emergency Relief Fund.

Published: 27 May 2020

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Safety Advice for Musicians Taking Part in Recording Sessions

We’ve published some studio safety advice for recording session musicians taking part in recording sessions during Covid-19.

Published: 26 May 2020

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Next Steps: Picturing Possibilities for the Return to Work

MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl examines the question, “When will it be time for musicians to go back to work and what might work look like in the Government’s Covid-19 recovery phases?” in the hope of giving “a very broad-brush idea of what might be possible as we eme

Published: 22 May 2020

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Support Vital in the Lead Up to Possible Return to Work, a Lobbying Update

MU Head of Communications and Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez explains what we’re doing to lobby the Government for vital support, both in our current situation and as musicians are more able to return to work.

Published: 22 May 2020

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Our Keep Music Alive Campaign Has Over 10,000 Signatures

In May we joined forces with the Ivors Academy to launch a campaign to Keep Music Alive, starting with a petition to #FixStreaming. And we’re overjoyed to report that it’s already reached over 10,000 signatures!

Published: 22 May 2020

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Survey to Understand the Impact of Covid-19 on the Mental Health of Creative Freelancers

The Hub UK and the Creative Industries Federation are looking to develop a new, totally free, mental health support programme – and your answers to their ten-minute survey can help them build something that meets your needs.

Published: 22 May 2020

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Let’s Talk About Mental Health

Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. In this blog we round up articles from popular musicians from Adele to Stormzy, discussing their experiences with mental health.

Published: 22 May 2020

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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

Inspire Works Uses ACE Funding to Launch New Series of Drumming Workshops

You may remember Inspire Works from our blog, Leading Live Music Workshops Online, in which their co-founder Mike Simpson talked about his own personal experience of moving his teaching to a virtual space.

Published: 20 May 2020

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New Advice on Online Group Teaching

We’ve published a new advice page with guidance on moving to group teaching online. You can read it now in the teaching online section of our Covid-19 advice pages.

Published: 20 May 2020

Help UK Music Speak for You by Completing This Survey

We’re calling on members to complete UK Music’s annual survey, at a time when it is more important than ever to speak to the Government about the needs of the music industry. It takes nine minutes to complete, and you can enter their prize draw.

Published: 19 May 2020

Over Three-Quarters of Theatre Musicians Face Hardship if Unable to Work Until September

We surveyed our members who work in theatre, and discovered that over 77% of those that responded felt they were likely to be in financial hardship if they aren’t able to return to work until September.

Published: 18 May 2020

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We Support the NEU’s Five Tests for Government Before Schools Can Re-Open

We are supporting the NEU’s five tests for Government before schools can re-open.

Published: 18 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

New Online Teaching Contract for Adult Students

We’ve added to the contracts we have on offer for online teaching, reflecting the change in teaching conditions that many of our members are currently undertaking.

Published: 15 May 2020

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Keep Music Alive Petition to Fix Streaming Gains Extensive Media Coverage

On Monday 11 May we joined forces with the Ivors Academy to launch a campaign to Keep Music Alive, starting with a petition calling on the Government to fix streaming now. And now it’s gaining traction across the media.

Published: 13 May 2020

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Applications for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme Have Opened

Members who have entered their details into HMRC’s online checker will have been given a date between 13-18 May on which they can apply for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

Published: 13 May 2020

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Getting Recording Session Musicians Back to Work

To start developing proposals to get UK recording session musicians back to work the MU is meeting with representatives from the major recording studios and media ensemble contractors.

Published: 12 May 2020

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The Life or Death Consequences of Prejudice and Discrimination

MU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Official John Shortell explains why “now is exactly the time to talk about difference and about inequality,” and the disparities which the Coronavirus pandemic has brought into sharp focus.

Published: 12 May 2020

We’re Launching a Campaign to Fix Streaming Now With The Ivors Academy

We’ve joined forces with the The Ivors Academy at a time of crisis for tens of thousands of music creators, to form a new alliance that will campaign to Keep Music Alive.

Published: 11 May 2020

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Welsh Members Encouraged to Take Survey to Develop Online Learning Resources

CULT Cymru are looking to develop their online learning resources to meet new needs that have arisen during the coronavirus pandemic, and would like to hear from members in Wales about what would be useful to them.

Published: 11 May 2020

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New Items Added as MU Auction Approaches Deadline

We’ve received a number of exciting new donations to our auction to raise money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund – which will be ending on Wednesday 13 May at 7:00 pm.

Published: 11 May 2020

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Horace Trubridge Responds to BBC Article on Relaxing Two-metre Rule

Health and Safety Measures are Essential to Protecting Working People

Fundraiser on Bandcamp Friday 5 June

Select Committee on the Impact of Covid-19 on the Creative Industries

Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Reflecting on #TheShowMustBePaused

Changes to Furlough Scheme From August Announced

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

New Ways of Working: Teaching Choirs Online

Our Survey Results Highlight a Growing Threat to Theatre Musicians’ Livelihoods

Feldenkrais and Practice

An Open Letter to Theatre and Performance Makers

BBC Proms Will Go Ahead in a New Format

Self Employed Income Support Scheme Extended

Recording Sessions: A First Step Back on the Road to Recovery

A Return to Work: Pop up Gigs, Car Parks and Afternoon Tea

Call on the Treasury to Extend Government Support for the Self Employed

Twitter Listening Party Raises over £6,000

Safety Advice for Musicians Taking Part in Recording Sessions

Next Steps: Picturing Possibilities for the Return to Work

Support Vital in the Lead Up to Possible Return to Work, a Lobbying Update

Our Keep Music Alive Campaign Has Over 10,000 Signatures

Survey to Understand the Impact of Covid-19 on the Mental Health of Creative Freelancers

Let’s Talk About Mental Health

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

Scottish Members Encouraged to Submit Stories to Scottish Parliament

Inspire Works Uses ACE Funding to Launch New Series of Drumming Workshops

New Advice on Online Group Teaching

Help UK Music Speak for You by Completing This Survey

Over Three-Quarters of Theatre Musicians Face Hardship if Unable to Work Until September

We Support the NEU’s Five Tests for Government Before Schools Can Re-Open

Support Fair Play Venues Affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic

New Online Teaching Contract for Adult Students

Keep Music Alive Petition to Fix Streaming Gains Extensive Media Coverage

Applications for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme Have Opened

Getting Recording Session Musicians Back to Work

The Life or Death Consequences of Prejudice and Discrimination

We’re Launching a Campaign to Fix Streaming Now With The Ivors Academy

Welsh Members Encouraged to Take Survey to Develop Online Learning Resources

New Items Added as MU Auction Approaches Deadline