Announcing the #BrokenRecord Appeal and Festival The Broken Record Appeal aims to support every kind of music creator in need as a result of Coronavirus. MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl discusses the Broken Record Appeal and the associated Festival planned for 24th May. Published: 11 May 2020 Read more about Announcing the #BrokenRecord Appeal and Festival
Show Your Support for the Campaign to Fix Streaming and Keep Music Alive The MU is working in partnership with the Ivors Academy to keep music alive, starting with fixing streaming. Published: 11 May 2020 Read more about Show Your Support for the Campaign to Fix Streaming and Keep Music Alive
How Changes to the Coronavirus Lockdown Measures Could Affect Musicians On Sunday 10 May evening, the Government announced some changes to the Coronavirus lockdown in England. Published: 11 May 2020 Read more about How Changes to the Coronavirus Lockdown Measures Could Affect Musicians
Tribute: Matthew Seligman Talented Bowie and Soft Boys bassist who played at Live Aid. Published: 11 May 2020 Read more about Tribute: Matthew Seligman
Tribute: Ian Macpherson 18 August 1935 – 6 April 2020. In the family vernacular, 'Just a wee boy from Kilmarnock', Ian Macpherson was born in 1935 and moved to London with his family in 1946 when his father, the tenor Andrew Macpherson, joined the London Opera Company. Published: 11 May 2020 Read more about Tribute: Ian Macpherson
Tribute: John Giddings John Giddings, 89, Timpanist, percussionist and former teacher died on Sunday 2nd June 2019, peacefully at home in Bristol, due to natural causes. Published: 11 May 2020 Read more about Tribute: John Giddings
Tribute: Pat Benham South west based guitar player, composer and teacher Pat Benham passed away on 16 May 2019. He was 79 and had been struggling with motor neurone disease for four years. Pat was a warm and popular man, as well as a highly regarded musician, who will be greatly missed. Published: 11 May 2020 Read more about Tribute: Pat Benham
Tribute: Sheik Thompson "My friend Sheikh, a larger than life character and great jazz musician" – a tribute from Jerry Kadiah Published: 11 May 2020 Read more about Tribute: Sheik Thompson
New Online Resources for Music Teachers Three new online resources for music teachers that have been made free for lock down – sheet music downloads, classical music streaming and inspiration from ROSL young musicians. Published: 07 May 2020 Read more about New Online Resources for Music Teachers
HMRC to Begin Contacting Those Eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme HMRC is inviting those who believe they may be eligible for the Government’s Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) to complete a quick online check. Published: 06 May 2020 Read more about HMRC to Begin Contacting Those Eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme
Applications Open for Bounce Back Scheme for Business Loans Small businesses can apply for a Government backed loan of up to £50,000, with no interest charged or repayments needed in the first twelve months. Some self-employed workers and limited company directors may be able to use this as income support. Published: 06 May 2020 Read more about Applications Open for Bounce Back Scheme for Business Loans
Findings From Latest MU Impact Survey Covered on Sky News Sky News covered the findings from our latest survey, which suggests that over a third of musicians will fall short of the criteria required for the Government’s assistance schemes. Published: 06 May 2020 Read more about Findings From Latest MU Impact Survey Covered on Sky News
Video Message From Author Philip Pullman for Bidders on MU Auction Our auction to raise money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund has been growing and growing. This week, author Philip Pullman recorded a video message to encourage bidding on the item he donated. Published: 06 May 2020 Read more about Video Message From Author Philip Pullman for Bidders on MU Auction
Impact Survey Identifies Key Gaps in Current Government Support for Self-Employed Workers Our survey has found that a significant number of our members – the majority of whom are self-employed – will struggle financially, with two-in-five (38%) falling short of the criteria required for the Government’s assistance schemes. Published: 05 May 2020 Read more about Impact Survey Identifies Key Gaps in Current Government Support for Self-Employed Workers
Three-Month Subscription Holiday Scheme Opens for Applications MU members in dire financial need due to disruption from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can now apply for a three-month break in their subscription fees. Published: 04 May 2020 Read more about Three-Month Subscription Holiday Scheme Opens for Applications
Leading Live Music Workshops Online: From Hysterical Disasters to Lifting Spirits Mike Simpson, co-founder of Inspire-works, talks us through his own personal trial and error learning experience of setting up group lessons online, and the surprise benefits that he’s discovered. Published: 04 May 2020 Read more about Leading Live Music Workshops Online: From Hysterical Disasters to Lifting Spirits
Scottish Government Opens Hardship Fund for the Newly Self Employed As part of its second phase of funding to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, the Scottish Government have put £34M behind a hardship fund for those due to miss out on UK Government funding due to being newly self-employed. Published: 04 May 2020 Read more about Scottish Government Opens Hardship Fund for the Newly Self Employed
Call for Evidence From Those Missing out on SEISS Due to Maternity Leave Campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed are calling on those whose Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) claim has been affected by maternity leave. Due to the massive response to their campaign so far, the Government’s deadline for evidence has been extended. Published: 04 May 2020 Read more about Call for Evidence From Those Missing out on SEISS Due to Maternity Leave
MU Supports Music Venue Trust’s Save Our Venues Campaign This week the Music Venue Trust (MVT) launched its Save Our Venues campaign. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, venues are facing real hardship with many threatened with closure as Government measures start to run out. Published: 01 May 2020 Read more about MU Supports Music Venue Trust’s Save Our Venues Campaign
Advice on Public Charge Designations for Musicians in the USA on Visas Our friends at Tamizdat are offering Pro-Bono advice for musicians, who at the time of lockdown may have been working in the United States of America (USA) under a visa, and are concerned about whether a public charge designation could affect them. Published: 01 May 2020 Read more about Advice on Public Charge Designations for Musicians in the USA on Visas
International Day of Families: Recognising Those Falling Through Gaps in the Government’s Response MU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Official John Shortell highlights “the impact Coronavirus is having on those with families and how the Government’s response to the pandemic, especially in relation to freelancers with families, reinforces disadvantages.” Published: 01 May 2020 Read more about International Day of Families: Recognising Those Falling Through Gaps in the Government’s Response
AIM to Hold Free Virtual Conference on Independent Music Following the success of its first virtual conference, AIM Sync, trade body The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has announced the transition of its Great Escape Conference programme, ‘AIM House’, to a full-day virtual event. Published: 01 May 2020 Read more about AIM to Hold Free Virtual Conference on Independent Music
Three-Month Subscription Holiday Announced for Members in Financial Hardship In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit our profession as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have decided to offer a three-month subscription holiday to those who are in dire financial need. Published: 30 April 2020 Read more about Three-Month Subscription Holiday Announced for Members in Financial Hardship
Soon to be Released Statistics Paint a Stark Picture of Musicians Left Behind by the Government’s Support Schemes MU Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez reports on how our recent impact survey shows that the percentage of those the Government claims will be protected by the Self-employed Income Support Scheme “is categorically not the case for musicians”. Published: 29 April 2020 Read more about Soon to be Released Statistics Paint a Stark Picture of Musicians Left Behind by the Government’s Support Schemes
Rockschool Pledges to Donate £5 to NHS for Every Exam Entry Rockschool, who provide graded exams for contemporary musicians of all levels, are holding their next exam period online to reduce disruption to teachers and students during the coronavirus pandemic. Published: 29 April 2020 Read more about Rockschool Pledges to Donate £5 to NHS for Every Exam Entry
Make Music Day Goes Digital Make Music Day is an annual set of music events that takes place around the world on the longest day of the year – 21 June. This year participants are being encouraged to host and engage with events online. Published: 29 April 2020 Read more about Make Music Day Goes Digital
New Telephone Support Network For Musicians Musicians feeling isolated and anxious can sign up to the Royal Society of Musicians’ (RSM’s) Coronavirus Support Network to chat with other musicians. Published: 27 April 2020 Read more about New Telephone Support Network For Musicians
The Government’s Self-Employment Support Extended to Musicians on Work Visas Last week, the Home Office confirmed that the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is available to migrants who are self-employed and have no recourse to public funds. Published: 27 April 2020 Read more about The Government’s Self-Employment Support Extended to Musicians on Work Visas
Northern Ireland Launches Support Fund for Arts Sector Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has announced funding of £1.5 million to support individuals and organisations in the Arts Sector in response to Covid-19. Published: 27 April 2020 Read more about Northern Ireland Launches Support Fund for Arts Sector
Music Support Hosts 12 Step Support Groups Online Music Support is launching weekly online support group meetings to allow the music industry’s 12 Step recovery community to continue to connect during the COVID-19 lockdown. Published: 27 April 2020 Read more about Music Support Hosts 12 Step Support Groups Online
A Minute's Silence for Key Workers on International Worker’s Memorial Day Trades Union members and others are encouraged to observe a minute’s silence on Tuesday 28 April at 11:00 am – to pay tribute to the key workers who have lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic. Published: 27 April 2020 Read more about A Minute's Silence for Key Workers on International Worker’s Memorial Day
Help DCMS Understand What Help Is Needed by Taking Survey The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is calling for participants for its survey on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Published: 27 April 2020 Read more about Help DCMS Understand What Help Is Needed by Taking Survey
General Secretary Term Extension The Chair of the MU’s Executive Committee (EC), Dave Lee, explains how the EC made a unanimous decision to extend the General Secretary’s term of office. Published: 25 April 2020 Read more about General Secretary Term Extension
Live Rates Released for Members Planning Gigs Later in the Year We’ve published new live rates for 2020-2021 which may be useful to members when planning for work past the disruption caused by COVID-19. Published: 24 April 2020 Read more about Live Rates Released for Members Planning Gigs Later in the Year
Jumping into Online Teaching: Points to Consider Rick Finlay, aiming to answer a few questions, and arming us to "get stuck in and see what happens". Published: 22 April 2020 Read more about Jumping into Online Teaching: Points to Consider
Pressing for Financial Support for Musicians, a Lobbying Update MU Head of Communications & Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez reports, “Parliament is now back from recess, albeit in a largely digital format. We have already been in touch with MPs to ask them to question the Government on our behalf.” Published: 22 April 2020 Read more about Pressing for Financial Support for Musicians, a Lobbying Update
Crew Nation Fund Opens to Support Live Music Crews Live Nation have opened a fund to protect those who work behind the scenes to make live music happen. Applications are open to anyone who have been financially impacted from shows originally scheduled to take place in March or April 2020. Published: 22 April 2020 Read more about Crew Nation Fund Opens to Support Live Music Crews
Creative Scotland Opens Bridging Bursary for Second Phase of Requests Creative Scotland have announced an extra £2M of funding, open to individual artists and freelancers in Scotland who have lost income from their creative work due to COVID-19. Published: 21 April 2020 Read more about Creative Scotland Opens Bridging Bursary for Second Phase of Requests
Les Misérables Downloads to Raise Money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund We’re welcoming the news that a concert production of Les Misérables, filmed at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End, is to become available as a digital download as part of a charity initiative from Cameron Mackintosh. Published: 21 April 2020 Read more about Les Misérables Downloads to Raise Money for the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund
Recording from Home: Working as a Session Musician Remotely Trumpet player, contractor, and executive director of Music Creation Paul Spong talks about remote sessions in the time of Covid-19, what you need for your home setup, and lessons he’s learned along the way. Published: 20 April 2020 Read more about Recording from Home: Working as a Session Musician Remotely