News & Stories for Musicians

Westminster on a sunny day viewed through railings

Beginner’s Guide to Brexit at The Great Escape

Musicians’ Union (MU) Assistant General Secretary Naomi Pohl represented MU members at the Beginner’s Guide to Brexit panel at The Great Escape. Here are some of the highlights…

Published: 30 May 2017

Save Womanby Street march to Cardiff City Hall

Save Womanby Street Campaign Victory

Save Womanby Street campaigners in Wales have won a significant victory in their battle to protect live music venues, as the Welsh government is set to revise its planning policy in line with the Agent of Change principle.

Published: 23 May 2017

MU Success at TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference

The MU is delighted to have attended the TUC’s Disabled Workers’ Conference, with delegates John and Heidi representing MU members.

Published: 19 May 2017

Air Canada Wins International Federation of Musicians Award

Air Canada wins the newly-created FIM Airline of Choice Award for their exemplary policies on musicians travelling with instruments.

Published: 19 May 2017

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia

This year, we’re proud to be doing more than ever to support, engage and celebrate our LGBT+ members.

Published: 17 May 2017

Delegation from the MU at the Save Womanby Street march to Cardiff City Hall

The Musicians’ Union Attends Save Womanby Street March to City Hall

Over 1000 people, including a delegation from the Musicians’ Union, attended the highly successful Save Womanby Street march to Cardiff City Hall on Saturday 29 April.

Published: 05 May 2017

MU Success Supporting Precarious Workers at STUC 2017

STUC passes MU motion acknowledging the challenges of the gig economy, how we can better protect independent workers and grow the union movement.

Published: 25 April 2017

May Day Marches in Scotland & Northern Ireland

Join a May Day March throughout Scotland and Northern Ireland at one of the following locations.

Published: 25 April 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

Cardiff AMs call for Agent of Change to save city centre live music

Two Cardiff AMs are calling on the Welsh Government to change planning laws in Wales to protect the future of live music venues in the centre of Cardiff.

Published: 14 April 2017

Naomi Pohl becomes the Union's first female Assistant General Secretary

Naomi Pohl has been appointed as MU Assistant General Secretary, Music Industry, and becomes the first female to join the Union’s team of senior officials in the Union’s 124-year history.

Published: 11 April 2017

TUC Black Workers Conference Supports Stop Rainbow Racism Campaign

TUC Black Workers Conference voted to support the MU’s motion on the Stop Rainbow Racism Campaign and the anti-racism code of practice.

Published: 10 April 2017

Save Stephen Campaign Raising Money to Help Musician Beat Cancer

Musician Stephen Sykes was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in February 2016. Donate via GoFundMe ot sign up to be a potential blood stem cell donor.

Published: 10 April 2017

MU success at TUC Young Workers’ Conference

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

Published: 07 April 2017

Music industry lobby government over Ivory Ban

An exemption for musical instruments has been proposed to the planned ivory ban, which will be under consultation in April.

Published: 07 April 2017

Management Agreement Launched for New Artists and Managers

The MU has joined forces with FAC and the MMF to create an example management agreement for use by newer artists and managers entering the industry.

Published: 31 March 2017

MU responds to Planning Application Adjacent to Iconic Cardiff Venue

The MU has written to Cardiff Council expressing its concern over a planning application that puts iconic live music venue Clwb Ifor Bach at risk.

Published: 31 March 2017

Support Our Dirty Dancing Campaign on World Theatre Day

MU members and live theatre fans are continuing to protest the current touring production Dirty Dancing. Support the campaign #KeepMusicLive

Published: 27 March 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 welcomes NUT/ATL merger

The Musicians' Union (MU) looks forward to working with the new National Education Union (NEU) - the union formed by the NUT and ATL.

Published: 22 March 2017

1 in 3 BAME people have witnessed or experienced racist abuse since Brexit vote, finds TUC poll

1 in 3 BAME people have witnessed or experienced racist abuse since Brexit vote, finds TUC poll.

Published: 17 March 2017

Tribute to Fran Hanley

Fran Hanley, Music Education Official at the MU, was a committed trade unionist and a great friend to so many in the music industry. Here she is remembered with fondness by some of her colleagues and musicians.

Published: 10 March 2017

Increase in National Insurance (NI) contributions for the self-employed announced

The Musicians’ Union (MU) will be arguing against measures announced in today’s budget that will see National Insurance Contributions by the self-employed rise.

Published: 08 March 2017

It’s Our NHS – a view from the demo

MU Midlands Organiser Stephen Brown shares his experience marching for the NHS and why all MU members should care about the fight to save our national health service from further cuts.

Published: 07 March 2017

BBC invests more in Scotland and Wales

The BBC has announced a new TV channel in Scotland and an extra £8.5m a year in English language television programmes for Wales.

Published: 02 March 2017

MU Supports WASPI Campaign

Are you a woman born in the 1950s? You may have been detrimentally affected by the 2011 Pension Act. WASPI is campaigning for fairer treatment.

Published: 02 March 2017

MU welcomes £1m National Endowment for Music Fund announced by the Welsh Government

The Welsh Government has announced a new £1m endowment fund to encourage more children to become musicians. This is very welcome news.

Published: 16 February 2017

Heart Unions Week: I've been a member of the MU for 10 years

To celebrate Heart Unions Week, we asked MU members what the Union means to them. Share the love using the hashtag #HeartUnions

Published: 13 February 2017

Heart Unions Week: “By standing together we can realise a future we can be proud of”

To celebrate Heart Unions Week, we asked MU members what the Union means to them. Share the love using the hashtag #HeartUnions

Published: 10 February 2017

Heart Unions Week: “Being involved in the Musicians' Union means that my voice is heard”

To celebrate Heart Unions Week, we asked MU members what the Union means to them. Share the love using the hashtag #HeartUnions

Published: 09 February 2017

Heart Unions Week: “Working together can take us all forwards”

To celebrate Heart Unions Week, we asked MU members what the Union means to them. Share the love using the hashtag #HeartUnions

Published: 08 February 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

MU announces election for General Secretary

The Musicians’ Union’s (MU) General Secretary, John Smith, is to stand down in July 2017 after 15 years in office. The process for electing a new MU General Secretary is currently underway.

Published: 04 February 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

What the Fair Play Venue Scheme Means to Independent Venues

To celebrate Independent Venue Week, we asked some of our Fair Play Venues why they signed up and what the Fair Play Venue Scheme means to them.

Published: 27 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

Why we’re Supporting Independent Venue Week 2017

IVW is a seven-day celebration of small music venues around the UK, and the MU is proud to be involved once again. Here’s why.

Published: 23 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

Workforce Diversity in the British Music Industry

UK Music published results of its first pan-industry workforce diversity survey of the music industry focusing on ethnicity and gender.

Published: 17 January 2017

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All News and Features

Beginner’s Guide to Brexit at The Great Escape

Save Womanby Street Campaign Victory

MU Success at TUC Disabled Workers’ Conference

Air Canada Wins International Federation of Musicians Award

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia

The Musicians’ Union Attends Save Womanby Street March to City Hall

MU Success Supporting Precarious Workers at STUC 2017

May Day Marches in Scotland & Northern Ireland

Midlands TUC Cultural Manifesto

Cardiff AMs call for Agent of Change to save city centre live music

Naomi Pohl becomes the Union's first female Assistant General Secretary

TUC Black Workers Conference Supports Stop Rainbow Racism Campaign

Save Stephen Campaign Raising Money to Help Musician Beat Cancer

MU success at TUC Young Workers’ Conference

Music industry lobby government over Ivory Ban

Management Agreement Launched for New Artists and Managers

MU responds to Planning Application Adjacent to Iconic Cardiff Venue

Support Our Dirty Dancing Campaign on World Theatre Day

Horace Trubridge wins MU General Secretary election

MU welcomes NUT/ATL merger

1 in 3 BAME people have witnessed or experienced racist abuse since Brexit vote, finds TUC poll

Tribute to Fran Hanley

Increase in National Insurance (NI) contributions for the self-employed announced

It’s Our NHS – a view from the demo

BBC invests more in Scotland and Wales

MU Supports WASPI Campaign

MU welcomes £1m National Endowment for Music Fund announced by the Welsh Government

Heart Unions Week: I've been a member of the MU for 10 years

Heart Unions Week: “By standing together we can realise a future we can be proud of”

Heart Unions Week: “Being involved in the Musicians' Union means that my voice is heard”

Heart Unions Week: “Working together can take us all forwards”

New Emissions Surcharge to be introduced in London

MU announces election for General Secretary

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

What the Fair Play Venue Scheme Means to Independent Venues

We Need to Talk About LGBT Venues! What Happened Next…

Why we’re Supporting Independent Venue Week 2017

Coventry music teachers made redundant

Musicians’ Union Supports Independent Venue Week

Workforce Diversity in the British Music Industry