Recording and Broadcasting The MU looks after music recording and broadcasting rights when you do any recording work – from regular sessions to home recording. Guidance Working as a Recording Session Musician Advice for musicians who are employed to record music for media projects and who are paid by the session. Read more about Working as a Recording Session Musician Working as a Recording Artist What you need to know while working as a recording artist. Read more about Working as a Recording Artist Royalties from Recordings Guidance on earning revenue from sound recordings, including MU distributed royalties. Read more about Royalties from Recordings Copyright for Performers in a Sound Recording Everything you need to know about copyright and performers' rights when recording your work. Read more about Copyright for Performers in a Sound Recording Recording Work during Covid-19 Everything you need to know when recording music during Coronavirus pandemic. Read more about Recording Work during Covid-19 Rate guidance Remote Recording Session Work Read more about Remote Recording Session Work Resources Rates of pay Collective Agreements and Rates Look up rates, terms and conditions from with the BBC, ITV, IPA, PACT and BPI and other agreements negotiated for recording session musicians. Read more about Collective Agreements and Rates MU standard templates Contracts for Session Recording Work Use a template that suits you best. Read more about Contracts for Session Recording Work Specimen Sync Licences MU template licences for TV, film and advertising Read more about Specimen Sync Licences Approved Contractors Approved Contractors/Fixers who have entered into an agreement with the MU. Read more about Approved Contractors [The MU] is my first port of call for advice as a fixer, and I’m a registered contractor with the MU so I have a safety net. If there’s anything I’m unsure about I can run it past the MU. Fiona BriceArranger, composer and violinist The music industry can be a tough place, so it’s a great comfort to know that the MU is always backing us. Ellie DaymondSession drummer When arranging TV work, the MU’s collective bargaining agreements have ensured I’ve not missed out on decent pay and conditions. Andy PayneDrummer, percussion teacher Career as a recording musician Quick tips 5 Things You Need to Know for Your DIY Music Release Essential tips on how to protect your rights and make money from your music from the very beginning. Read more about 5 Things You Need to Know for Your DIY Music Release Member-only event How to be Release Ready with PRS Learn how record labels and music publishers make their money and how independent artists can do the same. Read more about How to be Release Ready with PRS Career advice Starting Out as a Session Musician Explore the world of the session musician, from starting out to getting paid. Read more about Starting Out as a Session Musician Member benefits and services Royalty Distribution for Recordings The MU Royalties department collects between £1.5 million to £2 million a year for musicians for the secondary and further use of recordings. Read more about Royalty Distribution for Recordings Collective Bargaining The MU negotiates collective bargaining agreements with broadcasters and umbrella organisations for other regular employers of session musicians. Read more about Collective Bargaining Maximised Pay for Recording Musicians Our aim is to maximise the pay and employment of UK session musicians, and to collect every secondary use fee they are due. Read more about Maximised Pay for Recording Musicians Contract Advisory Service If you're a member, the MU can help you make sure the contract you sign is fair and includes all necessary clauses. Read more about Contract Advisory Service Unpaid Fee Recovery We can help when you haven't been paid properly for your work. Read more about Unpaid Fee Recovery Personal Injury Claims Legal benefits package for you and your family via Morrish Solicitors. Read more about Personal Injury Claims Latest news and features Help Protect UK Recording Studios – Sign the Petition for Fair Business Rates The MU backs calls for studios to be included in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure business rates relief scheme and urges members to sign the petition to support reclassification. Published: 20 October 2025 Read more about Help Protect UK Recording Studios – Sign the Petition for Fair Business Rates MU General Secretary Addresses Artificial Intelligence and Music Streaming at Labour Party Conference There’s money in music but it doesn’t go to musicians, Musicians’ Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl tells Labour Party Conference 2025. Published: 30 September 2025 Read more about MU General Secretary Addresses Artificial Intelligence and Music Streaming at Labour Party Conference MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025 The MU is proud to sponsor the 2025 Black Welsh Music Awards (BWMA), which will take place on Saturday 4 October at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff. Published: 03 September 2025 Read more about MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025 Members Advised to Check PPL Performer Line-Ups on Recordings PPL (the organisation that collects and distributes royalties for recorded music when it’s played in public or broadcast) is currently investigating reports of inaccurate performer line-ups. MU members are urged to report if they see individuals listed who did not perform on their recording. Published: 26 August 2025 Read more about Members Advised to Check PPL Performer Line-Ups on Recordings Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians Government recently announced a package of principles and commitments that they say will better remunerate musicians and music creators. Published: 31 July 2025 Read more about Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians Read all recording & broadcasting news #FixStreaming Take urgent action to fix streaming Call on Parliament to back music streaming royalties for non-featured artists Sign the petition See all Campaigns
Working as a Recording Session Musician Advice for musicians who are employed to record music for media projects and who are paid by the session. Read more about Working as a Recording Session Musician
Working as a Recording Artist What you need to know while working as a recording artist. Read more about Working as a Recording Artist
Royalties from Recordings Guidance on earning revenue from sound recordings, including MU distributed royalties. Read more about Royalties from Recordings
Copyright for Performers in a Sound Recording Everything you need to know about copyright and performers' rights when recording your work. Read more about Copyright for Performers in a Sound Recording
Recording Work during Covid-19 Everything you need to know when recording music during Coronavirus pandemic. Read more about Recording Work during Covid-19
Rates of pay Collective Agreements and Rates Look up rates, terms and conditions from with the BBC, ITV, IPA, PACT and BPI and other agreements negotiated for recording session musicians. Read more about Collective Agreements and Rates
MU standard templates Contracts for Session Recording Work Use a template that suits you best. Read more about Contracts for Session Recording Work
Specimen Sync Licences MU template licences for TV, film and advertising Read more about Specimen Sync Licences
Approved Contractors Approved Contractors/Fixers who have entered into an agreement with the MU. Read more about Approved Contractors
Quick tips 5 Things You Need to Know for Your DIY Music Release Essential tips on how to protect your rights and make money from your music from the very beginning. Read more about 5 Things You Need to Know for Your DIY Music Release
Member-only event How to be Release Ready with PRS Learn how record labels and music publishers make their money and how independent artists can do the same. Read more about How to be Release Ready with PRS
Career advice Starting Out as a Session Musician Explore the world of the session musician, from starting out to getting paid. Read more about Starting Out as a Session Musician
Royalty Distribution for Recordings The MU Royalties department collects between £1.5 million to £2 million a year for musicians for the secondary and further use of recordings. Read more about Royalty Distribution for Recordings
Collective Bargaining The MU negotiates collective bargaining agreements with broadcasters and umbrella organisations for other regular employers of session musicians. Read more about Collective Bargaining
Maximised Pay for Recording Musicians Our aim is to maximise the pay and employment of UK session musicians, and to collect every secondary use fee they are due. Read more about Maximised Pay for Recording Musicians
Contract Advisory Service If you're a member, the MU can help you make sure the contract you sign is fair and includes all necessary clauses. Read more about Contract Advisory Service
Unpaid Fee Recovery We can help when you haven't been paid properly for your work. Read more about Unpaid Fee Recovery
Personal Injury Claims Legal benefits package for you and your family via Morrish Solicitors. Read more about Personal Injury Claims
Help Protect UK Recording Studios – Sign the Petition for Fair Business Rates The MU backs calls for studios to be included in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure business rates relief scheme and urges members to sign the petition to support reclassification. Published: 20 October 2025 Read more about Help Protect UK Recording Studios – Sign the Petition for Fair Business Rates
MU General Secretary Addresses Artificial Intelligence and Music Streaming at Labour Party Conference There’s money in music but it doesn’t go to musicians, Musicians’ Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl tells Labour Party Conference 2025. Published: 30 September 2025 Read more about MU General Secretary Addresses Artificial Intelligence and Music Streaming at Labour Party Conference
MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025 The MU is proud to sponsor the 2025 Black Welsh Music Awards (BWMA), which will take place on Saturday 4 October at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) in Cardiff. Published: 03 September 2025 Read more about MU Sponsors Black Welsh Music Awards 2025
Members Advised to Check PPL Performer Line-Ups on Recordings PPL (the organisation that collects and distributes royalties for recorded music when it’s played in public or broadcast) is currently investigating reports of inaccurate performer line-ups. MU members are urged to report if they see individuals listed who did not perform on their recording. Published: 26 August 2025 Read more about Members Advised to Check PPL Performer Line-Ups on Recordings
Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians Government recently announced a package of principles and commitments that they say will better remunerate musicians and music creators. Published: 31 July 2025 Read more about Fix Streaming: Government Announces New Measures for Legacy Artists, Songwriters and Session Musicians