Working as a Recording Artist Everything you need to know while working as a recording artist. Last updated: 03 October 2023 A recording artist is a musician that performs songs or musical compositions in a studio-like setting for the purpose of recording and releasing them to the public. A recording artist can be a singular individual, a band, or even a massive symphony. 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 Meet the MU at PITCH Scotland 2026 Meet the MU’s Sam Jordan and Louise Stanners Pow at this year’s hip hop conference and festival, and learn more about copyright, sampling, ownership and collaboration. Published: 13 August 2026 Read more about Meet the MU at PITCH Scotland 2026 BLACMEX Launches Music Mapping Platform to Build Visibility for Black Music Creators BLACMEX has soft-launched a new platform for music creators working in Black music genres. Designed to help creators document professional activity and strengthen funding applications, the platform will also support a better understanding of Black music's impact across the UK. Published: 12 August 2026 Read more about BLACMEX Launches Music Mapping Platform to Build Visibility for Black Music Creators Discount for MU Members at Studio Forty Two in Edinburgh The MU has partnered with Studio Forty Two, a boutique recording facility in Edinburgh, to offer members discounted studio time. Published: 01 August 2026 Read more about Discount for MU Members at Studio Forty Two in Edinburgh Beyond Copyright: Do Musicians Need Personality Rights in the UK? AI-generated voices, deepfakes and digital replicas are creating new challenges for musicians. Dr Hayleigh Bosher examines why existing UK copyright law may not be enough, and how personality rights could give creators greater control over their image and voice. Published: 20 July 2026 Read more about Beyond Copyright: Do Musicians Need Personality Rights in the UK? MU Backs Global Call for Artists’ Rights in AI Music Deals The MU has joined artists, songwriters and music industry organisations from around the world in signing a new open letter coordinated by the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA), calling for creators' rights to be respected in AI-related music deals. Published: 25 June 2026 Read more about MU Backs Global Call for Artists’ Rights in AI Music Deals Read more Contact the Musicians' Union today The MU has a network of experienced teams available to help musicians in all areas of the industry. If you have any questions about our services, membership or how the MU could help you, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Contact the MU
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
Meet the MU at PITCH Scotland 2026 Meet the MU’s Sam Jordan and Louise Stanners Pow at this year’s hip hop conference and festival, and learn more about copyright, sampling, ownership and collaboration. Published: 13 August 2026 Read more about Meet the MU at PITCH Scotland 2026
BLACMEX Launches Music Mapping Platform to Build Visibility for Black Music Creators BLACMEX has soft-launched a new platform for music creators working in Black music genres. Designed to help creators document professional activity and strengthen funding applications, the platform will also support a better understanding of Black music's impact across the UK. Published: 12 August 2026 Read more about BLACMEX Launches Music Mapping Platform to Build Visibility for Black Music Creators
Discount for MU Members at Studio Forty Two in Edinburgh The MU has partnered with Studio Forty Two, a boutique recording facility in Edinburgh, to offer members discounted studio time. Published: 01 August 2026 Read more about Discount for MU Members at Studio Forty Two in Edinburgh
Beyond Copyright: Do Musicians Need Personality Rights in the UK? AI-generated voices, deepfakes and digital replicas are creating new challenges for musicians. Dr Hayleigh Bosher examines why existing UK copyright law may not be enough, and how personality rights could give creators greater control over their image and voice. Published: 20 July 2026 Read more about Beyond Copyright: Do Musicians Need Personality Rights in the UK?
MU Backs Global Call for Artists’ Rights in AI Music Deals The MU has joined artists, songwriters and music industry organisations from around the world in signing a new open letter coordinated by the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA), calling for creators' rights to be respected in AI-related music deals. Published: 25 June 2026 Read more about MU Backs Global Call for Artists’ Rights in AI Music Deals