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 Musicians in Orchestras Across UK Urgently Call on Government to Address Lack of Streaming Royalties The MU and players in over 20 orchestras across the UK have signed an open letter to call upon the Government to urgently address the lack of streaming royalties for musicians. Published: 04 April 2025 Read more about Musicians in Orchestras Across UK Urgently Call on Government to Address Lack of Streaming Royalties MU Launches Another Member Benefit of Discounted Hotels Across UK Our new partnership with Point A Hotels means that members can now benefit from discounted hotel rooms in Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Published: 01 April 2025 Read more about MU Launches Another Member Benefit of Discounted Hotels Across UK Fix Streaming: Making the Case for Session Players How can the music industry fix streaming for session players and ensure that all artists get fair pay from music streaming? Musicians’ Union (MU) General Secretary Naomi Pohl explains... Published: 28 March 2025 Read more about Fix Streaming: Making the Case for Session Players 'Is This What We Want?' Album Protests Proposed Changes to Copyright Law Over 1000 musicians back ‘silent’ album in protest against UK government proposals to allow tech firms to train AI models on creative work. Published: 27 February 2025 Read more about 'Is This What We Want?' Album Protests Proposed Changes to Copyright Law MPs Support Musicians and Music Creators at Event in Parliament It comes at a crucial point in Creator Remuneration Working Group negotiations to fix streaming and get a better deal for musicians and music creators. Published: 13 February 2025 Read more about MPs Support Musicians and Music Creators at Event in Parliament 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
Musicians in Orchestras Across UK Urgently Call on Government to Address Lack of Streaming Royalties The MU and players in over 20 orchestras across the UK have signed an open letter to call upon the Government to urgently address the lack of streaming royalties for musicians. Published: 04 April 2025 Read more about Musicians in Orchestras Across UK Urgently Call on Government to Address Lack of Streaming Royalties
MU Launches Another Member Benefit of Discounted Hotels Across UK Our new partnership with Point A Hotels means that members can now benefit from discounted hotel rooms in Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Published: 01 April 2025 Read more about MU Launches Another Member Benefit of Discounted Hotels Across UK
Fix Streaming: Making the Case for Session Players How can the music industry fix streaming for session players and ensure that all artists get fair pay from music streaming? Musicians’ Union (MU) General Secretary Naomi Pohl explains... Published: 28 March 2025 Read more about Fix Streaming: Making the Case for Session Players
'Is This What We Want?' Album Protests Proposed Changes to Copyright Law Over 1000 musicians back ‘silent’ album in protest against UK government proposals to allow tech firms to train AI models on creative work. Published: 27 February 2025 Read more about 'Is This What We Want?' Album Protests Proposed Changes to Copyright Law
MPs Support Musicians and Music Creators at Event in Parliament It comes at a crucial point in Creator Remuneration Working Group negotiations to fix streaming and get a better deal for musicians and music creators. Published: 13 February 2025 Read more about MPs Support Musicians and Music Creators at Event in Parliament