Working as a Recording Session Musician Advice and resources for musicians who are employed to record music for media projects, such as films, TV, adverts, computer games and albums and who are paid by the session. Last updated: 03 October 2023 Session musician is anyone who plays a musicial instrument or vocalist in a live or recording gig or session that is not a featured artist (ie contracted to a label). Session musicians can be engaged directly by a production company or record label, but are often engaged via a fixer (also known as a contractor) who has signed an agreement with the Musicians’ Union. In the MU we look after session musicians’ recorded performances. We negotiate agreements with broadcasters, film producers and record companies, plus collect and send musicians the fees, where applicable, for other uses of those recorded performances. Engagements The MU has collective bargaining agreements with the BBC, ITV, the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), and independent film and TV producers who form the Producers’ Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT). We also have an agreement with the British Recorded Music Industry (BPI) on behalf of record companies. The MU strongly advises not to accept session engagements for recording and broadcasting other than from companies and organisations with which the MU has collective agreements, unless they have been referred to our Contract Advisory Service. This is in your own interest and should avoid any breach of your duties under Rule Xl.3. Where engagements are not entered into directly with such companies, they should only be accepted through Approved Contractors, i.e. contractors/fixers who have entered into an agreement with the Union. Performers’ consents Musicians have some protection against having their performance recorded without their consent. Consent is usually given through the use of MU Standard Agreements and Consent Forms and the manner in which consent is given is important as it can affect payment for secondary and further uses. Under current legislation someone only has to 'reasonably believe' that they have a performer's consent. For example consent could be construed as having been given by the fact that a musician knew the recording was taking place and did nothing to prevent it. The standard agreement signed by all MU Approved Contractors states that they must ensure that the consents of performers required by the CDP Act is of the form approved by the Union. 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 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 Latest news and features £1,000 Career Development Bursary for Artists from Under-Represented Communities Applications are open for artists from under-represented communities to apply for a £1,000 career development bursary from Creative Access. Published: 27 September 2024 Read more about £1,000 Career Development Bursary for Artists from Under-Represented Communities MU Calls on Labour Government to Back Fair Remuneration From AI MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl outlines three measures that Government must take to protect the UK music industry. Published: 26 September 2024 Read more about MU Calls on Labour Government to Back Fair Remuneration From AI Sign the Petition to Bring Back the Full Strictly Come Dancing Live Band The Musicians’ Union is calling on musicians and Strictly Come Dancing fans to sign the Keep Strictly Live petition. Published: 13 September 2024 Read more about Sign the Petition to Bring Back the Full Strictly Come Dancing Live Band Take Part in European Folk Day on 23 September Folk musicians are encouraged to take part in the 2nd annual European Folk Day taking place on 23 September 2024. Published: 22 August 2024 Read more about Take Part in European Folk Day on 23 September MU Gravely Concerned by Closure of Scotland’s Vital Arts Fund We are deeply concerned to learn that Creative Scotland has closed the Open Fund for Individuals due to the Scottish Government budget cuts. Published: 21 August 2024 Read more about MU Gravely Concerned by Closure of Scotland’s Vital Arts Fund Read more Contact MU Sessions Official If you need more information on session work and fixers, please get in touch with our Session Official. Contact Sam Jordan
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
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
£1,000 Career Development Bursary for Artists from Under-Represented Communities Applications are open for artists from under-represented communities to apply for a £1,000 career development bursary from Creative Access. Published: 27 September 2024 Read more about £1,000 Career Development Bursary for Artists from Under-Represented Communities
MU Calls on Labour Government to Back Fair Remuneration From AI MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl outlines three measures that Government must take to protect the UK music industry. Published: 26 September 2024 Read more about MU Calls on Labour Government to Back Fair Remuneration From AI
Sign the Petition to Bring Back the Full Strictly Come Dancing Live Band The Musicians’ Union is calling on musicians and Strictly Come Dancing fans to sign the Keep Strictly Live petition. Published: 13 September 2024 Read more about Sign the Petition to Bring Back the Full Strictly Come Dancing Live Band
Take Part in European Folk Day on 23 September Folk musicians are encouraged to take part in the 2nd annual European Folk Day taking place on 23 September 2024. Published: 22 August 2024 Read more about Take Part in European Folk Day on 23 September
MU Gravely Concerned by Closure of Scotland’s Vital Arts Fund We are deeply concerned to learn that Creative Scotland has closed the Open Fund for Individuals due to the Scottish Government budget cuts. Published: 21 August 2024 Read more about MU Gravely Concerned by Closure of Scotland’s Vital Arts Fund