Young Musicians

What challenges do you face as a young person building a sustainable music career? Explore our advice, resources and campaigning for musicians aged 30 and under.

Cost of living advice and resources

MU Rates

Union rates of pay for gigs, residencies, orchestras, session players, and teaching work.

Protecting your mental health

Mental health and wellbeing resources for musicians, and specialist sources of support.

Stay protected with insurance

Check what cover and discounts you're entitled to through your MU membership.

Get royalties from your recordings

The MU collects close to £2 million a year for musicians for the secondary and further use of recordings. Check if you are owed royalties.

Recover your unpaid fees

We help our members to get what they deserve. Make sure you're paid throughout the cost of living crisis.

Trade union support wherever you work as a musician

Explore all the benefits and services included in your MU membership.

DIY Musicians

Mentoring in Music

Create your own opportunities to get mentoring or be a mentor with this DIY mentoring guide. It covers finding a mentor, setting goals, the mentoring process, and more.

Learn more

Allyship

Being Anti-Racist and How to be an Ally

Explore what it means to be anti-racist and how to be a good ally with musician and broadcaster Linton Stephens and Blue Moon founder Dr Joanna Abeyie.

Dos and Don’ts of Working with Trans Colleagues

Musician, writer and activist CN Lester discusses how you can better support trans colleagues in the arts.

What is an Access Rider and what do you do with it?

Open the conversation about accessibility for musicians with the Access Rider.

Inclusion and Diversity in Your Teaching Work

Make sure that you integrate equality, diversity and inclusion in your music teaching.

Free Refugee Membership

Musicians seeking sanctuary can get one year of free and full MU membership to help build their music careers in the UK.

Campaign news

We Must Keep Music Alive: Nupur Paliwal on Solidarity, Culture and the Right to Perform

At the 2026 MU Scotland & Northern Ireland AGM, guest speaker Nupur Paliwal, President of the Students Federation of India UK, explored how music and public performance spaces can drive social change, bring communities together and help defend the right to perform.

Published: 30 October 2026

Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey, greets a father holding his young son.

MU Welcomes Paternity Allowance for Self-Employed Dads and Partners

Eligible self-employed fathers and partners will be entitled to up to two weeks’ paternity pay from 2029 under new Government plans, a move welcomed by the MU as an important step forward for freelance workers and their families.

Published: 28 October 2026

Wendy standing at the front of the room in front of a lectern, behind her is a screen saying

MU Delegates Call for Action on Harassment in Music at STUC Women's Conference 2026

The MU took the campaign to end harassment in Scotland's music industry to the 99th STUC Women's Conference, where delegates unanimously backed a motion calling for stronger protections, Fair Work principles and improved accountability across the sector.

Published: 27 October 2026

A person at a lectern speaking to a room of people in the background out of focus. In the foreground a sign says

UK Music Launches Our BBC, Our Music Campaign

The campaign, led by UK Music and backed by the music industry, calls on Government to protect and strengthen music’s place at the heart of the BBC and deliver a sustainable funding model for generations to come.

Published: 27 October 2026

Kelly sat on stage with the three other panellists, discussing income from touring and live performance.

FIM Freelance Conference Day Two Explores Portfolio Careers, Fair Pay and Sustainable Touring

At the second and final day of FIM’s International Freelance Conference, MU representatives shared perspectives on portfolio careers, sustainable touring and fairer streaming payments, highlighting the role of unions in supporting freelance musicians.

Published: 23 October 2026

#KeepMusicLive

Can a UBI keep music live?

The idea of a universal basic income has been around for centuries. Now, the MU and many others believe its time has come.

Join the conversation See all Campaigns

The MU gave me a huge amount of support at a crucial point in my career.
Scott Bowley13XL

Being a part of the MU really made me realise that we could fight for change, and that with collective effort we could actually make things happen.
Diljeet BhachuFlautist and MU ED&I Officer

I think it feels like belonging to a community, a genuine family of musicians.
Jess GillamSaxophonist

You have to be the change you want to see. It's our business. We need to shape it.
Amanda DalSession drummer

Fight for a fairer music industry

Have you been asked to work for no or low pay?

We regularly hear from musicians asked to work for free. Asking musicians to work for free is unacceptable at any time.

#FairScore

Take action against composer buyouts

Media composers should get a fair share of the value they create.

#FixStreaming

Fix Streaming and Keep Music Alive

Record labels, streaming platforms and other internet giants have exploited musicians and songwriters without rewarding them fairly for too long.

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