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

Shot of a large crowd at a small, grassroots music concert. The band on stage are in silhouette against purple, blue and orange lights.

UK Artist Touring Fund Announces First Phase Artists

The UK Artist Touring Fund (UKAT), supported by the MU and funded by the LIVE Trust, has awarded its first wave of grants to 26 artists across 211 gigs, helping deliver fair pay and access in the grassroots live sector.

Published: 23 April 2026

Blue sign at an airport saying 'Douanes francaises, French customs'.

France Confirms ELO Requirement from April 2026 But Uncertainty Remains for Musicians

France’s new Obligatory Logistics Envelope (ELO) — a digital customs system for declaring goods — will become mandatory from 20 April 2026. However, it remains unclear whether the rules apply to musicians taking merchandise into the country.

Published: 16 April 2026

Buskers and supporters, some wearing M U t-shirts, gathered around a singer, holding placards saying “Street Music is Not a Crime’. ‘Keep Music Live’, and ‘Westminster, Stop Killing Culture”.

Buskers Mark One Year Anniversary of the Leicester Square Busking Ban

Buskers are continuing their high-profile campaign, calling on Westminster Council to find new viable and accessible busking pitches in the borough to replace what was lost.

Published: 15 April 2026

A musician in a recording studio sitting in front of a computer with a keyboard next to him.

Sign the Petition for Fair Work in Scotland’s Creative Industries

With Scotland’s elections fast approaching, we’re calling on musicians to help secure real change by signing the petition for Fair Work across the nation’s creative industries.

Published: 02 April 2026

A crowd of protesters at a march. In the middle are matching placard held up that say

MU at Together Alliance March 2026: Largest Anti-Far Right March in UK History

MU members joined thousands who gathered in London on 28 March for the Together Alliance demonstration, in a powerful display of solidarity and resistance to the far right.

Published: 02 April 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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