Are you a Musicians' Union member? Put yourself forward for our Executive Committee! ✊ Help improve musicians' working lives 📣 Have a say on industrial negotiations, employment policy & issues that matter to you Learn more at https://bit.ly/MU-EC-2026 *eligibility criteria apply

Reform councillors in Staffordshire and Warwickshire are targeting LGBTQ+ visibility in local libraries But libraries should be inclusive spaces that support everyone, regardless of every age, gender, sexuality or background ✍️ Sign TUC Midlands petition to put #Pride back in our libraries!

Put the Pride Back in Our Libraries

Over the last few months, Reform councillors in both Staffordshire and Warwickshire have attacked the visibility and representation of LGBTQ+ people in council libraries. In Staffordshire, library staff have been told that “we will not be celebrating Pride in any form”. They have been instructed to remove displays, halt events and activities, and cease any Pride-related communications. In Warwickshire, the Reform leader has said that county council libraries “have been promoting contested...

megaphone.org.uk

Applications are now open for Phase Two of the UK Artist Touring Fund! UKAT was developed by Featured Artists Coalition in partnership with the Musicians' Union and Music Managers Forum to help address the growing cost-of-touring crisis facing UK artists Learn more 🔗 https://ow.ly/APm650ZFKIa

📣 Executive Committee nominations are now open! We're looking for members to be part of the national governing body of the Musicians' Union 📅 Nominations close midday on Wednesday 9 September 2026 👉 Learn more at https://bit.ly/MU-EC-2026 *eligibility criteria apply

What are personality rights and why do they matter for musicians? In the age of AI-generated voices, deepfakes and digital replicas, existing copyright law may not be enough to protect 💡Dr Hayleigh Bosher explores how personality rights could help creators protect their image and voice

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.

ow.ly

Why does BBC Radio matter? 📻 Radio plays generate royalties for musicians, including non-featured artists through equitable remuneration Funding BBC Radio is one way to ensure musicians get paid for their labour ✊ Agree? 🔁 Repost to help spread the word 🔗 theMU.org/ProtectOurBBC #ProtectOurBBC

Feeling the pressures of a career in music? Together with BAPAM we're running a free series of online workshops for musicians to build resilience and get practical tools to support your mental wellbeing 💛 ℹ️ For MU members in Scotland and Northern Ireland 🔗 Book your place at theMU.org/events

📣 Executive Committee nominations are now open! We're looking for members to be part of the national governing body of the Musicians' Union 📅 Nominations close midday on Wednesday 9 September 2026 👉 Learn more at https://bit.ly/MU-EC-2026 *eligibility criteria apply

FREE THE ZAPORIZHZHIA 15 – Ukrainian Ukrainian trade unionists speak in London On 27 August two Ukrainian trade unionists, including a rep from the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, are speaking at UNISON HQ. Eyewitness reports from Ukrainian trade unions under occupation and attack…

FREE THE ZAPORIZHZHIA 15 – Ukrainian Ukrainian trade unionists speak in London

On 27 August two Ukrainian trade unionists, including a rep from the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, are speaking at UNISON HQ. Eyewitness reports from Ukrainian trade unions under occupation and attack Thursday 27 August, 5.45pm – UNISON national office, 130 Euston Road, London, NW1 2AY (ground floor). Please register here for the meeting: free-the-zaporizhzhia-15 Fifteen workers at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) – all members of the Atomprofspilka trade union – have been abducted, subjected to show trials, and sentenced to decades in prison on fabricated charges by the Russian occupation forces.

ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org

📣 Are you an artist, DJ, producer or songwriter working in Black music genres? Register with BLACMEX 's new Music Mapping platform to document your impact, strengthen applications, and help build visibility for Black music across the UK 🔗https://ow.ly/5jVm50ZAz5F

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.

ow.ly

Getting ready for the new school year? Use your MU membership to: 💷 Access updated recommended teaching rates 🛡️ Protect yourself and your career with the right insurance ✅ Apply for a discounted disclosure check 🔗 More at www.theMU.org/music-teaching #MusicEducation

A new EU customs charge on low-value parcels is creating additional costs and administrative challenges for musicians selling merchandise directly to fans in Europe Learn more about it and let us know if it's affecting you ⬇️

MU Concerned by New EU Customs Fees for Artists Selling Merchandise

A new EU customs charge on low-value parcels is creating additional costs and administrative challenges for musicians selling merchandise directly to fans in Europe. The MU will work to ensure musicians affected by the new legislation are represented at a stakeholder consultation later this year.

musiciansunion.org.uk

Ready to learn and grow your network as a musician? Discover upcoming events for MU members: 💡 Learn best-practice busking policies for local authorities 🎼 Workshops for songwriters and composers 🎻 Explore the future of classical music at Classically Black theMU.org.uk/events

Training and Networking Events for Musicians

MU's events are dedicated to supporting working musicians and helping you develop your career. Browse our upcoming online events.

themu.org.uk

Spain-Gibraltar border changes: what does the new agreement mean for musicians? We take a look ⬇️

Spain-Gibraltar Border Changes: What the New Agreement Means for Musicians

New arrangements between Gibraltar and Spain will remove routine border checks for people crossing by land. While the agreement does not change existing rights to work in Spain or the EU, any time spent in Gibraltar will count towards musicians’ 90-day allowance for the Schengen area.

ow.ly

On August 18, UK Music is hosting a webinar with the Musicians' Union exploring how local authorities can create good busking policies to grow the economy, back local talent and bring communities together. @wearethemu.bsky.social Find out more and sign up here: luma.com/jqlm26z6

Pitch Perfect · Luma

A webinar aimed at Local Authorities on busking best practice. Busking can increase footfall and make environments safer and more welcoming for residents and…

luma.com

What can the new Prime Minister do for music and musicians? Three actions that could help protect musicians' jobs and strengthen the future of music in the UK: 🎵 Strengthen copyright laws ✈️ Reduce barriers to EU touring 📻 Protect the BBC's music future

Three Things New Prime Minister Andy Burnham Could Do for Music and Musicians Now

As new Prime Minister Andy Burnham takes office, here are three things he can do to support music and musicians right now.

ow.ly

🎪 Rydyn ni'n ôl yn yr Eisteddfod! We're back on the Maes August 1 – 8 with unions from across Wales. Make sure you drop by and say shw’mae!

What will UK music education look like over the next few years? Last week, the government’s proposed reforms to music qualifications were debated in the House of Lords 👇 Read the full story by MU head of education Chris Walters 🔗 https://ow.ly/b2js50ZvLnR

Music Qualifications Reform Debated in House of Lords

Peers from across the political spectrum raised concerns about the Government’s proposed reforms to level 3 music qualifications, with ministers confirming that existing qualifications will remain in place until at least 2030 and announcing a new creative advisory board to help shape the reforms.

ow.ly

⚠️ Generative AI poses an existential threat to creators Call on Government to protect creators' rights! ✍️Sign the petition at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/765199 🔁Repost this message to help us get to 10k and get a response from Government s/o Creators' Rights Alliance

Petition: Protect creators' rights: require AI firms to disclose training data

We ask the Government to introduce a statutory duty requiring AI developers to disclose the copyrighted works used to train generative AI in enough detail for creators to identify use of their work, enforce their rights, negotiate licences and be fairly paid.

petition.parliament.uk

Looking for venues that support musicians? Explore our free database of +150 venues that ✅ Treat musicians fairly ✅ Reject unfair ticketing deals ✅ Support a healthier live music scene 🔗 theMU.org/venues

Find a Grassroots Music Venue That Provides Fair Conditions

MU Fair Play Venues is a a database of small and grassroots music venues we recommend to musicians to be sure of securing a fair deal.

themu.org

Upcoming events for UK musicians: 🗣️ Share your views at a @ukmusic.bsky.social Music roundtable in Northern Ireland 💬 Talk through work-related issues at our Wales & South West England surgery 💡 Explore the future of music education with Make Music Scotland More info at theMU.org.uk/events

We are hiring! Our Wales & South West England team are looking for a part time Regional Officer 🟡 Have you thought about applying? Learn more and apply by Monday 27 July 🟡 Do you know someone who would be a great MU official? Share this post Details: https://bit.ly/4fj3bim

Wales & South West England Regional Officer (part-time) job opening in the Musicians' Union

Part-time, permanent Regional Officer vacancy for the Wales & South West England Region at the Musicians' Union.

bit.ly

A new collective agreement has been agreed between the Musicians' Union and Northern Ballet, securing rates, terms and protections for freelance musicians engaged by the company Read the full story 🔗 https://ow.ly/XPfk50Zrof4 #KeepNorthernBalletLive

New Collective Agreement Agreed for Northern Ballet Sinfonia

A new collective agreement has been agreed between the Musicians' Union and Northern Ballet, securing rates, terms and protections for freelance musicians engaged by the company.

ow.ly

🏳️‍🌈 We're marching at Belfast Pride this Saturday! Are you an MU member? Join us to call for an end to discrimination and the rollback of LGBT+ rights globally 🔗 RSVP at the link in bio 📸 Mark Lundly #BelfastPride

That’s a wrap for day two of Tolpuddle! Tomorrow is the highlight of the weekend, the banner march. Coming along? We’ll be starting behind our stall, the weather is looking fine and there’s some fab live music too.

Good morning from sunny Dorset! Today you’ll find us talking about AI at 1.15pm and working class voices at 3.15pm here at Tolpuddle, or swing by and grab a limited edition postcard with Love Music Hate Racism at our stall.

It’s a Tolpuddle takeover this weekend! You’ll find us in the UniZone where you meet our Regional Organiser Andy, and tomorrow MU General Secretary @naomipohl.bsky.social is speaking in two panels, pop along and say hi!

❗Help protect the biggest employer of musicians in the UK The BBC is facing the biggest threat to its funding in a generation, with the Charter and Agreement up for renewal ✊ The BBC isn't perfect, but it's ours. Let's make sure it stays that way 🔁 Do you agree? Repost to help spread the word

Protect BBC - the Biggest Employer of Musicians in the UK

Protect the biggest employer of musicians in the UK.

themu.org

🌹 The Musicians' Union has officially nominated Andy Burnham to be the next leader of the Labour Party

MU Nominates Andy Burnham for Labour Leader

The Musicians' Union has officially nominated Andy Burnham to be the next leader of the Labour Party.

ow.ly

UK Music can reveal that a record 24.7 million music tourists attended concerts in the UK in 2025, up 4.8% from 23.5 million in 2024. Read the full story here: tinyurl.com/4fnpvhmd