🚨 Over 450 people in arts and education have written to Education Secretary Lucy Powell, calling on her to reverse the 'disastrous' funding cuts for university creative arts courses. Read the letter in full ⬇️ www.ism.org/news/ism-let...

We're hiring! 📣 We're looking for 3 new members of staff - two in our gold-standard legal team and a compliance officer & assistant to the CEO. Could this be you or someone you know? Find out more ⬇️ www.ism.org/about/vacanc...

'Every child deserves to discover themselves through music, and every school deserves a teacher to help them do it.' In a guest blog, Choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone discusses the importance of music in our schools and the decline in music GCSEs ⬇️ www.ism.org/news/gareth-...

🚨 LAST CHANCE 🚨 The Dignity in music survey is closing on Monday. Have you taken part yet? Your story is important to us - this research could help to make music a safer place for all. Take the survey today: www.ism.org/news/ism-sur...

An urgent message from ISM Chief Exec Deborah Annetts 📣 There's just five days left to complete our Dignity in music survey. Will you help us fight for a fairer music sector? Take part before Sunday's deadline: www.ism.org/news/ism-sur...

🚨 The Department for Education (DfE) has awarded the National Centre for Arts Education to a consortium led by Empowering Education International Ltd (Etio), and dropped 'music' from the Centre's name. More details ⬇️ www.ism.org/news/nationa...

National Centre for arts education supplier confirmed - Independent Society of Musicians

Organisation to run National Centre for Arts Education in England finally announced

ism.org

WARNING 🚨 The Dignity in Music survey will close on Sunday 20 September. Time is running out to share your story with us. Help us tackle discrimination in music - take the survey today ⬇️ www.ism.org/news/ism-sur...

Alongside fellow members of the Creators’ Rights Alliance, we are urging everyone to stand up for human creativity. Support We Are Better Than This by signing the petition, which asks Government to ensure copyrighted works are protected: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

It’s somehow wonderfully reassuring that in this the year 2026 an organisation I belong to still sends its members a slim pocket diary.

It's the end of another Proms season! Wonderful tenor and former ISM President Nicky Spence performs tonight, alongside acclaimed pianist Yuja Wang. Good luck Nicky! 👏 Dont miss it - tune in to BBC Two from 19:15: www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo

A message from ISM President, Rhiannon Mathias 📣 There's only a short time left to complete our 2026 Dignity in music survey. Please take 10 minutes to add you voice and help us in the fight to make music a safer space for all. Take part today: www.ism.org/news/ism-sur...

In The Guardian today, ISM Chief Exec Deborah Annetts says Education Sec Lucy Powell has the goodwill of the sector, but warns she has inherited 'a serious problem that needs urgent attention'. Read her piece in full: www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Classically Black returns to Kings Place on Saturday 10 October Black Lives In Music's flagship classical music event brings together performance and discussion to celebrate Black and global majority musicians and composers Use code CBLONDON10 for 10% off ⬇️ www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/bla...

The Guardian is right - The arts must not become the preserve of the most privileged. Read The Guardian's editorial on music education, which quotes ISM Chief Exec Deborah Annetts ⬇️ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on music and drama education: reversing elitism starts at school | Editorial

Editorial: The number of students taking creative subjects at A-level and GCSE is at a record low. The arts must not become the preserve of the most privileged

theguardian.com

A new report from DCMS suggests Brexit has cost the UK's creative industries over £200 million between 2022-2024 Watch as The Earl of Clancarty asks government to use this data to inform the next UK-EU summit, and sort out 'what should have been sorted years ago' 👇

NEW: ISM analysis of GCSE music shows that entries fell by 1.5% since 2025 across the UK after two years of increased entries. In England alone, entries have fallen 1.6% since 2025 and 27% since the EBacc was introduced in 2010. Read our analysis and reaction in full: www.ism.org/news/gcse-mu...

Good luck and congratulations to all pupils receiving their GCSE results today. We hope you have got the results you wanted 🤞 Thank you to all the brilliant music teachers for your hard work this year 👏

10,000 people have called on government to protect creators' rights 👏 This means government must now respond to the petition. Thank you to everyone who's added their name. We need fairness at the heart of the UK's approach to AI. Add your name today ⬇️ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

🚨 Our analysis of this year’s A-level music results show that entries have fallen by 5.8%. Annual declines are unsustainable. Without action, we risk losing A-level music for state schools entirely. Government must act now and rebuild music in schools ⬇️ www.ism.org/news/a-level...

Congratulations to all students receiving their A-level results today. We hope you receive the grades you wanted. Thank you to our fantastic music teachers for another year of hard work. You continue to make a real impact on the lives of your students 👏

The CRA's petition to protect creators' rights is about to hit 10,000 signatures - can you help us get there today? At 10,000, Government have to respond. Call for an end to AI exploitation by adding your name ⬇️ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

It has been a special results day for music students and teachers in Scotland. Wishing all students receiving results today the very best and that the results are what you were hoping for🤞 🎉

The ISM is on a mission to make music a safer place for all. Our last Dignity at work report in 2022 found that discrimination is endemic in the music sector, particularly for women. Take the Dignity in music survey today ⬇️ www.ism.org/news/ism-sur...

🚨 We're calling on new Education Secretary Lucy Powell to reverse the cut to the Strategic Priorities Grant, which will put creative Higher Education courses at risk. If you agree with us, add your name to our open letter ⬇️ www.thestage.co.uk/news/educati...

Education secretary urged to reverse funding cuts to university arts courses

The Independent Society of Musicians has called for newly appointed education secretary Lucy Powell to reverse the government’s decision to withdraw funding from performing arts and creative higher…

thestage.co.uk

A new government brings a new opportunity for change. That's why the CRA are calling on them to protect creators’ rights. The Prime Minister and his government must put fairness at the heart of their approach to AI. Help our mission, sign our petition today ⬇️ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

It is truly awful. The @ism-music.bsky.social is writing an open letter to Lucy Powell about this that you can sign www.ism.org/news/sign-ou...

Sign our open letter on HE funding cuts - Independent Society of Musicians

The ISM is sending Lucy Powell a letter asking her to reverse the decision to cut crucial funding for music and creative arts university courses. Add your name

ism.org

The reports of Jared Leto's behaviour are deeply disturbing. Powerful figures abusing their position is sadly all too familiar for many working in music. Our full support is with the victims and we commend their bravery in coming forward. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Four women accuse Jared Leto of criminal sexual conduct when they were teenagers

The actor and musician faces allegations from 10 women in total who say he mistreated them as teenagers.

bbc.co.uk

The ISM is joining the CRA in calling on Government to protect creators from the existential threat of GenAI. Fairness and transparency must be at the heart of the UK's approach to AI. Help our mission by signing our new petition ⬇️ petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

🚨 Hundreds of ISM members have written to new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham In music's biggest message to the Prime Minister yet, musicians are calling for five clear commitments covering music education, touring in Europe, AI & more See them below ⬇️ www.ism.org/news/ism-mem...

Want to become a music producer? Here's four skills every producer should have in their locker, according to Alex O'Keeffe ⌛️