Musicians' Union

Founded in 1893, the Musicians' Union (MU) of the United Kingdom is the second largest musicians' trade union in the world, representing over thirty thousand musicians, working in all sectors of the music business. As well as negotiating on behalf of musicians with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services tailored for the self-employed by providing assistance for full and part time professional and student musicians of all ages.^[1] In September 2008 the MU became a founding member of UK Music, the organisation representing all aspects of the UK music business.^[2]

Regions

The MU has a Regional structure with offices in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow. Each region is staffed by full time, professional Officials and administrative support.

Benefits

Current benefits of MU membership include:

Legal Advice and Assistance

Contract Advice

Public Liability Insurance (£10m)

Instrument/Equipment Insurance (£2k)

Contracts and Specimen Agreements

Personal Injury Package

Benevolent Assistance

Sections

The MU has dedicated Specialist and Industrial sections, with elected committees, that deal with specific issues pertaining to musical matters and employment. The Specialist Sections include 'Folk, Roots & Traditional Section', 'Gig Section', 'Jazz Section' and 'Teachers' Section', whilst the Industrial Sections consist of 'Music Writers' Section', 'Orchestral Section', Session Section' and 'Theatre Section'. The Specialist Sections represent specific interests, whilst dealing with prevalent associated issues. The Industrial Sections focus upon the union's collective agreements and stakeholder issues.

Campaigns

Music Supported Here

In December 2009, the MU launched a new campaign, entitled Music Supported Here, which aims to raise both awareness of copyright, and also the distribution and use of music, which, the MU states, should be controllable by the musician.

Keep Music Live

The union has used the slogan Keep Music Live since 1965, and has fought against the substitution of recorded music for live performances^[3]. The Needle time agreement between themselves and the BBC, restricting the playing of recorded music on the radio, directly led to the establishment of Offshore Pirate Radio stations from the early sixties onwards. Needle time restrictions were finally abolished on local radio in 1988.

'Keep Music Live!' was adopted from the American Federation of Musicians. The MU's slogan has been described^{[by whom?]} as the most cost-effective publicity campaign ever. It all began in 1965 with the union's response to members' alarm at the successful implantation of the French Discotheque scene. By the time PR consultants suggested changing the slogan to 'Music In Person', Keep Music Live was firmly established as the MU's brand image, and the Campaign for Live Music, as it had become, was being run from head office. Banners, leaflets, car-stickers, T-shirts and even a hot air balloon have helped to popularise the catchphrase which describes the essence of the MU.

The Jazz Ban

For over twenty years, following Duke Ellington's extremely successful visit in 1932, American jazz musicians were prevented from performing in the United Kingdom. Fats Waller and Art Tatum did visit in 1938 and 1939 respectively, but had to be treated as 'variety' artists in order to circumvent the ban, and in 1949 Sidney Bechet had to be present 'by chance' at a concert given by trumpeter Humphrey Lyttelton's band in order to perform with the British musicians.

After an exception was made in 1953 to allow the Stan Kenton Orchestras to perform a benefit conference after the North Sea floods of that year, restrictions gradually subsided; American musicians, such as Dave Brubeck in 1958, were able to perform in the UK again via an exchange system. Jazz benefited from the growth in the United States of an interest in British popular music, and visits by American musicians became more frequent.

External links

• MU official site.
• UK Music official site.
• Music Supported Here official site

References

Organized Labour portal

This article related to a United Kingdom trade union is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e