“We risk a society where original thought is outsourced to algorithms trained on stolen labour”
Should tech firms be able to use your music to train AI models without your consent and paying you fairly?
Email your MP to support consent, fair renumeration and other key measures
🔗 theMU.org/AI
“Big Tech’s model is built on predatory simplicity: take everything, ask for nothing, pay no-one”
MU delegate @aarockiam.bsky.social spoke in support of a motion by @pcsunion.bsky.social on AI and workplace protection
First Minister of Scotland @johnswinney.bsky.social set out his vision for the people of Scotland ahead of the May elections:
“You are the link between the working people of Scotland and their government”
✊ Trade unions have been and will always be at the forefront of the fight against the far right
STUC General Secretary @rozfoyer.bsky.social spoke on the importance of unions tackling Reform and the far right:
"Whenever equalities and diversity comes under attack, our movement is there to defend"
📣 Fair Work for freelancers!
"Fair, secure and sustainable work in the arts is not a luxury – it is essential to a thriving cultural life in Scotland"
MU delegate @calumbairdsongs.bsky.social seconds a motion on fair work to tackle low pay, exploitation and precarity for creative freelancers
Everyone - including musicians - should be able to travel safely using public transport, regardless of the time of day
MU delegate @benlunn.bsky.social spoke in support of a motion from @rmtunion.bsky.social calling for safer public transport in Scotland
Irish Congress of Trade Unions General Secretary @owenreidy.bsky.social addressed Congress this morning, highlighting the huge parallels between our movements and countries
🗣️"Our values don’t stop at some border - we are internationalists to the core"
“We do have to confront the issues that Reform use to divide us. Scotland’s best days lie ahead of us”
Scottish Labour leader @anassarwar.bsky.social addressed Congress on the dangers that the far right poses to unity and collectivism - values that are core to the trade union movement
A group of people standing on the steps of the Caird Hall in Dundee, posing for a group photo. They are all wearing matching red lanyards .
We’re proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow creative unions @equityuk.bsky.social @nujofficial.bsky.social @bectu.bsky.social and the Scottish Artists Union
✊ Fair work for all!
With Scotland’s elections fast approaching, we’re calling for Fair Work to be applied across the nation’s creative industries
✍️ Sign the petition to show your support!
🔗 www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
#STUC26
Photo of Lord Provost Bill Campbell providing a civic welcome to Congress. In the centre is a stage with a red backdrop with screens and S.T.U.C. pennant flags above. Stage left is a B.S.L. interpreter, stage centre are the chairs sat at a table marked "S.T.U.C. 129th Annual Congress and stage right is the Lord Provost speaking from a lectern. In the foreground are rows of delegates. In the background are the walls and ornate artwork of a historic building.
We're in Dundee for @scottishtuc.bsky.social's Annual Congress!
Our motions focus on music as a human right, international solidarity, and how Fair Work applies to creative freelancers
#STUC26
🎭 Musical Directors in theatre – do you know your rights?
Our new guide covers fees, buyouts, recordings and wellbeing, and how to make sure your contract recognises the full scope of your role
🔗 Full guide at theMU.org/MusicalDirectors
#TheatreMusician
Photo of a campaigner in a yellow t-shirt giving a passer by a leaflet about the Westminster Council: Back Your Buskers campaign in a busy Leicester Square, London
Learn more about their campaign and sign the petition
🔗 bit.ly/4tMjB88
📸: Jeff Spicer/PA Media Assignments
Photo of buskers and supporters holding placards. They are standing around the top of a yellow circle. In the centre a busker is playing guitar. Below, black text with yellow highlight says “Today marks one year since the last day of busking in London’s Leicester Square” followed by a yellow line and the logo “M U Musicians’ Union” in the bottom left corner.
🔇 Today marks 1 year of the Leicester Square busking ban
Since then, buskers have been building a positive, grassroots community campaign and we are proud to have their backs
📸: Jeff Spicer/PA Media Assignments
👇Find out more about postal and proxy votes from the Electoral Commission
🔗www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/key...
🗳️ The biggest set of elections since 2024 are taking place on Thursday 7 May
It includes elections to the Scottish Parliament, Senedd, 136 local councils and six mayoralties
⏰Register to vote in person before Monday 20 April
Register to vote
🔗 https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Members of the CMM have long worked with collective management organisations like PRS to challenge and improve practices, and to ensure they work in favour of the music-makers, without whom there would be no music to perform in a live setting
The Council of Music Makers is made up of the Musicians’ Union, @ivorsacademy.bsky.social, @featuredartists.bsky.social, @mmfuk.bsky.social and @ukmpg.bsky.social
The CMM believes that collective licensing plays a crucial role as part of the licensing of live performances
❗All parts of the UK’s live sector must recognise and uphold the value of songs and songwriters
The Council of Music Makers has issued a statement rejecting any proposals for a reduction in licensing fees or collections for the use of music
Scottish Labour’s announcement also includes measures to fully integrate the creative industries into Scotland’s growth agenda, reform Creative Scotland, and strengthen festivals and music venues across the nation
Read their full announcement:
It’s based on the Basic Income for the Arts scheme in Ireland, and follows moves to bring a similar scheme to artists in Belfast
📢 Scottish Labour pledges £30m to ensure artists and creatives get a living wage
Anas Sarwar has announced a Creative Enterprise Allowance pilot scheme – a weekly payment to top up the incomes of up to 1,000 artists and creatives to a living wage
The Musicians' Union is calling on political parties to include Fair Work for musicians and important rights for freelance cultural workers in their manifestos. Let's get this to every MSP and candidate: themu.org/ManifestoSco...
How can we better support creative freelancers?
Our new guide helps employers and freelancers create healthier environments, reflect union good practice and communicate openly 💛
👇 Free download: theMU.org/EngagingCreativeFreelancers
#FreelanceMusicians
We’re proud to launch Ways of Listening, a new partnership with @evelynglenniefd.bsky.social that is open to everyone. This unique global project asks you to share your answer to one simple question - “What does listening mean to you?”
@dameevelynglennie.bsky.social
citiesandmemory.com/listening
🎭 Happy #WorldTheatreDay!
Are you a musician working in theatre?
Check out our resources for theatre work, including West End agreements, regional touring guidance, tips on navigating the pit and more
👉 theMU.org/theatre-work
✊3 days to go until we march together
📅 Saturday 28 March, 12pm start
🗺️ Assembly at Park Lane, Central London
📍 The MU is in the Trade Union Bloc C, Position 8
More info at theMU.org/TogetherMarch
#Together
