skip to main content
Search

Advice and resources

Music business

Specimen Agreements

Before you seek business contract advice, browse our range of example agreements for doing music business.

Read more about Specimen Agreements
TV, film and advertising

Specimen Sync Licences

Templates to help you negotiate synchronisation deals and agree appropriate terms for the use of your music

Read more about Specimen Sync Licences

Employment Contracts

Use our UK employment contract advice resource to find out more about employment contracts and the conditions you should be wary of.

Read more about Employment Contracts

Upcoming events

Upcoming

A woman with a calculator filling out tax forms.
29 Sep 2026

Financial Planning for Musicians

A free, one-hour webinar on financial planning for musicians at all stages of their career. Available for MU members based in London.

Online (Zoom)
Read more about Financial Planning for Musicians

Upcoming

Group of people smiling, drinking coffee and sharing things on their phones.
10 Oct 2026

WSWE Local Members' Day: Cardiff

Attend two workshops, network with local members, get free portable appliance testing and meet your MU Officials at a local venue in Cardiff.

Cardiff
Read more about WSWE Local Members' Day: Cardiff
See all events
Fiona Brice

Once you start contracting other musicians and bringing other people in the studio you realise there’s paperwork that needs to be done.

Fiona BriceArranger, composer and violinist
Naomi

All business relationships that you enter into should be clearly and carefully set out in agreements that are fair to all concerned.

Naomi PohlMU General Secretary
#WorkNotPlayMU

This is not a hobby - it's our profession

No-one should feel guilty about turning down unpaid “opportunities". Have you been asked to work for no fee?

Tell us about it See all Campaigns
This is not a hobby - it's our profession

Latest news and features

Close up of a large, red, closed theatre safety curtain, lit up by stage lights.

Right to Work Changes and Deputies: MU Seeking Urgent Legal Clarification

Concerns have been raised about how new Right to Work requirements could affect musicians who arrange deputies or substitutes to perform on their behalf. The MU is urgently investigating the implications and will provide further guidance as soon as possible.

Published: 18 September 2026

Read more about Right to Work Changes and Deputies: MU Seeking Urgent Legal Clarification
Close up of someone composing. They are holding an acoustic guitar while sat in front of a computer screen and keyboard, whilst also writing notes on a tablet.

MU Welcomes BBC’s New Commissioning Guidelines for Media Composers

New commissioning guidelines developed by the MU, BBC, BBC Studios Music Publishing and The Ivors Academy will help media composers better understand the BBC's commissioning process, with clearer guidance on contracts, rights, pitching and the use of AI.

Published: 17 September 2026

Read more about MU Welcomes BBC’s New Commissioning Guidelines for Media Composers
See all latest news

Over £3 Million Recovered for Musicians

In the last year, MU secured over £3,200,000 for musicians through:

  • Recovery of unpaid fees
  • Negotiation of contract settlements
  • Royalty distribution
  • Recovery of unlawful pay deductions
  • Negotiation of redundancy claims
  • Compensation claims for contractual breaches
  • Recovery of unpaid holiday pay

Your membership pays off.

Join MU today

Over £3 Million Recovered for Musicians