Legal Services

Whatever legal issue musicians are facing, for helping to recover unpaid fees or checking out a contract, the Musicians' Union can help with legal advice and more.

Legal services for members

Contract Advisory Service

We can help you make sure that you sign a fair and legal contract

Partnership Advice

Working in a band or with other musicians? We offer group-specific legal advice

Legal Advice & Assistance

Learn more about how musicians can benefit from specialist lawyer advice and assistance.

Non-Work Legal Helpline

Get quick help on family law, consumer law, property law, wills and trusts, and other legal issues through Morrish Solicitors

Personal Injury Claims

We provide a legal benefits package through Morrish Solicitors for you and your family, from personal injury services to low-cost wills

Unpaid Fee Recovery

We can help when you haven't been paid properly for your work

Ask Us First List

Members can seek assistance before engagements using the Ask Us First List

Legal advice

In Conversation: Exploring Partnership Law

Are you working in a band or with other musicians? Join Musicians’ Union In House Solicitor Dawn Rodger, and Tim Northrop from NMD Solicitors, as they explore what a partnership is in music business, why it’s important, and how to go about getting one.

Legal Webinars

Watch legal advice webinars provided by Scottish legal firm Harper Macleod. MU members can view all recordings to learn the legal side of being a musician. Videos include advice on rights, branding, contracts, sampling, copyright and more.

How to be Release Ready

We've partnered with PRS for Music to help explain how independent artists can protect their work and sign profitable agreements. Available only to MU members.

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

Contact the Musicians' Union today

The MU has a network of experienced teams available to help musicians in all areas of the industry. If you have any questions about our services, membership or how the MU could help you, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Contact the MU

Latest news and features

New Agreement with Northern Ballet Covered by BBC Radio 4's Front Row

Musicians' Union General Secretary Naomi Pohl spoke to BBC Radio 4's Front Row about the Union's new collective agreement with Northern Ballet.

Published: 23 July 2026

View of a stage lit up in white light, from the perspective of a crowd looking up.

MU Welcomes Business Rates Cuts But Urges Government Not to Forget Artists

Today the government has announced a 20% cut to business rates bills for pubs, clubs and live music venues from April next year.

Published: 23 July 2026

Young women say on a sofa in a cafe looking deep in thought at their open laptop.

New Tax Payment Plans Could Create Cashflow Challenges for Self-Employed Musicians

Government is currently consulting on plans that could have a wide-ranging, detrimental effect on self-employed people, with proposed new rules potentially requiring tax to be collected throughout the year.

Published: 22 July 2026

Blue digital sound waves over a black background.

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.

Published: 20 July 2026

Music composer sat in front of a computer screen and laptop, wearing headphones and making notes.

MU Backs Global Call for Artists’ Rights in AI Music Deals

The MU has joined artists, songwriters and music industry organisations from around the world in signing a new open letter coordinated by the European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA), calling for creators' rights to be respected in AI-related music deals.

Published: 25 June 2026

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