MU and National Union of Teachers in partnership at Music Education Expo 2016, Olympia, London
Music Education Expo is Europe’s largest conference and exhibition and created for all those involved in music education. The event offers the chance to attend over 60 seminars, workshops and debates, plus the opportunity to meet and browse the services of over 130 exhibitors and to network with 2,500 of your peers.
The MU will be present throughout this year’s event and working in partnership with the National Union of Teachers. Notably, we will be delivering sessions on promoting positive behaviour, creativity in group teaching and building a private teaching practice.
Music industry taskforce assembled to tackle US visa problems
Following discussions in early 2015 between the Musicians’ Union and USA Homeland Security, the MU and British Underground have released a ‘Guidance Note’ for musicians travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme or ESTA and showcasing at events in the States such as A3C, CMJ and SXSW.
Last year, the MU received reports of cancelled tours and rearranged flights due to failures in the US work visa processing mechanism. In response, the MU and BU invited industry organisations to form a taskforce to look at how these issues can best be addressed. The taskforce met for the first time in December and are now consulting a wider industry group of musicians and managers.
Live music venues under threat in Aberdeen
The owners of two of Aberdeen music venues, Downstairs and Krakatoa, have written to the City Council to ask for protection under the Agent of Change principle of the city’s live music venues.
This would protect a venue from complaints coming from residents of flats and houses that were built nearby after the venue was established. Members are urged to show their support for the campaign by signing the appropriate petition.
Producers’ Alliance for Cinema and Television
A new agreement with PACT came into effect on 1 January 2016. A newly updated edition of the agreement, consent form and associated rates – superseding previous versions – is now available on the MU website.
New agreement for Commercial Radio
The Union’s Executive Committee has endorsed new rates for engagements for Commercial Radio Stations. The new rates came into effect on 1 January 2016 and can also be found on the Musicians’ Union site.
XpoNorth showcase applications welcomed
XpoNorth, the Inverness based conference and showcase for music and other creative industries, will be held on 8 and 9 June 2016. The window for musicians to submit their work has opened and the deadline is Friday 1 April 2016.
Katherine McGillivray’s Get a Life Fund
Katherine McGillivray’s Get a Life Fund gives awards to musicians planning a sabbatical from their normal working lives. The charity helps fund projects across a broad creative spectrum with the aim of supporting and inspiring applicants.
MU supporting Bacc for the Future campaign
The Musicians’ Union is joining forces with 160 other organisations to protest against plans to make the British Baccalaureate virtually compulsory and further restrict the chances for young people to study creative subjects.
Heartunions against the Trade Union Bill
From the 8 to 14 February 2016, the TUC will run a week of action against the Trade Union Bill. Called ‘heartunions’, it will showcase the vital work unions undertake and tell the wider public why the Trade Union Bill threatens it.