AIF and MU play fair

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and Musicians’ Union (MU) have teamed up for the Fair Play for Festivals initiative.  The agreement will formalise the existing relationship between emerging artists and independent festivals represented by AIF. Details were unveiled in a session presented by the AIF’s Paul Reed and the MU’s Kelly Wood on the first day of the AIF’s annual flagship conference and celebration event - The Festival Congress - in Cardiff on November 5.  The deal aims to provide practical guidance for musicians and festivals.

UK Unions support right of musicians to get paid

Following on from the Olympics where it seems numerous musicians were expected to perform for free, the UK’s Trade Union Congress, meeting in Brighton this week, has backed a motion by the Musicians' Union which states that professional musicians should not be expected to work for free with MU Gereral Secretary John Smith saying "This summer's Olympic Games brought the issue back to the fore. Despite the agreement between LOCOG and the TUC regarding fair terms and conditions, and undertakings from LOGOG to the MU that professional musicians would be paid for their services, the MU uncovered countless examples of its members being asked to perform for no payment at events connected with the Games".