The Musician, Winter 2020
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The Musician Journal of the Musicians’ Union Winter 2020 theMU.org contacts Union HQ Regional Ofces General Secretary Head of Communications London Horace Trubridge & Government Relations Regional Organiser: Jamie Pullman Isabelle Gutierrez 33 Palfrey Place, London SW8 1PE Deputy General Secretary t 020 7840 5504 Naomi Pohl Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Ofcial e [email protected] John Shortell Assistant General Secretary East & South East England Phil Kear In-House Solicitor Regional Organiser: Paul Burrows Dawn Rodger 1a Fentiman Road, National Organiser London SW8 1LD Jo Laverty (Orchestras) Orchestras Ofcial t 020 7840 5537 Morris Stemp e [email protected] National Organiser Chris Walters PR & Marketing Ofcial Midlands (Education, Health & Wellbeing) Keith Ames Regional Organiser: Stephen Brown 2 Sovereign Court, National Organiser Campaigns & Social Media Ofcial Graham Street, Geof Ellerby (Recording & Broadcasting) Maddy Radclif Birmingham B1 3JR t 0121 236 4028 National Organiser Digital Development Ofcial e [email protected] Dave Webster (Live Performance) Katerina Baranova Wales & South West England Head of Finance Regional Organiser: Andy Warnock Beverley Dawes Transport House, 1 Cathedral Rd, Cardif CF11 9SD Live & Music Writers’ Ofcial t 029 2045 6585 Kelly Wood e [email protected] Sessions Ofcial North of England Sam Jordan Regional Organiser: Matt Wanstall 61 Bloom Street, Recording & Broadcasting Ofcial Manchester M1 3LY Union HQ Michael Sweeney t 0161 236 1764 60 –62 Clapham Road e [email protected] London sw9 0jj Licensing & Distribution Ofcial Annie Turner Scotland & Northern Ireland t 020 7582 5566 Acting Regional Organiser: Barry Dallman f 020 7582 9805 Education Ofcial 2 Woodside Place, e [email protected] David Barnard Glasgow G3 7QF t 0141 341 2960 w theMU.org e [email protected] @WeAreTheMU REPORT Fighting For Our Members How your Union is working hard to get a fair fnancial deal for all musicians in the current pandemic, and preparing for life in the post-lockdown world In order to maximise the extremely limited While making money to pay the bills remains work opportunities available to members we the absolute priority, we all know that’s not have had to enter into interim agreements with why we became musicians in the frst place. many of the employers and engagers that we We became musicians because we wanted have collective bargaining agreements with, to perform and entertain audiences, and so and that has been a tortuous and demoralising many of you have been telling me that it’s what process. Like so many of you, we are anxious you miss most of all. We will continue to push not to allow an erosion of the hard-fought- the Chancellor to introduce a two-for-one for terms and conditions in our CBAs on a ticket scheme to enable socially distanced live permanent basis, and in trying to achieve performances to take place when we come that balance we have had to walk a paper out of the current lockdown. Much like the thin tightrope. scheme that Rishi Sunak introduced to help the restaurant trade in the Summer, a ‘Seat Hearing the harrowing stories of the sufering Out To Help Out’ scheme for the live music that some of our members are enduring industry would enable socially distanced brings the impact of the pandemic and this government’s lack of support for some sectors of the work force home to “We are doing 3 us in a truly personal way. We are doing Photo: Joanna Dudderidge Joanna Photo: everything we can to provide advice and everything we can to Horace Trubridge, support to members who are not just General Secretary trying to cope with the overwhelming provide advice and fnancial loss, but also the inevitable detrimental efect on their health and support to members” There is no point in trying to sugar coat wellbeing too, and we will continue to it, 2020 has been a bloody awful year for explore ways in which we can help you, the gigs, musical theatre and other performances our profession. COVID-19 has been every members, get through these dark days and to take place and not lose money, thereby musician’s annus horribilis, and the early remain in the profession. providing much needed work for musicians. part of 2021 is not looking much better. As I and my colleagues are saying to politicians Your ofcials, staf and the MU Executive Remarkable Ingenuity and civil servants every day, musicians just Committee have had to deal almost All this makes the stories of the creativity want to be able to work again, but they need exclusively with trying to minimise the of musicians striving to continue to work all investment to survive. damage that the pandemic has wrought the more remarkable. Whether it’s pop-up on members’ working lives, while also gigs, drive-ins, online teaching or pay-per- Working Together battering on the doors of Number 10 and view streamed performances, musicians Finally, I cling to the hope that this time next the Chancellor’s ofce to try to get this show time and time again that the skills they year, we will all be able to look back on what government to understand how our industry have learnt as musicians enable them to the profession has been through and give works and provide realistic universal be creative in business as well. Monetising thanks for our collective strength, unity, fnancial support for the workforce – not online performances is tricky. Nevertheless, resilience and ingenuity. Musicians are still just the institutions and buildings supported as we begin to scale the foothills of this new joining the MU in impressive numbers as they through the Cultural Recovery Fund. way of working I see initiatives springing recognise the importance of standing together up everywhere that should give us all hope. and fghting for our world beating industry. You can play your part in supporting the MU’s campaigns by writing to your MP and making our collective voice heard. More than anything, hang on in there and stay safe. TO HEAR MORE FROM HORACE, Very best wishes VISIT THEMU.ORG Horace Trubridge The Musician • Winter 2020 Contents Winter 2020 4 30 “To be in those studios with some of the best session musicians in the world, I find that to be an honour” Fiona Brice The Musician • Winter 2020 22 Frontline Feature 6 Members invited to join the 12 How the MU has supported call for new fast access fund members in the Covid crisis Examining the experience of 7 MU seeks guidance Black musicians on Brexit for musicians Advice since the rise 40 The pros and cons of signing of the BLM Reports a music publishing deal movement 3 MU General Secretary 44 Sources of fnancial support 10 Deputy General Secretary 20 The Let Music Live protests Your Voice in London and Birmingham 9 Interacting with MU members 22 Assessing the achievements and supporters on Twitter Union Notices Brown Ntando Photo: of Black History Month 2 Key contacts for 26 Tips on maintaining wellbeing Profle the Musicians’ Union during the winter months 30 Fiona Brice: composer, 50 MU Executive Committee 34 Acclaimed jazz musician arranger and violinist election results Arun Ghosh on clarinet care 51 Member benefts 36 How to promote your music Reviews using the latest online tools 46 New albums, EPs and 48 MU Delegate Conference downloads from members 5 MU Contributors Andrew Katie Rahel Gary Stewart Nicholls Aklilu Walker Andrew writes Katie is a Rahel is a Gary has been for The Times, The freelance journalist writer based in London a journalist for 20 Guardian, Classical and editor whose with a background years, most recently Music and BBC Music features and reviews in law, writing mostly editing Long Live Magazine, among have appeared in around music and Vinyl magazine. He’s others. He is also titles such as Mojo, culture for publications hopelessly addicted Director of Southwark The Guardian including gal-dem and to reverb pedals and Voices. p26 and Kerrang! p30 The Independent . p22 Gretsch guitars. p36 Roy Neil Neil Henry Delaney Churchman Crossley Yates Roy has Neil is an A journalist and Henry is a written for Metal experienced journalist editor who has written freelance writer from Hammer, Melody Maker in broadcasting and for The Independent, Gloucestershire who and TV’s Tipping Point, print. A former BBC The Daily Telegraph, has written for titles and is the lead singer national newsroom The Guardian and as diverse as Classic and drummer with the assistant editor, he The Financial Times. Rock, Total Guitar, two-piece punk rock now writes on music Neil also fronts the NME and Record band Hacksaw. p46 and the media. p34 band Furlined. p20 Collector. p40 & 44 Cover: © sumnersgraphicsinc; JLVarga; Ko Hong-Wei / EyeEm / Getty Images Photo: Joseph Branston. © Musicians’ Union The Musician • Winter 2020 BREXIT AND YOU The MU is fghting to protect musicians’ right to travel when working in the EU post-Brexit. We want to hear from you about how Brexit has ! afected your working plans for 2020. #WorkingInTheEU bit.ly/2AzdUAV Winter 2020 frontlineThe MU in action, working on behalf of professional musicians MU Calls On The Treasury To Invest In Musicians And Plug The Gaps INVEST MU members are invited to join the call for additional support for musicians through 6 the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the title ‘Invest In Musicians’, the new campaign IN aims to activate members and supporters to build a sense of engagement and reframe the debate about the future of the UK music industry. MU research shows that 38% of musicians MUSICIANS fall through gaps in government support. This is a highly skilled workforce and musicians’ jobs are viable – some are just temporarily on hold.