Meet the Musicians’ Union
This panel will provide the opportunity to hear from MU Officials as to how the organisation works to protect the rights and interests of working musicians. Plus the chance to hear from highly-respected singer/songwriter Anna as to her experience as an active member of both the MU and the Ivors Academy.
Keith and Kelly will outline the benefits of membership and introduce the discounted scheme, which gives the chance to join the MU for just £1 for the first six months. All three of the panel will be delighted to answer any questions on having a career as a musician, whether in the live arena, recording and broadcasting, writing and composing or in education.
The MU represents over 31,000 musicians working in all sectors and genres of music. As well as negotiating on behalf of its members with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services tailored for the self-employed by providing assistance for professional and student musicians of all ages.
For more information, please visit the MU website: www.theMU.org
Panelists;
Keith Ames
MU PR & Marketing Official
Keith is PR & Marketing Official of the Musicians’ Union, plus editor of the organisations’ award-winning magazine, The Musician. He is specifically responsible for the Union’s media profile, national events and branding. He has been employed by the MU since the late 1990s and this role followed his career as a singer, songwriter and guitarist, and several years in sales and marketing in the financial sector. Keith has considerable experience in many commercial areas in the music industry, including publicity, promotion, advertising, merchandise, staging and event organising. He is recognised as a major point of contact for the national and industrial media within the industry, with significant knowledge of the history of British working musicians.
Kelly Wood
MU Live & Music Writers Official
Kelly works in the MU’s Live Performance department, advising members in relation to gigging and touring. In more healthy musical times, this includes advising on issues like fees, contracts, promotion and royalties, but in recent times it has also involved advice around Covid guidance and Brexit. Kelly also looks after the Union’s Music Writers Section, which provides information and support for composers, songwriters, arrangers and copyists working across all sectors of the industry.
Anna Neale
Artist, songwriter, composer, engineer and producer
Anna Neale has worked in the music industry professionally for twenty years and has toured the world, released three albums and two EP’s independently to critical acclaim, written songs for other artists, radio and TV advertising, plus provided vocals for many TV animations, songs and adverts. As well as her composing and performing credits Anna is an elected member of The Ivors Academy Songwriter Committee and a member of the Writers’ Committee for the Musicians Union. She is co-host of “What's the Point? Music Podcast”, which explores what it's like to work in the music industry as an artist or creative. In addition, Anna is a lecturer in Music Business & Production at the University of Kent and a Doctoral Researcher at Birmingham City University.
