'Pay To Play - Ok', Says The Musicians' Union

Roanoke, VA (Top40 Charts/ Musicians' Union) - The Musicians' Union (MU) is launching its new position on 'pay to play' at its opening panel at the In the City conference in Manchester on Wednesday 13 October. The MU has always been against pay to play, objecting to bands having to pay to get a gig. However, since the formation of the MU's new Gig Section, which has gathered together artists and local promoters, the union has accepted that some pay to play deals can be beneficial to musicians and promoters.

This will be the main issue discussed at the panel.

The panel will be chaired by Horace Trubridge, MU Assistant General Secretary, and will feature Guy Garvey (Elbow), Helienne Lindvall (Guardian journalist), Chris Long (BBC Introducing, Manchester) and Jay Taylor (promoter, Ruby Lounge, Manchester).

Horace Trubridge, MU Assistant General Secretary, says: "The MU recognises that it's really tough out there. Unless you are an established artist, you're going to need to do deals in order to get the gigs to build up your fan base and launch your career. The MU will still oppose deals which leave musicians out of pocket, but we are now advising members to have a look at what is being offered - some pay to play gigs result in the artist making a decent sum of money."