Music experts offer free advice to Nottingham music makers

PRS for Music, Musicians' Union and The Ivors Academy share advice and personal experiences with local creatives.

Leading music organisations PRS for Music, the Musicians’ Union and The Ivors Academy have partnered for a special free event taking place on Tuesday 16 April, from 7pm, offering local music creators in Nottingham the chance to learn more about the music industry and how to take the next step in their careers.

Now, more than ever before, musicians and artists are taking a DIY approach to creating, releasing and exploiting their music. Some are self-releasing with hope of securing a future record deal, but others see it as a long-term strategy for their careers. Either way, it’s vital to understand the fundamentals about the way the music industry works and how music can generate revenue.

Over the course of the evening, PRS for Music’s Education and Outreach team, together with the Musicians’ Union and The Ivors Academy, will offer a joint workshop event at Antenna, in the heart of Nottingham’s Creative Quarter, covering everything attendees should know about copyright, how record labels and music publishers work, and how they can make money from their music. The evening will also offer the opportunity to network afterwards, giving attendees the chance to build new relationships, meet potential collaborators, and ask panellists further questions.

As a membership society, PRS for Music represents 140,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in the UK and beyond, ensuring that they are paid whenever their music is streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed or played in public, while also nurturing the creation of music through its partnerships, songwriting camps and educational programmes. The Musicians’ Union is a trade body for musicians, representing 30,000 members and offering advice in all areas of the music business. Formerly known as BASCA, The Ivors Academy is the independent professional association for songwriters and composers across all genres, with the mission to support, protect and celebrate music creators in the UK.

We are excited to be teaming up with the Musicians’ Union and The Ivors Academy for a series of events that we hope will be inspiring and empowering. These events are designed for attendees at all points in their careers – whether they have just written their first song or released their fiftieth. As a membership organisation, PRS for Music doesn’t just collect royalties. We’re also here to highlight ways music creators can make money while developing their careers.

With so many music creators choosing a DIY route to making a career in music, it’s important that they know organisations like the Musicians’ Union, The Ivors Academy and PRS for Music are here to support them. I am pleased to be collaborating on these workshops and look forward to sharing our in-depth knowledge with as many people as we can.

We are pleased to take part in this series of workshops which aims to help music creators make a living from their work. Many people know us through our prestigious awards The Ivors, but we are a membership organisation that works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure the rights and interests of music creators are put first and foremost in all aspects of the music business. We are looking forward to meeting music creators across the UK to explain how we can help them with their livelihoods.

About PRS for Music

PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 165,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers around the globe. Headquartered in the UK, it works diligently on behalf of its members to grow and protect the value of their rights. With a focus on innovation and integrity, PRS for Music is redefining the global standard for music royalties to ensure creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. In 2022, PRS for Music collected £964m and paid out £836.2m in royalties. prsformusic.com

About The Musicians' Union

The Musicians’ Union represents over thirty thousand musicians working in all sectors of the music business and has campaigned on behalf of its members since the organisation was established in 1893. As well as negotiating on behalf of its members with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services for self-employed professional and student musicians of all ages. The benefits of membership include £10m public liability cover, £2,000 worth of equipment insurance, contract advice, partnership agreements, careers advice and legal assistance.

About The Ivors Academy

The Ivors Academy is the UK’s independent professional association for music creators. We represent and champion a diverse, talented community of songwriters and composers. We are a self-funded not-for-profit organisation, relying on the continued support of our members and partners to carry on our work. 

Our Ivor Novello Awards are the ultimate accolade for songwriting and composition in the industry. The Ivors with Apple Music celebrate the talents of songwriters and screen composers, and The Ivors Composer Awards recognise music creators in the classical, jazz and sound art fields.