The Facebook Independent Artist Programme has launched as a dedicated portal, allowing independent artists and musicians to make their music and voices available on Facebook and Instagram, free of charge. With many artists reaching their fans through social media without the support of a label, this programme is designed to make it easier for them…

A new survey by UK Music has revealed that the public think the government are not doing enough to help musicians overcome post-Brexit barriers to overseas touring. UK Music commissioned the poll following a barrage of complaints about the extra costs and red tape involved in touring and working across Europe since Britain left the EU…

Live Music Now Scotland (LMNS) is putting musicians centre stage with a brand new website aimed at bringing it back to venues as lockdown is eased. Key to the redesign is a new and improved roster of the many and varied musicians that LMNS represents. Whether venues are looking for a jazz quintet, or a…

This year, Make Music Day saw thousands of free events taking place across Scotland and the rest of the UK. A new film and song by refugee and asylum-seeking musical collective Musicians In Exile launched to celebrate the world’s biggest grassroots DIY music festival. As well as the film and song, live traditional music performances…

The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) is proud to support the Scottish Awards for New Music as they announce the shortlist of nominees for the 2021 Awards. Once again, New Music Scotland received an exceptional level of submissions which were adjudicated by a panel of key figures in the music world. Andy Saunders, Co-Chair, New…

A new BBC documentary explores the journeys travelled by the country’s most revered female musicians to discover just how hard the struggle was – and is – to have their voices heard in what is still a male-dominated world. Annie Lennox, Barbara Dickson, Sharleen Spiteri, Eddie Reader, Clare Grogan, Lorrain Mckintosh, KT Tunstall, Emma Pollock,…

Whether you’re a musician, a promoter, a venue, or just want to see what the UK music scene has to offer, you can get involved in Make Music Day on 21 June 2021. Make Music Day is both an international annual day of music making and an ongoing campaign. The day of music making is…

University of the West of Scotland is launching a record label supported by Scottish music heavyweights. Damfino Records boasts backing from the likes of Deacon Blue’s Jim Prime and Love and Money’s Paul McGeechan, who both lecture on the University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) highly regarded music programmes. The label will be run…

Creative Scotland has opened £25m of additional emergency funds to help cultural organisations and venues prevent insolvency or significant job losses due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Fund is open for applications and will close at 2pm on Wednesday 9 March. £13m will be made available through a further round of Creative…

The Youth Music NextGen Fund returns this week (June 3) to offer financial support to young professionals, artists and entrepreneurs, and its partner has been revealed as social media giant, TikTok, with support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. Youth Music works to invest in grassroots projects across the UK, and the NextGen Fund…

Here, you’ll find information around the new Cabinet & Ministerial appointments within the Scottish Government with particular reference to those who will be involved in decision making in the creative industries. You can read more information on the Cabinet & Ministers on the ScotGov website. Cabinet Secretaries Nicola Sturgeon – First Minister John Swinney MSP – Deputy First…

A year on from Blackout Tuesday, new media publication gal-dem have spoken to the music industry workers for whom the moment spurred a mission of archiving, education and carving out space. Read the full article on gal-dem

After three years of campaigning from the music community the future is looking bright for children learning instruments in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament election is over, new MSPs are inducted and ministers are taking up their portfolios. All of the parties who now have MSPs in the parliament made similar promises in their manifestos, providing…

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, BBC Radio Scotland’s Bruce MacGregor examined the links between nature, wellbeing, and music as part of Thursday nights’ folk and trad show, ‘Traveling Folk’. Nature has long been an influence for musicians and singers, but over the last year we’ve all come to appreciate nature in a whole…

POWER UP have announced the music creators, industry professionals and executives who will make up Year 1 of the Participant Programme, a key feature of the long-term initiative launched to address anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector. Managed by PRS Foundation and launched in February this year, the Participant Programme elevates exciting…