Welcome, to the home of the New BPI & MU Agreement
From this page you can:
• Read the full published version of the New BPI & MU Agreement by clicking here.
• Purchase a physical copy of the New Agreement from the BPI Shop.
• Freely download the
Session Agreement and
Live Recording Agreement.
The New Agreement is effective from 1 June 2011. The three old agreements are terminated and the old ‘Consent Forms’ should no longer be used.
How to use the New BPI & MU Agreement
• Every time a record label commissions an MU session musician, the label and the musician must complete and sign a Session Agreement (for studio recordings) or a Live Recording Agreement (for concert recordings).
• Three copies of the completed Session Agreement or a Live Recording Agreement should be made – one copy should be kept by the label, one copy should be kept by the musician and one copy should be provided to the MU.
• The Session Agreement and the Live Recording Agreement incorporate the terms of the New Agreement itself, so it’s important that you read and understand the New Agreement.
• We’ve produced a 5-page Guide, for BPI members, to the key terms of the New Agreement. If you’re a BPI member, you will have already received a copy of the Guide. However, if you’d like another copy, please just email us at legal@bpi.co.uk.
• If you’re a VPL member, you will be contacted in due course by VPL with further details about the option under the New Agreement to use your VPL revenue (if sufficient) to make certain payments under the New Agreement. We strongly encourage you to make use of this option.
We believe that the New BPI & MU Agreement will help to increase the competitiveness of the UK recorded music industry and help British artists achieve and sustain commercial success.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at
legal@bpi.co.uk.