A Bournemouth grassroots venue joins MU’s Fair Play Venue scheme

A 300-capacity venue based in Bournemouth has become the 100th grassroots music spot to sign up to the Musicians’ Union’s (MU) Fair Play Venue scheme. First opening in 2006, Sixty Million Postcards has seen bands like Spector, Wolf Alice and The Wytches grace its stage alongside an eclectic mix of DJs and regular club nights.

Sixty Million Postcards promoter Tor Byrnes told the MU what becoming a Fair Play Venue meant to the popular club: “It’s great to acknowledge and shout about the fact we treat everyone within the music industry fairly and with respect, as all venues should endeavour to do.”

The MU’s Fair Play Venue scheme helps musicians find Fair Play Venues across the country. A database of venues will be launching this summer, and the MU hopes the database will become an essential tool for members planning tours or finding venues that value the fair treatment of musicians as workers.

A venue may be considered a Fair Play Venue if it endorses the principles of the MU’s Fair Play Guide, which offers advice – to both artists and promoters  on co-promotions, ticketing deals, showcases and competitions, so that musicians can identify when a deal is fair. Fair Play Venues must also be against pay-to-play, where unscrupulous promoters expect musicians to sign up to unfair ticketing deals.

Find out more about the MU’s Fair Play Venue scheme click here: