Written by: Craig This entry was posted on Monday, August 24th, 2009 at 7:40 am and is filed under Music News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Live Music a Criminal Offence? » The Music Mag
The Music Mag | Music Blog in the UK, featuring Unsigned Music
Live Music a Criminal Offence?
Is Live Music soon to be a criminal offense in so many pubs and bars around the UK?
Under the Licensing Act, a performance by one musician in a bar, restaurant, school or hospital not licensed for live music could lead to a criminal prosecution of those organising the event. Even a piano may count as a licensable ‘entertainment facility’. By contrast, amplified big screen broadcast entertainment is exempt. The government says the Act is necessary to control noise nuisance, crime, disorder and public safety, even though other laws already deal with those risks. Musicians warned the Act would harm small events. About 50% of bars and 75% of restaurants have no live music permission. Obtaining permission for the mildest live music remains costly and time-consuming. In May, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee recommended exemptions for venues up to 200 capacity and for unamplified performance by one or two musicians. The government said no. But those exemptions would restore some fairness in the regulation of live music and encourage grassroots venues.
There’s a petition to stop this from happening. There are currently 7,267 on there. If you’re a big fan of live music, please add your name to the list using the link below:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/livemusicevents/
