The Live Music Bill is set to become law after five years of campaigning by Lord Clement-Jones and a number of other music industry representatives.
The Bill amends certain provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 which many felt stifled creativity by requiring small venues such as pubs and cafés to obtain a licence to host live music performances. Lord Colwyn, speaking in the House of Lords, commented that the previous system resulted in “absurd over-regulation and enforcement by many local authorities.”
When the Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes law, it will:
- remove the licensing requirement for unamplified live music taking place between 8am and 11pm in all venues (subject to any conditions in premises licences or club premises certificates);
- remove the licensing requirement for amplified live music taking place between 8am and 11pm before audiences of no more than 200 people on premises which have been authorised to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises (subject to any conditions in premises licences or club premises certificates);
- remove the licensing requirement for amplified live music taking place between 8am and 11pm before audiences of no more than 200 people in workplaces not licensed under the 2003 Act or premises licensed for late night refreshment; and
- widens the exemption for live music integral to the performance of morris dancing (or similar cultural dance) to include live or recorded music.
This will be welcome news for pub and café owners and also performers, particularly with the Queen’s Jubilee and Olympics celebrations approaching. The Government identified that, once passed, the new Act will result in a net benefit of £9.5million over a 10 year period, based on estimated annual savings for businesses and event organisers.
