Live Music Licensing

Bands and promoters from across the region have reacted positively to proposed changes in live music laws.

The Government has proposed to exempt performances for small audiences from music licensing requirements, with the aim of making it much easier for many venues to put on live events.

Music fans and performers could benefit hugely if the proposal, which applies to audiences of 100 people or less, is approved. There could be an explosion of live music events across the country, not only in smaller, licensed pubs and clubs, but also in cafes, restaurants, village halls and shops previously without music licenses.

The proposal covers music performed indoors, between 8am and 11pm, so anyone planning outdoor or late night events would still need approval from the local licensing authority.

Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe explained, 'Currently anyone wanting to put on live music must have a premises licence, a club premises certificate or a temporary event notice, although there are some exceptions for incidental, background music.

'An exemption would ensure that all licensed premises such as pubs and clubs would be able to put on small scale live music, regardless of whether or not their existing licence included a provision for staging entertainment events. Unlicensed premises would also be able to host events without the need for a licence.'

Sutcliffe added that residents and responsible authorities such as the police would have the power to call for an exemption to be revoked at a specific venue if there was cause for concern.

To view the proposals online, visit the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website here.

East has spoken to many of the region's musicians, promoters and venues for their views on the new proposals, and the response was overwhelmingly favourable (give us your opinions in our poll below).

Music writer Chris Watson, of No.1 Fake and Unpeeled 'zines, hailed the news as, 'Brilliant, for performers as well as the music industry, which is more and more an interconnected web of DIY labels and hard working individuals. These 'little people' can now put on gigs and performances themselves without having to worry about being on the right side of the law, it opens up a lot of unlicensed and unusual spaces and also means there is less of a financial risk.

'Bands and labels just starting out will benefit the most. Audiences will benefit from the increase in variety, smaller venues will get the chance to put on events their current licensing prohibits, whilst artists and performers will be able to take more risks and find venues that suit their creative needs rather making sacrifices due to financial and legal factors.'

Glenn Hooper, manager of Eastbourne band Acusis, said, 'For a public venue to be able to put on music of any sort if they want to is fantastic - in the past there has been far too much red tape for not much reason at all.'

He also suggested another financial benefit to musicians, saying, 'In the present climate album sales are dropping at an alarming rate, mainly due to kids downloading either illegally or just selecting tracks they like from albums rather than the whole thing. These proposals may just kick-start the public into getting to gigs at entry level, when bands are able to do these little gigs for promoters, and buying into the bands entirely rather than just the singles they hear on Radio One. It will hopefully make gigs more accessible in the long run.'

Geoff Cheesemaster, promoter of Brighton’s Spirit Of Gravity electronica events, suggested the Government was addressing problems it had actually helped to create, speculating, 'I suppose it brings us more or less back to the situation before the big shake up in Licensing laws soon after Labour came to power. The situation at that time was that you could have less than three musicians performing and wouldn't need a license.'

Looking forward, he added, 'I can see it being a boon for local scenes in smaller towns not well served for live music. It'll be much easier to talk a landlord into hosting regular nights if they don't have to worry about dealing with licensing or being busted. Ironically I think it may be good in London too where smaller venues have been squeezed.'

Max McNeilly of Hastings' To The Moon Alice has a wide range of live music experience, and is very optimistic about the proposals. He said, 'As a performer, promoter, engineer, and producer it's always been a worry knowing how restricting the licensing is in small venues. If these proposals bring a boom of small and intimate events I can only predict this will help bring the music industry back to a level of stability with more bands able to perform, make money, and build fan bases.

Overall he suggests that, 'More venues profiting breeds better live equipment, well paid skilled engineers, and paid bands, resulting in viewers' experiences as modern music consumers a more positive one.'

Richard Dennett, a musician who has promoted music events at The Street in Hastings, was more cautious, pointing out that it isn't only music licenses that affect venues. He said, 'I think it sounds a lot shinier and nicer than it is, mainly for the simple reason that even tiny venues are normally fire limited for more than 100 people, particularly those with enough floor space to physically fit in a band.

'This will help those putting on music in very small venues, and will benefit new bands in small communities playing in the Scout Hall or what have you, but a lot of the time that sort of thing went on anyway without too much attention from the authorities. It's a good thing, no doubt, but I think it's impact will be limited to a very small percentage of venues, licensed or not.'

The closing date for responses to the proposals is March 26. East will be keeping an eye on how these potential legislation changes progress, hopefully to the benefit of struggling musicians, venues and pubs across the region.

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