The Government is to rethink the regulations surrounding live music in a consultation to be launched in June.
Live music is currently regulated by the Licensing Act 2003, which states that any venue putting on live music has to have a licence. The Act has been criticised by musicians for creating red tape for venues wishing to put on music events.
Lord Clement-Jones, who introduced the Live Music Bill in the House of Lords earlier this year, said that the previous act had ‘created a bureaucratic minefield which has stifled creativity and prohibited innocent and innocuous live music events taking place.’
Responding to the news of the consultation, the chief executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), Deborah Annetts said: ‘This is extremely good news and will come as a much needed boost for professional musicians in these testing times.
‘Live music-making is a crucial part of our creative economy and many musicians receive their first break by performing in a small venue.’
Elizabeth Davis
