Live music law unclear
The government is attempting to reassure pubs that live music will not suffer under the new licensing regime.
A Mori survey of 1,600 venues, conducted for the Department of Culture, Media & Sport, found that 45 per cent of licensees think changes to the law will make no difference to live music in pubs. One third of those who stage live music feel it will have a positive impact.
But the research fails to analyse the impact that the scrapping of the two-in-a-bar rule will have. This rule allowed up to two performers to appear in pubs without the need for a public entertainment licence.
The fear among many licensees and performers is that this could lead to less live music in pubs as licensees will have to apply to their local authority for permission to stage any lind of live act.
Singer Feargal Sharkey, who is chair of the Live Music Forum, criticised the government for failing to clarify where live music is allowed. Under the new guidance there is still confusion, particularly with areas such as "incidental music".
He said: "We have one of the most vibrant music scenes in the world. I want to see more live music in this country, and with a major overhaul of licensing laws just round the corner, we have the best opportunity to do this."
The full details of the research are expected to be available in late September.
- The Musicians Union is creating a "live music kit" offering help with staging live music under the new licensing system. Details can be found online at www.musiciansunion.org.uk.
