The Publican urges government to Listen Up! on live music
The Publican is today launching a new campaign urging the government to relax the licensing laws around live music in pubs.
The campaign - Listen Up! - aims to make it easier for pubs to host gigs and capitalise on the surge in popularity in live music.
Many licensees still feel that under the Licensing Act hosting live music is too costly and involves too much red tape, while councils do little to help pubs in this area.
The key aims of the campaign are:
- to make the government re-introduce the two-in-bar rule
- to offer a live music licence exemption to venues with a capacity of 200 or less
- to force the Metropolitan Police to scrap its Form 696, which demands pubs provide details of performers and promoters before gigs
- to promote the idea that live music is a positive for pubs and their communities
An influential committee of MPs recommended these measures to the government last month, but they were ignored.
However, the government has committed to reviewing exemptions on live music within a year - and a huge groundswell of feeling has built up among licensees, musicians, music campaigners and politicians urging the government to act.
The government has pointed to a new minor variations process for licensing, but many remain unconvinced this will have an effect.
Caroline Nodder, editor of The Publican, said: "Without pubs the music scene would not be what it is today. The vast majority of bands began their careers playing in pubs and they are a vital outlet for any young up-and-coming act.
"But this government appears determined to stifle that opportunity, so we are calling for MPs to Listen Up! and make it easier for pubs to host live music."
As part of Listen Up! The Publican will be running a series of articles highlighting the issue in the coming weeks, as well as helping co-ordindate events to push the government to act.
The issue will be returning to the House of Commons in October when Culture committee chairman John Whittingdale will table a debate on the matter.
If you would like to contact The Publican about our campaign, please email: news@thepublican.com or call 0207 955 3713.
Support for Listen Up!
Feargal Sharkey, UK Music chief executive
"I think the Listen Up! campaign is long overdue and it's something that I have no doubt will be very successful. It needs to be successful and quite frankly it's about time that small pubs got themselves back into the community and got the recognition and support they need instead of constantly trying to be out-fought and out-flanked by bureaucrats and bureaucracy. Little rooms in the backs of pubs are the foundation of what is one of the most successful industries in this country."
Paul Michelmore, licensee at the Harrison, Kings Cross
"At the moment we are only licensed for live music on a Sunday. We would like to host more but are put off applying by the cost, red tape and fear of the council restricting our license. I see live music as a great community event, it's not even about profit for me, it's just making my pub the sort of place I would like it to be. I fully support The Publican's Listen Up! campaign."
John Smith, Musicians Union General Secretary
"We were disappointed with the government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select committee's recommendations. At the time of the report, we welcomed the recommendations made by the select committee, particularly the need for an exemption to the Licensing Act for small venues, and this is why we are supporting the Listen Up! campaign to raise the profile of live music in pubs."
Paul Williams, Music Week editor
"There will be many people in the music industry who will strongly welcome The Publican's Listen Up! campaign and here at Music Week we will be fully supporting this excellent initiative over the coming weeks and months. Pubs are the absolute grass-roots of live music and it really is time the government started listening on this issue."
