Tories back small venue live music exemptions

The Conservatives have backed plans to exempt small venues from needing a licence for live music.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) chose not to follow the advice of MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee and exempt small-scale venues — with a capacity under 200 — from needing a licence for live music.

DCMS also didn't back the Committee's call for the "two-in-a-bar" rule to be reintroduced, or to abolish the controversial Form 696, which requires operators in parts of London to complete in-depth forms before every promoted event.

But the Tories have now come out in favour of the proposed changes. "We welcome many of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's recommendations regarding live music and are saddened that the Labour Government has been so slow in acting on these recommendations," a spokesman said. 

"We agree entirely that up to two unamplified live musicians ought to be exempt from the Act and that there is no need for venues with up to 200 capacity to be licensed for live music. Labour's policies are having a terrible effect on live music in this country and many musicians are struggling as a result."

Music campaigner Hamish Burchill welcomed the response but also warned of the on-going danger of Form 696. "The Committee also recommended that the controversial Met Police Form 696 should be scrapped. Although this is not mentioned in the Conservative statement, if the Committee's exemptions were implemented, Form 696 could not be imposed as a licence condition on performances of live music in venues up to 200-capacity or where just one or two musicians were performing.  

"However, the form could remain a potential licence condition for venues where recorded music was played and dancing was taking place."