Live Music Bill gets second reading in Parliament

The Live Music Bill, which calls for licence exemptions for performances of live music between 8am and 11pm to audiences of up to 200, passed its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday.
It’s now set to move to the committee stage, where amendments can be added. The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has already said it supports the Bill, which originated in the Lords from Liberal Democrat peer Tim Clement-Jones.
Live music campaigner Hamish Birchall said: “It is unusual for a private members bill originating in the Lords to get this far. However, while encouraging, its success today is no guarantee that it will become law. Potential pitfalls, and much hard work, remain.”
In September DCMS released a more wide-ranging plan to deregulate the licensing of live music and other entertainment provisions, whereby exemptions would apply to most events where audiences are under 5,000. The consultation on the plan closes on 3 December.