Good News
Taken From the Musicians Union Website
News Bulletin
23 Jan 2012
The Live Music Bill passed its final stages in the Commons on Friday
The MU has been celebrating with supportive MPs and other members of UK Music as the Live Music Bill passed its final stages in the Commons on Friday.
The Bill states that an exemption to the Licensing Act should take place when ‘the live music entertainment takes place in the presence of an audience of no more than 200 persons’. This will reduce the bureaucracy and expense for small venues wishing to put on live music.
We have been lobbying for a change of this kind ever since the Licensing Act came into law in 2003, and we believe that this Bill will be a real boost to live music performance.
John Smith, MU General Secretary, says:
“We are delighted that the Live Music Bill has finally made it through Parliament. It is a real achievement for a Private Member’s Bill to get through and the MU would like to thank Lord Clement Jones, Don Foster and all of the other MPs who helped to pass this Bill.
“Over the past few years our members have been telling us that the number of gigs available to young musicians who are still perfecting their craft has gone down. This is primarily due to a reduction in the number of smaller venues which traditionally offered this level of gig, and is directly linked to the Licensing Act. The exemption that the Live Music Bill introduces will be hugely beneficial to these small venues.”