The Live Music Bill, a private member's bill* to amend the Licensing Act 2003, and thereby lessen present restrictions governing the performance of live music in the United Kingdom, could soon become law. This legislation, if passed, could have major ramifications for promoters and venues across the United Kingdom. According to the website of Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East:
'The Bill proposes that the performance of live music will no longer need a licence if:⢠The music is unamplified and will take place between 8am-11pm on the same day;
⢠The music is amplified, takes place between the above hours on the same day, and is a performance to no more than 200 people.
⢠Licences will continue to be necessary for other licensable activities, e.g. sale of alcohol.'
A substantive, but accessible, outline of the bill's potential benefits, as they relate to the performance of live music, can be found in the form of Tom Kiehl's editorial piece over at Louder Than War. Tom writes:
'The Live Music Bill enables unamplified music to be played anywhere between 8am and 11pm without a license, ending the situation where the playing of a piano in a street could be subject to fines. Where there are up to 200 people present in a pub or restaurant, or in workplaces such as a hospital or school, live music can also be performed between 8am and 11pm without a licence under the Act.The Live Music Bill has therefore been prepared as a modest way to tidy up the problems created by the 2003 Act to provide for a licensing regime that will enable small venues to develop bands, discover new talent and act as beacons for local music scenes.'
While the bill enjoys cross party support, it's still far from clear whether it will reach Royal Ascent, and thereby become law. It must first pass the report stage and the third reading (House of Commons), and the consideration of amendments (House of Lords). While the debate for the report stage should take place at around noon (London time) on Friday the 20th of January, this is by no means set in stone, as the Daylight Savings Bill (another bill scheduled ahead of the Live Music Bill) could be held up. This is significant as only a few sitting Fridays remain between now and the end of this Parliamentary session in April. If it isn't passed before that point, the Live Music Bill, or some similar bill, will likely have to begin the process all over again in the next Parliamentary session.
You can track the bill's progress through the various stages of Parliament here. For those of you with a stomach for legalese, the full text of the bill, as it stands, can be found (in .pdf form) here.
* For more information about the arcane world of UK Parliamentary procedure, go here.