Live Music Act becomes law
23 April 2012
The Live Music Act - which will remove much of the paperwork attached to performances in smaller venues, including schools - has now become law.
Venues which hold fewer than 200 people will no longer need local-authority permission for music performances between the hours of 8am and 11pm, with no capacity limit where the music is not amplified. The act comes into force on 1 October.
Welcoming the news, Jo Dipple of UK Music, the umbrella organisation for the UK music industry, said: 'For a Private Member’s Bill to receive Royal Assent is a monumental achievement, even more so for one that is introduced in the House Of Lords. This has happened only five times in the past decade. The assent of today’s act is the result of a dogged commitment to musicians combined with outstanding parliamentary skills. UK Music thanks Lord Clement-Jones and Don Foster MP for their work.'
UK Music was one of the organisations which campaigned for the change. Dipple added: 'The global success of our industry is dependent on a flourishing network of small venues, where tomorrow’s headliners can learn their craft and develop their career. Allowing these venues the freedom to host live music is a huge boost for British artists and means more opportunities for developing talent, as well as enriching our local communities and the economy overall.'
John Smith, general secretary of the Musician’s Union, said he would like to thank all of the MPs and Lords who have been involved in the process.
'The MU has been lobbying for changes to the Licensing Act for many years now, and this exemption is fantastic news for musicians and will be a real boost for live music,' said Smith. 'We look forward to the implementation of the act later this year and we will be working with the government to ensure that the act has maximum impact.'
