Venues and Small Festivals Licensing Problems

Hello Live Music Supporters

It may seem quiet at the moment but let me assure you there is lots happening in the background and you'll hear more soon enough. On our Facebook page there are more frequent bits of news and links,

http://www.facebook.com/LiveMusicForum

We are pleased to announce a new "Venues" webpage on the website dedicated to small venues and small festivals which have suffered as a consequence of the Licensing Act 2003. If you know of any others put them in touch with us. At the moment it covers pubs and small festivals but it may be necessary to add schools/hospitals as more cases are reported.

http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/lmfvenues.htm

Also a Documents page to bring together downloads of the various reports on live music that you might be interested in. Expect some new additions quite soon,

http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/lmfdocuments.htm

The Incorporated Society Of Musicians have put out a press statement entitled "Live Music Bill Must Be Passed As Soon As Possible". You can read it online at,

http://www.ism.org/news_campaigns/article/live_music_bill_must_be_passed_as_soon_as_possible/

The new question that is occupying our attention is, How can licensing officers accurately and fairly judge the level of 'noise' from live music by using just their ears ? This is the predominant trend currently and several licensees have complained to us that they feel their cases have been unfairly judged this way.

Time was that roving licensing officers used electronic meters to measure the number of deci-bells. As far back as 1993 we discovered that Hastings Borough Council had an inconsistent policy in measuring and determining noise nuisance. Could it be that Licensing departments have not actually been able to make a convincing case for their heavy handed approach to the regulation of live music. Technical evidence has just not supported the claims of widespread live music noise pollution. In the same way that no evidence has been produced to support the claim of a link between live music and public disorder.

Keep Live Music

Phil Little
Live Music Forum