Phil Little's Blog

Hope for Live Music Bill

2011-03-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

Lord Clement Jones' Live Music Bill received its second hearing in the House of Lords today (4th March) and enjoyed cross-party support and a promise from the Government spokesperson, Baroness Rawling.

Lord Grade and Baroness Bakewell also made excellent speeches and in the penultimate speech Baroness Rawling, on behalf of the Government, said, in closing,

"I offer my congratulations once again to my noble friend on his Bill, and reiterate the Government’s general support, qualified as I have outlined earlier for the measures. We wish to see the Bill amended to take account of the 11 pm noise cut-off for unlicensed live music performance, to make certain that he has continued support. We would like to explore consequential drafting and other amendments with my noble friend in Committee. We are delighted to see that the Bill retains the key protections from the Licensing Act 2003, while making certain that low-risk community events are no longer prevented, or overburdened, by red tape and bureaucracy. The consequences of the Licensing Act 2003 have been to disadvantage many of the cornerstones of local life. It should not be the role of government to restrict creativity and community interaction, but to promote it."

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldtoday/10.htm

However, the Baroness spoke earlier of the Government's concerns in three areas,

"I must, however, add a number of caveats before we can offer unreserved support.

First, we would support my noble friend in examining the technical aspects of the Bill to make certain that the legislation operates as effectively as possible and has no unintended or adverse consequences in the way that it amends the Licensing Act 2003.

Secondly, we wish to explore issues relating to the time limits for live music performance. The previous Government’s public consultation on the removal of restrictions for live music was predicated on a cut-off point of 11 pm, rather than midnight, as currently outlined in the Live Music Bill. This is an important point, and we wish to work with my noble friend to amend the Bill to reflect this, and ensure our continued support.

Thirdly, we will need to explore with my noble friend Lord Clement-Jones issues such as what the effect of the provisions of the Bill should be on conditions imposed by licensing authorities prior to such time as the proposed legislation comes into force."

The Bill will still have to pass through the House Of Commons after amendments have been agreed but Baroness Rawling has declared the Coalition Government's commitment to see the Bill become law."

Live Music supporters will be celebrating tonight as this is the best indication yet that the licensing burdens of the Licensing Act 2003 that are suffered by live music will ultimately be removed.

Phil Little
Live Music Forum

In Answer to recent criticisms

2010-07-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

In Answer to recent criticisms contained in an interview with the Morning Advertiser,
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/87789?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ma-rss-all-news+

The Live Music Forum

To my knowledge, there is no history, either before or after the Licensing Act 2003, of pubs putting on X rated films in a back room whilst admitting under ages. This was one of the reasons given for the necessity of licensing entertainment when the Licensing Act was originally debated. Even though such an abominable act is obviously covered by a range of laws.

A rush of 18 year old's to a live music gig would just result in more gigs to satisfy the demand and more work for a whole range of occupations. City centre pubs without live music have been crowded with young people every Friday and Saturday night for the past 10 years or more. There is no evidence that live music leads to more accidents.

If Local Authorities or the LGA are concerned about realistic situations which threaten children or the public and which are not already covered by the law, let them list them to us. We would support action to change existing laws to cover these situations and make us all safe. But the licensing of live music is a "sledgehammer to crack a walnut", as the saying goes.

The inclusion of live music in the licensing system just outlaws an innocent activity in order to prevent extremely rare, or, non existent risks.

The result is that it widely discourages a creative, healthy and, therefore, important social activity.

Maybe it's time to just take live music out of the Licensing Act altogether.

Phil Little
The Live Music Forum

A Day Out At Downing Street

2010-07-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

Our visit to deliver the live music events petition to 10 Downing Street was so enjoyable and had so many bits that I thought were funny, I thought I'd write a light hearted blog about the event rather than the serious political stuff that is usually called for.

Being partially-sighted it is quite easy for me to put myself under pressure, especially in an unusual environment. So it was I was hurrying along the Embankment wondering why Downing Street wasn't there and making myself late while stuffing down a Kit Kat for breakfast.

An enquiry soon established that Downing Street was indeed further along, somewhere near the Houses of Parliament and as I crossed the road at Westminster a voice called out my name and there was Hamish Birchall who had been waiting in a Cafe.

We arrived at the Downing Street gates, more or less on time, and linked up with journalist Gemma Mckenna from the Morning Advertiser who took a short video of Hamish outlining the changes in the new version of Lord Clement-Jones' new live Music Bill.

The next to arrive were John King and Charlotte Collingwood from the Welwyn and Hatfield Live Music Forum. This was the first time I had met them both in person so it was nice to have a chat and be able to get to know them a little better.

We had a few minutes to discuss the sequence of events and Hamish's Lib Dem contact in the House, Tom, showed up, followed closely by Lord Colwyn, who himself is a Jazz Trumpeter, Hamish introduced us all to Lord Colwyn who has consistently campaigned for live music in and out of the House of Lords for years. Then our celebrity musician John Otway arrived and I introduced him to everybody. This was, in fact, not the first time I had met John Otway. I had introduced myself to him when he played at the Man Band Christmas Party at the Patti Pavillion in Swansea a few years ago. John has toured up and down the country for thirty years and has had two hit singles.

I made my first major gaff of the day when the next dignitary arrived to join our party. There were so many tourists milling around Downing Street by this time it was really noisy and you can hear this on the videos. So, with my dodgy hearing I completely missed Hamish's introduction and I said "Lord Tim is it ?" as I reached out to shake hands with John Whittingdale MP, who is chair of the Culture Media and Sport Committee. Oops. Fortunately the Right Honourable MP didn't seem to hold it against me.

Just before 11am Lord Clement Jones arrived and after introductions he suggested we go through to Downing Street nominating me to lead the group. As the Police Officer unlocked the gate he looked past me and said "That's John Otway, isn't it ?". We had a good laugh at that.

Once through the security hut we strolled the few yards to number 10, pausing while John Whittingdale had a word with Home Secretary Theresa May who was just leaving in her car. A few days later it occurred to me that the Prime Minister must actually have been in number 10 because the Home Secretary was visiting him.

We arrived at the famous door of number 10 and I inquired of the Police Officer stood outside, "Use the knocker ?", he replied "Yes" and "Not that hard!!" after I had knocked. I wanted so badly to say, "Why are they still in bed ?" but I managed to control myself. Another Police Officer answered the door and accepted the petition.

Although there were no TV cameras present, fortunately there was a photographer from Anderson Photography and we posed for photographs outside the front door, Lord Tim ensuring the petitioners (Hamish, John Otway and myself) were stood front and centre. After posing we walked over to them and I asked if it was possible for us to have copies of the photographs. Happily they kindly agreed so we hope to display those shortly.

Back outside the gates Gemma Mckenna shot some more video of Lord Clement Jones speaking about the new live music bill and of Charlotte Collingwood reading out our press statement. Since it was the first time some of us had met, myself, John Otway Hamish and John and Charlotte retired to the pub across the road from the House of Parliament for an hour.

After goodbyes I left with John Otway to catch the tube from Westminster. Inside the station we parted for our respective platforms and I made my way to mine. I had only been stood on the platform a few seconds and who should appear approaching me but John Whittingdale MP, chair of the all party Culture Committee, who, only a couple of hours earlier I confused with Lord Clement-Jones.

It transpired he was headed for the same destination and this gave us the opportunity to discuss in further detail the prospects of a licensing exemption for small gigs. As the tube approached the station where we were both to alight, the sound of music could be heard and it was growing louder. At first I thought it was a ghetto blaster and then two guys appeared in front of us busking, one with a 'minimally amplified' banjo. Earlier we had all been discussing the subject of what constitutes 'minimal amplification' outside Downing Street.

The Right Honourable MP asked me, "Well, is that legal ?", as we chuckled at the co-incidence and reached into our pockets for some coinage. Since everyone on the train was smiling I think it should be legal. I wonder if the Chair of the Culture Committee noticed that ?

"Dig deep ladies and gentlemen, London is an expensive town" said the banjo player in an Australian accent.

He got that right !

Venues and Small Festivals Licensing Problems

2010-06-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

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

re Pre-emptive Noise Abatement Orders and Tyranny

2010-06-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

While researching case histories of pubs with licensing problems, one thing is becoming clear. That is, the recent trend is for Council licensing officers to issue 'Pre-emptive Noise Abatement Orders'.

That means live music can be stopped or an event can be cancelled for causing too much noise before it has actually happened or anybody has complained, because a licensing officer thinks it might cause a noise problem.

Worse still these officers are not using sound measuring equipment to measure excessive deci-bells. They are relying on their ears.

It is essential this new co-alition take steps to curb the tyranny maintained by local authority licensing departments.

re "Venues" - New Live Music Forum webpage

2010-06-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

Until now there has been no record of venues plagued by licensing problems. Today we put that right with the Live Music Forum Venues page. A webpage dedicated to the stories of small gigs and festivals that are being closed down by local authorities who often exceed their mandate. You can visit or link to the page at,

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

One of the ongoing problems live music venues have had to deal with is noise complaints from neighbours with less than reasonable grounds. A long standing popular venue with an important place in the community can lose it's license to host live music on the basis of a single complaint, often from somebody who has recently moved into the area in full knowledge that an entertainment venue operated nearby.

Unfortunately, the Licensing Act 2003 seems to have made it easier for Council Licensing Departments to withdraw live music permission based on anecdotal complaints from a single source. We have heard of a single complainer leafleting the local area in order to whip up anti-venue feeling.

So, while the new Government is working out how to best honour the promises of their manifestos, perhaps now is a good time to review some of the licensing aspects which weigh heavily in favour of residential minorities and the crippling rules and charges which are putting most of the small festivals out of business.

Phil Little

Live Music Forum

The legal costs of seeing through an appeal process can be crippling for a small business and many don't make it

BBC - I'm In A Rock n Roll Band

2010-05-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

BBC - I'm In A Rock n Roll Band

Having seen the final part in the "I'm In A Rock n Roll Band" series I am saddened that this is typical of the BBC's approach to making a lot of programmes, ie. based on the celebrity and visual image of performers rather than the music and talent which the programme claims to celebrate.

Where is the qualified analysis of technique and revelation of shortcuts that might prove useful to an aspiring musician and entertaining to one who appreciates music ?

The Guitarist edition was the best of a poor bunch. But, the cursory analysis given to instruments like drums was a disgrace, typified in DJ Lauren Laverne's childish attack on drum solos. As if she had ever heard Ginger Baker playing with Phil Seamen. Also, how you can cover the history of Rock drumming in Britain without mentioning Phil Seamen's influence is a mystery.

Where are the exquisite examples of performances that linger unseen in some vault or other ?

The BBC should be making quality programmes that will stand the test of time and show to future audiences the deep appreciation that some of us have for what has gone before.

Phil Little

2010-05-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

Live Music; Hamish Birchall reports on the lack of action, so far, on live music,

http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/text/hbbulletin308.htm

Licensing remains in limbo almost two weeks since the general election.

A licensing minister has yet to be confirmed, and press reports yesterday suggested that the portfolio might be moved back from DCMS to the Home Office:

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news.ma/article/87043?PagingData=Po_0~Ps_10~Psd_Asc

http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=67050&c=1

'Alcohol and entertainment' has today been reinstated on the DCMS website under the heading 'What we do' - which makes it sound like some funky new venue - but the link just takes you to archived content: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/alcohol_and_entertainment/default.aspx

Meanwhile, The Stage today reports that Feargal Sharkey is hopeful that Lord Clement-Jones' Live Music Bill, which would create entertainment licensing exemptions for small venues, will be revived in the autumn:
http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/28250/sharkey-optimistic-about-parliamentary

And Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is praised in the Daily Telegraph for reportedly promising, pre-election, that 'every child will have the opportunity to learn an instrument...' ['Music unlocks the key to childrens souls', Stephen Hough, 18 May 2010]:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/7735302/Music-unlocks-the-key-to-childrens-souls.html

Of course, under the Licensing Act 2003, most school concerts remain illegal unless the school is explicitly licensed for live performance. Private school concerts are caught if there is a charge with a view to profit, or just to raise money for good causes. Concerts open to friends are likely to count as 'public', and therefore licensable irrespective of any charge. Even the provision of musical instruments is potentially a criminal offence unless licensed as the provision of 'entertainment facilities'.

There has been no comment to date from the new coalition government on whether or not they will take forward the small gigs exemption consultation initiated by Labour.

ENDS

2010-05-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hello Live Music Supporters

HB announces the new Culture Secretary. You can link to this article at,

http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/text/hbbulletin306.htm

Rest assured the Live Music Forum will be working to make sure the Conservative/ Lib Dem alliance deliver the promised small gigs exemption.

Keep Live Music

Phil Little

Live Music Forum

Begin forwarded message:

From: Hamish Birchall
Date: 12 May 2010 16:59:33 BST

Subject: Jeremy Hunt new DCMS Secretary of State

Conservative Jeremy Hunt is the new Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, according to reliable sources.

Junior DCMS ministers will be confirmed tomorrow or Friday.

At the beginning of April Mr Hunt told The Publican magazine that the Licensing Act had been 'a disaster' for live music and that his party backed the campaign for an entertainment licensing exemption for venues up to 200 capacity:
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=66789

The exemption is also a Lib Dem manifesto commitment:

'Cut red tape for putting on live music. We will reintroduce the rule allowing two performers of unamplified music in any licensed premises without the need for an entertainment licence, allow licensed venues for up to 200 people to host live music without the need for an entertainment licence, and remove the requirement for schools and hospitals to apply for a licence.'
http://network.libdems.org.uk/manifesto2010/libdem_manifesto_2010.pdf (p46)

ENDS

Evidence that DCMS misled small gigs exemption responses

2010-04-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Live Music Supporters

The reputations of senior DCMS officials are under threat explains Hamish Birchall.

You can link to this article at,

http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/text/hbbulletin302.htm

Phil Little
Live Music Forum

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Hamish Birchall"
Date: 23 April 2010 12:54:04 BST

Subject: Evidence that DCMS misled small gigs exemption responses

Evidence has emerged that DCMS use of Alcohol and Entertainment licence statistics has misled respondents to the public consultation on an exemption from entertainment licensing for small gigs.

Environmental Protection UK (EPUK), formerly the National Society for Clean Air, has submitted a strongly negative response to the consultation:
http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/assets/library/documents/DCMS_-_Licensing_Act_Reform_(2).pdf

It is based in part on a misinterpretation of DCMS Alcohol and Entertainment licence statistics - an almost inevitable result of the way the statistics were presented by DCMS within the consultation.

In para 4.3 of the consultation document, published on 31 December 2009, DCMS reported that local authorities and the police believed '... there was no statistical evidence that the Act was restricting live music', and that LACORS believed that 'very few applications for live music were refused. The Government's Licensing Statistics bulletin 2008 showed that the number of authorisations for live music had risen by 7% during 2007/8 and although this did not reflect the number of live music events staged in practice, it was nevertheless an indicator that live music was thriving.'
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/consultations/condoc_exemptsmall_livemusicevents.pdf

In para 4.4 DCMS describes these as 'very serious objections', and the reason the government had previously deferred this consultation.

By this devious means, DCMS avoided making such claims directly but implied misleadingly that they had considerable merit. Thus DCMS gave weight to the 'live music thriving' interpretation of the licence statistics, when they knew that no such conclusion could be drawn.

DCMS made no attempt within the consultation to prevent such a misinterpretation. Nor did they mention their own evidence that live music was not thriving: the BMRB live music survey of 2007 that found a 5% fall in live gigs since the Licensing Act had come into force.

On 28 January 2010, in the report 'Changes in Live Music 2005-2009', DCMS acknowledged that the Alcohol and Entertainment licence statistics could not be used to draw conclusions about the state of live music:

'It is hard to say conclusively that the number of premises with a live music licence indicates more live music venues or more live music gigs...' [updated March/April 2010, p2]
http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/research/Increases_in_live_music_between_2005_and_2009updated.pdf

Unsurprisingly, this escaped the attention of EPUK who took the DCMS bait when responding to the small gigs exemption consultation:

'The Department’s statistical bulletin suggests that the number of licences granted for live music continues to grow, contradicting the claim that the Act is inhibiting applications'. [response to DCMS Consultation Question 1, p1]

It seems EPUK was unaware that the Licensing Act had dramatically increased the scope of entertainment licensing, making increased applications inevitable, or that licence conditions may restrict or even prevent live music.

Their response also suggests that in their view live music is doing fine, and this is a key reason for opposing any new exemption. Apparently they were ignorant of the DCMS caveat about licence statistics, and of the DCMS/BMRB survey. Right at the start of their response they state: '... there is no evidence that live music performance is in decline' [EPUK 'Summary View', p1].

Why would DCMS want to influence their own consultation in this underhand way? My own view is that the senior civil servants most closely involved are not acting neutrally, but are in fact active opponents of relaxation of entertainment licensing for live music.

There are also good reasons why DCMS might want to exaggerate the success of the music industry and play down the flaws in the Licensing Act. The government is anxious to be perceived as switched on to live music and a friend of the industry - particularly with a general election imminent. This plays well to younger voters. And senior DCMS licensing team civil servants, on whom ministers rely for briefings about the working of the Licensing Act and the credibility of their live music research, are fighting to preserve their reputations.

ENDS

Three Friends

2010-04-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

According to the BBC's interpretation, people want the three political leaders to work together. That makes sense and it's cool that the will of the people is for the positive. Humans have had to learn to work together to build civilisations and survive.

The science of working together has always fascinated me and I made a lot of discoveries about the subject while listening to the music of Gentle Giant.In 1971 I organised a Gentle Giant gig in Widnes. 400 people came and Gentle Giant blew the roof off the place.

They had all the latest keyboards and synths and included a section of chamber music featuring cello, violin and viola. All live and played near perfectly. Arguably the most progressive band of the seventies.

Three former members of Gentle Giant still tour with my pal, bass player, Roger Carey, under the name "Three Friends". They play interesting choices from the Gentle Giant repertoire including numbers like "The Advent Of Panurge" and "Prologue" from their earlier albums. Check out youtube where there are some videos. The most complicated arrangements are executed with absolute precision. And joy. Their music still sounds as vibrant and cutting edge as it did in 1971. Perhaps, even moreso. I know that Roger Carey is in his musical element. The very first conversation I had with him in 1990 centred around Gentle Giant and now he is their bass player, as near as.

Roger Carey helped me start the Live Music Forum in 1993 by agreeing to be on the steering committee until we had an election. He was elected to the committee but was too busy touring to manage the time, at the time ! Three Friends are playing all over the World so he certainly won't have the time now.

Anyway I really hope the three political leaders can become three friends and work together to introduce a small gig exemption following the election.

And if Three Friends are playing anywhere near you, I definitely recommend that you go and see them live.

Phil Little
The Live Music Forum

Exempt From Public Accountability

2010-04-21T03:29:00.000-07:00

The LGA (Local Government Association) is a very powerful local government organisation almost entirely funded by public money.

The LGA severely restricts public access to its activities and publications, and is exempt from statutory powers designed to ensure public accountability,ie. it is exempt from the same rules that apply to central government and most other public bodies.

What reason have our Councils to be so secretive about their workings ?

2010-04-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

Hello Live Music Supporters

The LGA announce putting their online documents out of public reach in 'LGA - In Tune - In Touch' by Hamish Birchall.

You can link to this circular at,

http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/text/hbbulletin301.htm

Keep Live Music !!!!

Phil Little
Live Music Forum

Begin forwarded message:

From: Hamish Birchall
Date: 20 April 2010 12:25:04 BST

Subject: LGA - In Tune - In Touch

The often perverse and contradictory attitude to live music within local authorities is beautifully illustrated - literally - by the Local Government Association 2008 accounts: http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/751363

Entitled 'In Tune - In Touch', the document features handsome photographs of musical instruments, particularly drums and brass - a design concept clearly intended to convey a message of harmony and co-ordination.

But only last week we learned that LACORS, the regulatory arm of the Local Government Association, wants to criminalise the provision of brass instruments, drums and bagpipes unless licensed:
http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/ContentDetails.aspx?id=23111 [click on response link]

And the LGA Group, which includes LACORS, publicly opposes the government's suggested entertainment licensing exemption for small gigs:
http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/ContentDetails.aspx?id=22985 [click on response link]

Meanwhile the LGA has drastically restricted public access to its website:
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=2

The organisation, almost entirely funded by public money, lobbies central government on behalf of local authorities. It is apparently exempt from Freedom of Information legislation.

ENDS

Prejudiced Against Live Music

2010-04-19T05:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir

Local government licensing officers are prejudiced against live music.

How else to explain the ludicrous suggestion last month from LACORS (Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services) that using drums, brass instruments or bagpipes should be a potential criminal offence unless licensed? Or, Local Government Association opposition to almost any entertainment licensing exemption for small-scale performances of live music?

These ideas were set out in responses from the LGA and LACORS, to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consultation on an entertainment licence exemption within the Licensing Act 2003 for live performance to audiences of up to 100 (closed on 26th March 2010) and a separate consultation on Entertainment Facilities (closed on 26th February 2010).

Local government opposition is based on their view that local residents and licensing officers should be able to block live gigs merely on the grounds of the potential for noise. But no evidence is produced that noise from live music is a significant problem, or that existing noise nuisance legislation is inadequate.

Unfortunately, many local authorities encourage residents to complain about music merely because they can hear it, not because it is causing a 'public nuisance'. This was not an objective of the Licensing Act.

Local authorities in Scotland use the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with noise. Why do English and Welsh authorities use the Licensing Act to regulate the extremely small number of live music noise complaints, when those in Scotland do not?

We believe that pre-emptive regulation through licensing, without discriminating between high or low-risk events, can be neither necessary nor proportionate. Moreover, the lack of necessity or proportionality is reinforced by an exemption already within the Act for big screen broadcast entertainment, and the light touch for recorded music in bars and pubs during the changeover to the new regime in 2005. These venues can have DJs and Sky TV - but they have no automatic entitlement to live music.

Following the violence in Manchester during the 2008 UEFA Cup final screening, Lord Davies, on behalf of the Government, concluded that there would have been no measures available in the Licensing Act 2003 which would have prevented this.

In their DCMS consultation response, the LGA cite an 11% increase in the number of premises licensed for live music since 2007. They conclude, fallaciously, that demand for live music is therefore decreasing. The insinuation is that no further reform is necessary. They call for further research and surveys to establish "unmet latent demand for live music in small venues" as if this were relevant to the debate about whether or not the legislation is necessary or proportionate.

Under the Licensing Act 2003, the scope of entertainment licensing increased dramatically. The old regime had exemptions for one or two musicians in bars. Private charity fund-raising performances were exempt. Both exemptions were abolished by the new regime. Now even private concerts in schools, colleges, hospitals, retirement homes, public places, museums, art galleries, warehouses, supermarkets and stores all fall within the Act's purview, if gigs count as 'public' or are raising money for good causes. This hugely inflates the licensing requirement, and inevitably, licence applications.

The fact remains that in tens of thousands of premises it would be illegal to host live music today. Prior to the Licensing Act 2003, many if not most would have been able to have some live music any day of the week without entertainment licensing.

The urgent need for a small gigs exemption is backed by the whole music industry, including the Live Music Forum, performers unions, the Incorporated Society of Musicians, and UK Music - the lobbying agency for the music business, who's Chief Executive, Feargal Sharkey, said in his recent letter to licensing minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, "Over the past 6 years, Government have conducted eight consultations, two Government research projects and two national review processes, all of which reached this conclusion".

It appears to us that entertainment licensing is promoted by local authorities for their administrative convenience without any serious regard for the cultural implications.

There is no grave threat to public amenity from a licensing exemption for small live music events. However, there are the issues of the employment of scores of thousands and the perpetuation of a popular music culture of which successive Governments boast and rely upon to support a huge market.

There is no decrease in the demand for live music. Live Music is the new 'Gospel' following the shrinking of the recording industry.

Phil Little
Live Music Forum

2010-04-17T05:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't used this Blog service for a while but things could change there.

Politics looks a bit different following the tevevised debate and Nick Clegg has accelerated the Lib Dems to 2nd place according to a poll, announced today.

From our point of view that is quite handy, because the Lib Dems are the only party that have promised a small live music event exemption in their manifesto. Lord Clement Jones has said he will raise his Live Music Bill again after the General Election. The more powerful the Lib Dems are the more chance of his Live Music Bill becoming law, Amen !

Sad to see that two long time venues in Manchester are closing, as reported in Music Week.
(http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1040789&c=1)
The owner partly blamed aspects of the Licensing Act. He explained 'the introduction of 24-hour drinking laws meant people no longer left pubs or bars to go on to a live music venue where they needed to pay to get in'.

2009-06-29T08:06:00.001-07:00

Today an appeal sent to the Met re their refusal of our Freedom Of Information request to disclose their legal advice on Form 696.

Form 696 allows the Police to request the names and addresses of all performers, fourteen days prior to an event and is a further burden to those presenting live music. See more at,
http://ping.fm/w8Xb0

2009-06-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

Two emails and no reply from the Local Government Association on Live Music and Public Disorder. But they got upset when I phoned up a Councillor's mobile.
At least they acknowledge my contact and have now promised a response.
www.livemusicforum.co.uk

2009-06-16T13:26:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/B2Om5
Today a bulletin from Hamish Birchall on a new 'Live Music' Private Members Bill, launched by the Liberal Democrats. This is good news as it will keep the live music issue alive in Parliament and it calls for an exemption for small gigs up to 200 people.

2009-06-11T10:08:00.001-07:00

Drum lessons over for this week it's time to apply myself to the live music forum at, http://ping.fm/1yu3q
First is a Freedom Of Information request to the Metropolitan Police then an enquiry to Carmarthenshire Police.

Easy day

2009-06-10T14:43:00.001-07:00

It was an easy day at college with only two students in.
Regrettably our bass player Valve has had to retire due to ill health, but what a fantastic and versatile player.
So, the search is on again!

Blood Sweat and Tears

2008-01-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

www.livemusicforum.co.uk

Today I have been sending out a Bulletin from the Live Music Forum, which I have entitled, "Blood Sweat and Tears".

You can read it at,
http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/text/plbulletin4.htm

If live music interests you then check it out and pass on the word.

Obligados

Phil

First of the New Year

2008-01-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year

At last I seem to have this blog thing working with my youtube account so here goes.
Perhaps next week I'll be able to get down to some catching up with the many things i have to do. As well as mixing two tracks I am finishing off I must organise and fund printing, publicity, Insurance and other stuff to do with the Afro Cuban workshop I am starting off in February. It's not easy to promote an event of any kind these days and that is the subject of a bulletin I have been preparing ready to send out this week in connection with the live music issue. You can inform yourself well on the matter by visiting,
www.livemusicforum.co.uk
The point is that licensing legislation by New Labour has represented a death blow to casual gigs up and down the country, amounting to the loss of tens of thousands of local live music gigs each year. We find it very difficult to get publicity on the subject and most people remain unaware of the crisis due to successful government spin. Read all about it in Hamish Birchalls bulletins which are archived at the site,
www.livemusicforum.co.uk

More later this week

All the best

Phil
www.littledrum.co.uk

Happy New Year

2007-12-31T16:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all

I have been celebrating New Years Eve by working. Since I haven't got a gig I have been up dating my main website and starting up a new one, with the use of a template from opensource web design (oswd.org).

The new site is a tribute to legendary British jazz drummer, Phil Seaman, who died in 1972. The address of the site is,
http://www.littledrum.co.uk/philseamen

As the old year draws to a close I have almost enough tracks for a new cd so I have to pull it all together and make some videos so I can upload them to youtube.

In February I am starting up an Afro-Cuban percussion workshop in South West Wales and details of all my endeavours are tied in with the main website providing free online drum and percussion lessons at,
http://www.littledrum.co.uk

Hope to see you there sometime

Luv and Peace in 2008

Phil Little