Introduction

Hello Live Music Supporters

Since the end of the Summer we have all been waiting for news from the government about the reduction of red tape around live music, which was promised by both the Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties in their election manifestos.

The only announcements, so far, concern the tightening up of regulations on TENs (Temporary Event Notices) and broad agreement to increase license fees. Both of which will be bad for live music.

TENs are particularly important as, at the moment, they are used to license all manor of events from small festivals to village fairs, school concerts and private parties. A restriction on live music in
themselves, any further difficulties in obtaining TEN licenses will result in even less events taking place which are permitted to include live music, dancing etc. The 'red tape' around TENs is not being cut.
It is being wrapped tighter !

The Local Government Association have a very strong lobby and meet with the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) regularly. In his reply to our recent enquiry, DCMS Minister for Tourism and Heritage, John Penrose MP, raised the issue of public safety concerns.

Despite the fact that the LGA have not produced evidence to support their accusations linking live music and public disorder, and the Association of Chief Police Officers have stated "The vast majority of live music events serve to provide considerable pleasure and social benefit without implication for policing or public safety", the local Government lobby remains influential on the DCMS in resisting the almost universal call for a Small Gigs Exemption.

So we have written back to the Minister pointing out these difficulties. Here is a copy of our letter.

Keep Live Music

Phil Little

November 2010

fao John Penrose MP
Minister for Tourism and Heritage

Dear Minister

Thank you for your email of 5th November 2010.

Whilst it was good to hear your re-assurances about "cutting red tape" around live music, we are concerned that you are re-introducing public safety concerns in connection with live music, since it has already been established that there is no association between live music and disorder, and public safety is covered by other legislation, irrespective of licensing. If you know of any public safety risk
arising from a live performance within a workplace that is not covered by public safety legislation, please let me know immediately and I will raise it with the Health & Safety Executive.

We are aware that there is a very strong lobby from the LGA against reducing licensing requirements on live music, yet they have never produced evidence to support their claims.

The proposed tightening of regulations on Temporary Event Notices is also causing us great concern because they cover such a variety of events, and not necessarily including the sale of alcohol. Many of
them will be adversely affected by the lengthening of application dates, for example. Making it more difficult to apply for a license obviously makes it harder to organise and set up small events for entrepreneurs and local community groups alike. Increases in license fees will not help the situation either.

According to the DCMS Select Committee, PTA fund-raising events account for up to half of TENs. And despite the previous Governement's denials, there are a sizeable number of school events
(not to be confused with PTA events) that are using TENs. Most publically available licensing registers can substantiate this. Every segment of Society will be adversely affected by making TENs more difficult to obtain.

Even after all this time the majority of the public and larger group of musicians remain unaware of the extent of the damage done by the Licensing Act and we are obliged to remain committed to bring this to their attention.

If the music industry is to flourish, attracting the desperately sought after investment highlighted by the Prime Minister, then it is essential that the national live music 'scene' is radically changed by the Small Gigs Exemption. No amount of PR by departments or corporations will have the desired effect.

With respect to your own experience of the leisure industry, I know these things because I have been doing it all my life, from every angle, as a musician, composer, sound-engineer, producer, rehearsal
and recording studio owner, promoter, publicist, agent, indie record company owner, Live Music Forum founder, journalist and publisher etc.
etc.

Life in music has consistently got harder and harder over the last forty years but you now have the chance to change that, because a small gigs exemption would generate a completely new era for British music, resulting in new work for thousands of musicians, support and catering staff and the £ multi-billion music industry that enjoys the benefits.

Kind Regards

Phil Little
Live Music Forum

17 November 2010

Dear Phil

Thank you for your email of 9 November in response to my email to you of 5 November. I am aware of the points you raise and will bear them in mind as I develop the policy which will, as you know, need to be agreed across Government before I can make any announcement.

Yours sincerely

John Penrose MP
Minister for Tourism and Heritage