Tuesday December 31, 2002
The Guardian

As a jobbing politician and peripatetic choral singer, and in common with many of your recent correspondents (December 21), I am apprehensive about the consequences for music-making of the government's intention to extend performance licensing. The prospect of mounting effective opposition to the proposal has not been improved by the view taken by the National Federation of Music Societies, under guidance from its chief executive (himself a committed amateur musician), that the extension of licensing is, in the words of its briefing note, "a fait accompli", and that the most appropriate stance for them is therefore to work with the Department of Culture to influence the background guidance to licensing authorities.

But whatever guidance is on offer, councils, spurred on by their insurers, are likely to take a risk-minimising view of the conditions to be imposed on any premises they are required to license for performances and this alone is likely to result in a decrease in the number of performances and the availability of venues in future.
Peter Johnston
Bolton, Lancs