A license is required for karaoke on the grounds of mixing recorded and live music which automatically requires a license -

"combining even one live musician with any form of 'recorded sound' is illegal in such premises without a PEL. Even MIDI technology, almost universal in modern electronic instruments, is counted as 'recorded sound' by some local authorities."

Fact NOT fiction
"Some years ago, Mr Powell decided that a PEL might be a good idea after Hackney successfully prosecuted him for allowing 7 members of the public to sing Happy Birthday. This was more than the maximum two 'performers' allowed without a PEL. The maximum penalty is a £20,000 fine and six months in prison. Mr Powell got off lightly - he was fined £500 and ordered to pay over £1500 costs.

The offending occasion was indeed the birthday of one member of a (legal) singer/guitarist duo then performing at The Globe. Friends had come along to celebrate. Sadly a Council Enforcement Officer was in the audience."

However, what is the point in going over the same stuff as can be found in loads of previous post - whilst there was some (however little) hope of changing the bill - it's passed and nowt will change it now - let's see what happens when it arrives and untill then get your landlord to get a license and go on the relivant courses - so he/she knows what's what.