The only current distinction between amplified and non-amplified live music is that which is contained in the (tacked-on) exemption for non-amplified music, for a performance of Morris dancing.

All amplified music for Morris does require Premises Licence permission for Regulated Entertainment.

The loud music -v- not loud music debate is a little bit of a red-herring.

The point is that as you cannot ask for and the local Licensing Authority cannot grant permission to make any form of noise pollution - the use of additional entertainment licensing as a means to combat noise - can only confuse an already confused situation.

The irony is that most of the support for the additional entertainment licensing contained in the Licensing Act 2003 is because people mistakenly think it is a measure to combat noise pollution and that the removal of additional entertainment licensing will leave the public unprotected.

It is pretty obvious from the many exemptions already contained in the Licensing Act 2003, that this is nonsense. Parliament has accepted that the other existing legislation is perfectly adequate to deal with any noise pollution issues which may arise from activities which they have already made exempt from additional entertainment licensing.

The Environmental Protection Act is the correct legislation for noise as it already deals with noise pollution emanating from all sources.

Despite all this - we will soon have a situation where any form of live music is considered to present an automatic noise concern at 11 pm and cannot continue passed this curfew time without additional entertainment licensing, even when the venues have permission to serve alcohol until the early hours of the morning.