Leading gig listings site Livemusic.fm has anticipated the Government's Licensing Act consultation will unlock a new explosion in grass roots live music - and has launched a new service for upcoming bands to take advantage of it.
John King comments: The Government's proposal to cut licensing red tape is highly unlikely to provide an explosion of pub live music. Pubs with existing live music permissions will gain nothing whatsoever from the proposal, as any existing licence conditions will remains in force, while councils have new powers to restrict live events under the Police Reform & Social Responsibility Act 2011. Pubs without current live music permission will not need to apply for live music permissions, but councils will have powers to impose conditions on a premises licence whether a pub has live music permission or not. Anyone in the local authority area can now complain about a forthcoming event, and Councils can serve a noise abatement notice or even instigate a premises licence review prior to the event taking place. If an event is called "Live and Loud" it is asking for trouble.