Public Servant Lifestyle

More than 60% of smaller venues in the UK have a licence to put on live music following the introduction of the new licensing laws, according to official figures.

Creative Industries Minister Shaun Woodward said that the figures were encouraging and evidence that venues understood the new system.

The Department of Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) commissioned Ipsos MORI to survey small venues to gauge whether they are taking advantage of the new rules brought in under the Licensing Act (2003). The survey looked at 2,101 establishments, most with a capacity of fewer than 500 people (including pubs, restaurants and village halls) to ascertain how many have a licence to put on live music.

It showed that:

63% have either obtained a music licence (61%) or put on live music via other means (2%) – compared to 60% under the old laws

A quarter (25%) of premises now have a licence to put on music for the first time

Of the small proportion (7%) of venues that used to operate under the ‘two in a bar rule’, around 70% now have live music licences

Fewer than 2% had their live music applications refused

The main reasons given for not having applied to put on live music were that the venue was not suitable or that they simply wouldn’t stage live music.

Shaun Woodward said: “It’s early days. But this survey is encouraging. And shows smaller venues getting to grips with the new laws on licensing. Small venues provide the lifeblood of the music industry. That’s where top selling artists such as the Kaiser Chiefs are discovered and cut their teeth. It’s good to see that so many smaller venues have applied to stage live acts. And a quarter chose to do so for the first time.

“Of course it’s not just about making the big time. There’s a huge range of musicians performing for pleasure or simply to earn a living. They rely on small venues. So it is good news that so many that used the two in a bar rule can now stage anything from solo jazz guitarists to the London Philharmonic Orchestra.”

Feargal Sharkey – former Undertones front man and solo performer, now chairman of the Live Music Forum - commented: “This picture is encouraging and confirms much of the evidence that the forum has uncovered. We know that the majority of venues – large and small – can now put on live music and that’s fantastic news.

“But there’s always room for improvement. The forum will publish its final assessment of the legislation with recommendations on how the Government can make our live music industry even more successful early next year.”

More information available in Arts & Culture, Music, Drink