The Stage

Sutcliffe responds to LMF Licensing Act proposals

Published Thursday 5 July 2007 at 16:30 by Lalayn Baluch

New licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe has issued a response to the Live Music Forum’s report on the Licensing Act, in which it criticised the legislation as ambiguous and damaging to small-scale gigs.

In response to proposals from the LMF, which called for an overhaul to the current legislation, he commented: “Live music makes an immeasurable contribution to the UK’s cultural and economic life. That’s why we set up the Live Music Forum - to advise government on how we might better support this important industry.

“It [the report] raises many interesting and challenging ideas on how the UK’s live music scene can be further supported. We will now look at each of the recommendations, discuss with stakeholders and will respond fully in due course.”

The LMF was set up three years ago by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to assess the impact of the new licensing legislations that were enforced in 2003.

Its report, released earlier this week, advised that unamplified music be made exempt from regulation altogether, and urged that “incidental” music be classified as unlicensable when it was not the main attraction to a venue, or when the musical event attracts less than 100 people.

The findings also claimed the act had had a negative impact on some small venues wishing to host live music and requested ministers to investigate “heavy-handed” and “over-zealous” local licensing authorities who had been interpreting legislation too strictly.