The Stage

MU encourages restaurants and bars to stage music without a licence

Published Monday 30 November 2009 at 14:30 by Alistair Smith

The Musicians Union is calling on pubs and restaurants across the UK to stage live music without a licence, in a bid to promote the exemption for incidental music in the Licensing Act 2003.

Performers and live music campaigners have long complained that the law has made it harder and more expensive for venues such as restaurants to stage small gigs. But the MU, along with the British Beer and Pub Association, PRS for Music, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services and the Local Government Association have released a leaflet publicising the fact that premises can put on small scale live music without needing to apply for a licence.

According to the guidance for the Licensing Act 2003, no licence is needed for “incidental music” – where the music is not the main reason for people attending the venue.

In addition to publicising the “incidental music” provision, the working group is also distributing information about how venues can use the recently introduced minor variations process to apply to add live music to their licence quickly and at low cost.

Horace Trubridge, MU assistant general secretary, said: “Pubs and restaurants are often wary of putting on live music at their venues because they think that they will need to change their licence or fill in a lot of paperwork. In reality, the guidance for the Licensing Act 2003 allows for music to take place without a variation of the licence where it is not the main reason people are attending the venue – it does not have to be a bureaucratic nightmare.

“It may well be that a venue that tries out live music through the incidental music provision then decides it is worth applying for a licence, but we want them to realise that this is not necessary from the start.”

Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe added: “Background music played by a live band, a singer or a solo musician can really bring a venue alive and there is an abundance of talented musicians in the UK who are keen to perform. I hope the work done in promoting the existing exemption for incidental music will lead to many more venues putting on live acts.”

The news follows recent campaigns by the MU and Equity, as well as opposition MPs, demanding an exemption from the Licensing Act for venues of less than 200 seats.