Tim Clement Jones’ Live Music Bill, which aims to roll back almost a decade of licensing restrictions on small live music events has now passed its 'second reading' stage in the UK Parliament on Friday 25 November 2011. The Bill was introduced in the House of Lords last year by Lord Clement-Jones, a Lib-Dem peer and it will make it easier for musicians in England and Wales to perform by allowing small venues like schools, colleges and village halls to hold concerts without needing a licence. Other measures in the Bill will make it easier for venues with an existing licence – such as pubs – to put on live music events.
Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive of the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), the professional association for musicians said “'The deregulation of live music is something the ISM has been campaigning for some time as part of our role in protecting the rights of musicians and the progress of the Live Music Bill – further than ever before – is fantastic news for musicians across the UK” adding “
This Bill will free up musicians from endless bureaucracy and red-tape allowing them, and their venues, to put on events without jumping through so many hoops beforehand. We must now make sure the Bill – which is further-reaching than the Government's consultation – makes it into law before Easter.”