The much-mourned ‘two in a bar’ licensing exemption, under which two musicians were permitted to perform without a public entertainment licence, could be reinstated if the Government accepts the recommendations of the Culture Media and Sport Parliamentary Select Committee’s most recent report into The Licensing Act 2003 (AP157, AP161 and AP176). Other recommendations include waiving the licensing requirement for venues with a capacity of under 200, and enabling travelling entertainment such as circuses to acquire a portable licence from their ‘home’ local authority. The Committee took evidence from the Musicians’ Union, Equity and the Live Music Forum (LMF) among others. The LMF’s research showed that although the 2003 Act “had a broadly neutral effect... live music in smaller venues is in fact decreasing”, with a 5% decrease in live music in venues where providing music is not their main business. A further issue was the linkage, supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers, of live music with public disorder, which “has led to a negative perception of the impact of live music and a needlessly authoritarian approach” and should be reworded. The Metropolitan Police has asked London licensing authorities to include new conditions “in the interests of public order and the prevention of terrorism”, while Form 696, which requires licensees to specify the musical style to be performed and to give the name, address and date of birth of all performers, has caused a number of cancellations.
