Live music survey shows high level of activity

The licensing minister has pointed to statistics showing that live music is "alive and well".

Richard Caborn published a survey of live entertainment activity in licensed premises such as pubs, clubs and student unions in England and Wales.

It showed that nearly half of all venues staged a live act in the past year, while one fifth do so at least twice per month.

The figures follow the passing of the Licensing Act last year, which was criticised for introducing fees and stricter regulations on promoters.

It scrapped the "two in a bar" rule which allowed up to two performers to play without a license.

Campaigners feared the move would make it more difficult for small venues to put on shows and dramatically reduce the level of live music.

In July the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published guidelines on the interpretation of the Act for licensing authorities, ahead of the new law coming into force in February next year.

Wednesday's statistics are intended to provide a baseline against which the changes brought about the Act can be measured.

The survey is the first product of the government's live music taskforce, which was formed earlier this year and is chaired by former Undertones lead singer Feargal Sharkey.

Having campaigned vigorously against the Licensing Bill, the Musicians' Union has also signed up to the taskforce in a joint attempt to ensure that live performances continue to flourish.

Potential

Caborn said the survey also showed a large potential for venues to start putting on events under the new regime.

"From the Beatles to Blur we have a live music heritage to be proud of," the minister said.

"This survey shows that heritage is alive and well with a flourishing music scene - an estimated 1.7 million gigs were staged in the past year alone in bars, clubs and restaurants whose main business isn't putting on live music.

"The new licensing laws will create more opportunities for budding musicians, but the survey shows that there are many potential venues who have not thought about putting on live bands.

"We need to encourage them to do so and show them that the licensing changes will make staging live music easier so that they are ready to embrace the new law when it comes in next year."

Sharkey added that live performances bring both cultural and economic benefits.

"We have one of the most vibrant music scenes in the world and live music is at the heart of it," he said.

"I want to see more live music in this country, and with a major overhaul of licensing laws just around the corner, we have the best opportunity in a generation to achieve this.

"Our research indicates live music plays a phenomenal part in people's lives - 47 per cent of venues know how important it is.

"A third of the people we spoke to who do not currently put on live music said they probably would in the future. I want them, and anyone with the space to put on a band or a live act, to think carefully and remember the benefits in profits, to customers and to the next generation of performers."