IMMEDIATE ATTENTION NEEDED :HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

( Courtesy Lev Lafayette, on aus.culture.gothic. )

IMPORTANT: Save Live Music in Britain!

The new licensing rule is going to relax the 'two-in-a-bar' rule for live music (a rule allowing one or two musicians to play, unlicensed, in a bar). Only problem is that they're not relaxing it at all - they're just getting rid of the exemption. What is being proposed would have this effect:

• 110,000 non-licensed premises in England and Wales (pubs, bars, restaurants, etc.) will lose their right to allow one or two musicians to perform. A form of this limited exemption from licensing control dates back to at least 1899.

• Broadcast entertainment on satellite or terrestrial TV or radio is to be exempt from licensing under this Bill.

• 15,500 churches outside London will lose their licensing exemption for public concerts.

• 5,000 registered member's clubs will lose their licensing exemption for public entertainment.

• The very wide definitions in the Bill will cover carol singing and bell ringing, unless incidental to a religious meeting or service.

• Thousands of private events, hitherto exempt, will become licensable if 'for consideration and with a view to profit'.

• The same applies to any private performance raising money for charity.

• Tens of thousands of private wedding receptions, parties, and corporate functions will become illegal unless licensed (the wording of the Bill suggests that payment to musicians triggers the licensing requirement).

• A new licensing criterion is introduced: the provision of 'entertainment facilities'. This may mean that professional rehearsal studios, broadasting studios, etc. will be illegal unless licensed.

• Musicians may be guilty of a criminal offence if they don't check first that premises hold the appropriate authorisation for their performance!

• Buskers will similarly be potential criminals - unless they perform under a licensing authorisation.

• The maximum penalty for unlicensed performance is a £20,000 fine and six months in prison.

This and more information is available at http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/. Please sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/2inabar/.

Clubbers, this affects you too. This affects anyone who enjoys music in public.

(courtesy ewtikins - make sure this one gets known about.)