Groups promote music exemption
30 November, 2009
Leaflet aimed at getting more pubs to take advantage of the law
A leaflet explaining the exemption for "incidental music" has been launched as part of a fresh bid to encourage pubs to take advatange of the law.
Under the Licensing Act, pubs do not need a licence for “incidental music” - where the music is not the main reason for people attending the venue.
Now the Musicians Union (MU), the British Beer & Pub Association and PRS for Music along with DCMS, LACORS and the LGA have produced a leaflet explaining the exemption in a bid to get more pubs to host live music.
Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe said live background music “can really bring a venue alive”.
He added: “I hope the work done in promoting the existing exemption for incidental music will lead to many more venues putting on live acts.”
An example of incidental music given in the leaflet is – a pub with a pianist “or other single instrument playing background music”.
But live music campaigners have attacked the guidance, claiming it will still lead to confusion among licensees.
Musician Hamish Birchall said: “Its aim was to clarify the legislation, but it achieves the opposite.
“Examples given of gigs that would or would not qualify as 'incidental music' reinforce the absurdity of the law, and will undoubtedly cause confusion."
Readers' comments
Will Brigid and her friends at the BBPA maybe explain the issue to their brewery and pubco members? Too often at rent review her members try to disregard the costs of providing entertainment whilst at the same time trying to leverage the FMT off the goodwill created by the tenant in providing the entertainment. All in the noble and highly artistic cause of creating a high divisible and a high rent - music to the pubcos ears! Does Brigid understand this herself for that matter?