Tonight:
9°c
Performers to protest at costly licences for live music
Ruth Bloomfield05.10.09
Hundreds of performers are to demonstrate against "red tape" which they claim is strangling London's live music scene.
The Parliament Square protest on 22 October, jointly organised by the Musicians' Union and Equity, is to coincide with a Commons debate on music licensing. The demonstrators want laws relaxed and small venues to be allowed to put on gigs without having to apply for complex and expensive licences.
Louise McMullen of Equity said performers were suffering hardship and added that rules discouraging pubs and other venues from hosting events were making matters worse.
The action is backed by John Whittingdale, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee. It has recommended a licence exemption for smaller musical events and wants a controversial risk assessment form required by the Met for some licences to be scrapped.
A Greater London Authority spokesman said: "Live music should be allowed to thrive without any unnecessary bureaucracy."
