Industry anger over licensing act 'inaction' as some of London's best live venues are forced to close
The Luminaire, one of London's best-loved live music venues, closed its doors this month providing further evidence that the small gig scene is struggling.
Venues that have closed include Jilly's Rockworld and the Music Box in Manchester, Sawyers in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and The Cellars at Eastney, a small Portsmouth pub being sold by Enterprise Inns because it is not making enough money.
The Barfly in Cardiff has hosted its last band. Hundreds of pubs hosting music, have also closed recently.
The music trade organisation UK Music today condemned the government for its failure to liberate small live venues from what it claims are overbearing licensing laws.
Under the Licensing Act 2003, every venue that puts on live music, from large concert halls to restaurants employing a pianist, must go through a licensing process that many regard as expensive and over-complicated.
A year ago, the then Labour government started a consultation to see if venues with a maximum 100-person capacity could put on live music without a licence.
Campaigners claim such an exemption could save struggling small venues hundreds of thousands of pounds each year.
However, despite a pledge to "cut red tape" by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, UK Music has become increasingly frustrated at the "inaction". Feargal Sharkey, the former lead singer of the Undertones and now chief executive of UK Music, said: "The licensing act is failing small venues and that is having a huge impact on the future of the live industry.
"We have one of the most successful creative and commercial music industries in the world, but the first step for many live acts is to be able to play in front of a few of their mates in a local pub.
"Things cannot continue like this, not without long-term consequences. It's a good thing the Beatles weren't trying to make it in 2011."
A private members' bill, by Lord Clement-Jones, is working its way through the Lords but campaigners fear that it could take years to change legislation, whereas the licensing minister could make the exemption in just 40 days, said Sharkey.
He claimed an exemption for small premises would help the livelihood of pubs, clubs, bars and village halls as well as young artists and jobbing musicians.
Research carried out by PRS for Music ? the Performing Right Society of composers, songwriters and music publishers ? found that pubs that provide music take on average 44% more money than pubs that do not, a figure which rises to 60% at the weekend.
Live music nights proved to be the greatest draw, with one in four publicans reported increased takings of between 25%-50%.
Paul Stokes, associate editor of NME, said: "Everyone talks about live music being buoyant, but there have been a lot of consolidations with a small number of companies running the majority of venues and that makes it more difficult for independent venues."
Horace Trubridge, assistant general secretary of the Musicians Union, said that although large venues such as the O2 were thriving, smaller-scale pubs and clubs were feeling the pinch. "People are worried about their jobs, and paying for live music is in danger of being seen as something of a luxury. At a grassroots level things aren't as good as they were a few years ago, and it is set to get a lot worse."
A live music exemption for small venues would throw a lifeline to struggling business, he said. "In the past 10 years there has been a realisation you can't make money from recorded music, but you can make a living from playing live.
"But now bands are struggling to get into the area because there are fewer venues. Agents and promoters are more wary of putting new bands and unsigned acts on their bills."
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