This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Business News Legal Live Business
Lib Dem lord asks questions about government’s live music report
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 19 February 2010
Liberal Lord Tim Clement-Jones has tabled some parliamentary questions about a report by the government’s Department Of Culture, Media & Sport regarding the UK’s live music industry.
As previously reported, Clement-Jones has put forward a Live Music Bill to parliament proposing a number of changes to the 2003 Licensing Act which, he and many in live and artist communities argue, is hindering the grass roots live music scene. The government, having undertaken its own review of the 2003 legislation, disagrees with most many of Clement-Jones’ proposals, despite many originating from a parliamentary select committee review of the Act.
The DCMS report, published last month, seemingly shows that the grass roots live music scene is not as troubled as Clement-Jones and many in that community argue. But the Lord reckons there are a number of problems with the research.
According to Music Week, he has asked the government how the terms “professional musician” and “professional live music” were defined in the report, and whether the Musicians’ Union and the Incorporated Society Of Musicians were consulted on how the number of professional musicians has changed since the new Act became law. He also wants to know how much of the overall figure for live music ticket sales for anyone year, a stat referenced in the DCMS’s document, can be accounted for by events at the UK’s biggest venues, and in particular The O2 Arena and Wembley Stadium.
The government is expected to respond to the questions next week.
