We’ve decided to step up to the plate in 2009 and put our full weight (which is substantial! – Ed) behind various live music campaigns.

 

There seem to be a number of government initiatives in the offing that will effectively crush the live music scene into non-existence if they are actually brought to pass.  Therefore we are urging you to sign petitions against the pieces of legislation below on the 10 Downing Street website and join the groups against them on Facebook to say ‘No!’ to:

 

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Noise Limiters in all UK music venues

 

The government has decided to introduce Noise Control equipment, i.e. noise limiters, at all UK music venues from April 2009.  It’s been proposed to make it a legal requirement for any venue applying or re-applying for an entertainment licence in the new tax year to install a noise control device at the venue.  Bearing in mind the difficulties that licensees in particular are going through, just trying to stay afloat.  The last thing publicans need is a load of unnecessary expenditure that’s going to do nothing to improve business.

 

Anyone who has had any experience of noise limiters will know that the sensitivity of the equipment is unreliable and can, and mostly does, totally ruin the live music experience.  Furthermore, many pro and semi-pro bands refuse to play at venues with this equipment installed, as it can cause catastrophic damage to expensive sound equipment.

 

Unfortunately, the deadline for signing the online petition has passed; however, join the Facebook group to join the protest at http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=49463151363

 

 

Form 696

 

Form 696 demands that licensees provide the police with a mass of detail including the names, aliases, private addresses and phone numbers of all musicians and other performers appearing at their venue.  The form also required details of the ‘ethnicity’ of the audience originally and although this has now been changed to details about the ‘target audience’ the request remains the same.

 

Currently Form 696 is in use in 21 London boroughs, but music professionals fear that if this becomes accepted as the norm in these locations, its use will become widespread.

 

These new rules will make putting on live bands next to impossible for most small venues and an open mic night would become a phenomenon of the past.

 

Sign the petition at:  http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Scrapthe696/

 

Join the Facebook group at:  http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=40940825727

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Phew!  We feel better now we’ve got that off our chests!!  We’ll keep our eyes peeled for further musical causes and keep you posted!