CAMPAIGNS' CORNER

The 2003 Licensing Law has affected musicians a great deal since it was introduced. Some people think it has improved matters, but the majority of musicians I am in contact with think it has damaged the jazz scene. Here is an email I received recently which you should read and act on, if you are in agreement.

Online petition re licensing

A new online live music petition was started yesterday on the Number 10 website by folk musician Dominic Cronin:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensing/#detail

‘We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to recognise that music and dance should not be restricted by burdensome licensing regulations. The recently introduced changes in licensing law have produced an environment where music and dance, activities which should be valued and promoted in a civilised society, are instead damaged by inappropriate regulation. We call on the Prime Minister to recognise this situation and take steps to correct it.’

Hamish Birchall, indefatigable lobbyist on the issue, writes:

The government may respond ‘licensing is not burdensome, and research shows no damage to live music and dance’. This is spin. Ministers said the new Act would be ‘much better for live music’. But about 40% of bars have lost their previous automatic entitlement to one or two musicians, and yet are free to continue providing recorded music or broadcast entertainment with unlimited amplification.

Despite the banter in Parliament, the government is extremely concerned about public opinion on this issue. It must be damaging that in so many circumstances, organising live music could be a crime. The Act defines premises as ‘any place’ - it can apply almost anywhere, not just in pubs or bars. The maximum penalty for providing unlicensed live music, where a licence is required, is a £20,000 fine and six months in prison. This is a greater penalty than is available for:

Violent disorder, affray, harassment, bomb hoax, stirring up racial hatred;
Various assaults, including wounding, actual bodily harm, and assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty;
Burglary, theft, handling stolen goods, deception, forgery, ‘taking and driving away’;
Arson, criminal damage;
Intimidation of witnesses, wasting police time;
Possessing a controlled drug, supplying a controlled drug and intent;
Dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol in the blood, breath or urine;
Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place;
Bigamy;
and Official Secrets Act offences.

---

Other things you can do

1.  The mass media's lack of interest in jazz has marginalised it. Because of the disregard for jazz in the mainstream media, fewer people than ever get to hear what jazz sounds like, and many venues that have supported jazz in the past no longer do so. The mass media needs to be tackled about this. You can help by writing to newspapers and to broadcasting companies.

2.  Does your local record shop stock jazz releases? Maybe they have a few token items, such as swing era big bands or popular vocalists. But the message this sends out to customers is that jazz is dead and nothing new is happening. Order some of your CD's from local record shops and make enquiries about new releases, particularly those recorded by musicians in your own country.

3.  Governments meddle with things they don't understand. That also applies to jazz. Complain to them about legislation which goes against the best interests of jazz.

4.  Does your local jazz club (if you have one) support local musicians? If not, get together with other local musicians and pester them until they do. And if they do put on a local act, try and rustle up some loyal fans to come along.

5.  Organise your own concerts/gigs. It needs a bit of planning, especially the publicity, but it's worth it. Musicians would often opt to play for a small amount if it results in better-paid or more plentiful gigs in the long-term. Remember you have to build up an audience base which takes some time.