Tag: artist (Page 3 of 3)

Petition calling on Prime Minister to stop using Licensing Act to criminalise live music

Here is the petition calling on the Prime Minister to stop using the Licensing Act to criminalise live music and to implement amendments that would exempt small gigs.

The Petition has gained well over 1000 signatures since it was launched last Monday, 27 July:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/livemusicevents/

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to stop criminalising live music with the Licensing Act, and to support amendments backed by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, and the music industry, which would exempt most small-scale performances in schools, hospitals, restaurants and licensed premises.

If you support the petition and the ideas it represents, please sign and circulate the link above as widely as possible.

Many local authorities use the Act to bully small venues, including schools. You may even have had first hand experience of this already if you are involved with live music on a regular basis:
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/School-show-scrapped-after-head.5080776.jp

Providing musical instruments is of itself a potential offence:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1194875/Strolling-Beethoven-Playing-PIANO-street–start-new-craze.html

Even musical instruments provided by schools are caught in this madness, as confirmed in this ‘Yes Minister’ government response of 15 July 2009 to questions raised by Lord Clement-Jones:

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information or guidance has been provided to schools and local authorities concerning the requirement to license the provision of musical instruments as “entertainment facilities” under the Licensing Act 2003 where such instruments are used in public performances of live music or private performances that seek to raise money for good causes. [HL4839]

The Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The department has provided general advice to applicants on its website and detailed guidance to licensing authorities on the 2003 Act as it affects the provision of regulated entertainment. However, the Act has devolved responsibility for the administration of the licensing regime to individual authorities and it is for them to consider each application on its own merits. The Act does not draw a distinction between events which are put on for charity purposes and those which are not.

Although the 2003 Act requires schools and colleges to obtain a licence for regulated entertainment to which the public are invited, or for a private entertainment where a fee is charged with a view to profit, they are exempt from paying the licence fee if the event is provided by, located at and for the purpose of the school or college.

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of schools in England and Wales are licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 for performances of live music and the provision of musical instruments as “entertainment facilities”. [HL4840]

Lord Carter of Barnes: We do not hold this information. The statistical data collected by the department identify how many premises have permission, in the form of a premises licence or club premises certificate, to put on regulated entertainment, including live music. However, it is not known how many schools have obtained an appropriate permission to cover live performances of music and the provision of entertainment facilities, or indeed any other form of regulated entertainment such as a dance event or a play. In some cases, a school may decide to put on an event by giving a temporary event notice.

Although the Licensing Act 2003 requires schools and colleges to obtain a licence for regulated entertainment to which the public are invited, or for a private entertainment where a fee is charged with a view to profit, they are exempt from paying the licence fee if the event is provided by, located at and for the purpose of the school or college.

See: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200809/ldhansrd/text/90715w0002.htm#09071576000578

Please cut and paste, or share this post if you support the petition, please sign and circulate the links above as widely as possible http://www.birminghammusicnetwork.com

You are welcome to leave any comments you may have regarding this petition below.

Web Music Solutions – affordable web presence for musicians

webmusicsolutionslogo.png

Web Music Solutions is a small company providing an affordable and accessbile web presence for musicians, bands and other music businesses.

Run by professional musicians with a track record in designing and maintaining web sites since 2000, Web Music Solutions aim to provide a quick, efficient service that is represents good value and high quality.

Web Music Solutions uses the WordPress system for design and management providing an affordable and classy solution for musicians allowing them ease of access, intuitive systems and a responsive interface with their public.

Contact us today to discuss how you would like Web Music Solutions to assist you in developing and extending your web presence.

Email webmusicsolutions at gmail.com
Tel: 07595663966
Web: www.webmusicsolutions.co.uk

Berkleemusic distance learning program

I am writing to you on behalf of Berklee College of Music who have just launched their Berkleemusic distance learning program officially in the UK. One of the things that this entails is that £45,000 have been pledged to be given out to UK students over the upcoming five years to study online with Berklee. Patrons of these scholarships include Sir George Martin and Jeff Beck alongside three other big music names.

The scholarships are open to everyone in the UK and we are trying to boost awareness about them to the British musician community. information provided within the press release below,
Best regards,
Nik Miskov
Music Ally Ltd
1-5 Exchange Court
London WC2R 0JU
Office: +44 (0)20 74204320
Mobile: +44 (0)75 900 400 68
www.MusicAlly.com

www.TheLeadingQuestion.com
www.AliadoDigital.com

download information doc here: Berkleemusic distance learning program doc

The Scottish Music Industry Association(SMIA) – launched at Go North conference

To keep you up to date on developments in Scotland, Dave Cross sent us this message after Go North:

“The Scottish Music Industry Association(SMIA) was launched at the Go North conference in Inverness. The SMIA has been many years in the making and has been developed by a team comprising many established leaders in the Music Industry – they will now form its initial Board. The outline objectives, structure and role of the Association was the subject of a feasibility study undertaken by the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) and published in 2005. The formation of the Association then received support of the Scottish Executive and in particular the MSP who Chaired the Cross Party Parliamentary Group on Contemporary Scottish Popular Music. The remit, and integration with local, national and international players was carefully planned and it had been hoped to begin recruitment in 05. The SMIA has this week been able to appoint an administrator, who will be based in the offices of the Scottish Music Centre (next to the City Halls) in Candleriggs, Glasgow.

They have also commissioned Ronnie Gurr, seasoned promoter of networking and coordination of music activity across Scotland, to embarking on a more thorough analysis of the needs and opportunities facing music across all its facets, both in terms of genres and business activity. The Association’s published remit is to act as a representative body promoting the growth of the Scottish music industry with a single, clear voice, supporting the full diversity of Scottish music enterprise in a fair and committed way.

Generator has been closely following and contributing to the processes leading to the SAC feasibility study and the commitment to create the inclusive representative body that was launched today.

Contact them @ The Scottish Music Centre – Candleriggs, Glasgow G1 1NQ Tel 0141 552 5222

info at scottishmusiccentre.com

Download the PDF here: The Scottish Music Industry Association: Feasibility Study pdf

51 Breaks – From self release to the edge of V festival!

It’s been a whirlwind year for 51 Breaks. The band from Birmingham have gone from self releasing an a download single with only 100 limited pressed copies to standing on the edge of opening this years V Festival, whilst supporting  The Spinto band, The Maccabees, The Infadels and even Tinchy Stryder along the way!

They find themselves as part of the final 6 acts now facing a public vote to see who will open this years V festival. It all came as quite a surprise to the band and their singer Michael Turner, who by his own admission never saw all this coming. ‘’We released 3 tracks, and carried on gigging and soon we were getting asked to play alongside some of our favourite bands, and then from up loading a track onto the V site we get a call saying were into the last 10’’

This saw 51 Breaks play the Great Escape festival in Brighton last month mollinebonus.net where they supported competition mentor Just Jack. ‘’It was an amazing feeling, to look back at a year ago, wed just finished recording  and had a whole load of dates stretched out in front of us, the single did better than we ever thought it could and we just seemed to be on a roll, gigs kept coming and we we’ve now ended up here! Hopefully people will be voting for us and well get to go even further’’

Their mixture of orchestral arrangements, catchy hooks and electro beats has earned them rave reviews and with fans including the NME & Tom Robinson you get the feeling this is far from the end of the ride.

Music can be found for reviews @ http://roadtov.com/artists/51-breaks/
info at 51breaks.com

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