The Live Music Act 2012

The Live Music Act 2012 amended the Licensing Act 2003 so that a licence for a live music performance is not needed if:

• it takes place between 8am and 11pm;
• it takes place at a licensed premises or workplace;
• the audience is no more than 500 people.

The changes introduced through the Act were designed to increase the provision of live music without negatively impacting on the 2003 Act’s licensing objectives:

• the prevention of crime and disorder;
• public safety;
• the prevention of public nuisance;
• the protection of children from harm.

In a March 2019 report, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee recommended that the 2012 Act should be amended to extend its provisions to venues with a capacity over 500 and beyond 11pm. In its July 2019 response, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said that the Act was “working broadly as intended” and that there was no case for further deregulation.