• As far as we're aware, the petition we refer to here has been delivered to the British Prime Minister.
• The option to sign the petition has long since passed.
• This petition was not set up by us, but as musicians, we felt strongly enought about this issue to create this page linking to an official online petition.
  
• For up to date information, please visit the UK Musicians' Union website.

The text of the original page is reproduced below:

New Government Legislation Threatens Live Music...

Please read the following information about the changes to the Public Entertainment Licence (PEL) laws, which threaten Live Music in England and Wales. The new bill will seriously affect traditional music activities, pub sessions, fundraising events, weddings and just about any place where musicians manage to find work.

In a dazzling display of bureaucracy, the British Government is replacing the current "two in a bar" Public Entertainment Licence (PEL) laws with new "none in a bar" legislation. The new law was ratified in the Commons on Tuesday 08 July.

The Licensing Act will for the first time extend entertainment licensing across all private members clubs, and registered members clubs. It also captures private events, such as charity concerts, if they seek to make a profit - even for a good cause. The Act also creates a new category of offence for the provision of unlicensed 'entertainment facilities', which would include musical instruments provided to members of the public for the purpose of entertaining themselves, let alone an audience.

"We need to free our best artists and creative professionals from the excessive bureaucracy that stifles them." "...it is in that liberating spirit that the arts are part of the core script of this Government."

[Tony Blair - "Culture and Creativity: The Next Ten Years"]

What is truly astonishing, is that the Licensing Act does not apply to recorded music. Musicians can be arrested for performing without a license, but the jukebox or the TV in the corner of the pub is just fine! Thank you Tony for "freeing us from excessive bureaucracy".

As we understand it, the petition at petitiononline.com has been submitted and is now closed.The Musicians' Union is still campaigning against this bill. You can get more details from the UK Musicians' Union website.