Licensees have been warned that a recent court ruling does not mean they can run karaoke nights without a public entertainment licence (PEL).
Confusion over the PEL system has mounted since licensee Sean Toye, of the Fleece in Southwark, South London, was taken to court by Southwark Council for holding a Kwizoke night (a form of karaoke) without an entertainment licence.
Mr Toye argued in court that he did not need a PEL because no more than two members of the audience took to the stage at any one time and, therefore, the event did not break the "two in a bar rule". But Southwark Council prosecuted him for not having a licence for combining recorded music with live music - for which a PEL is necessary even if just one person is singing.
The case is now due to go to the High Court, where it is hoped some of the confusion over the law will be resolved.
Richard Nash of Southwark's licensing unit said that since the case the department had been inundated with calls but insisted that licensees must still have a licence to hold karaoke nights.
"The judge has upheld our view that this type of entertainment requires a PEL," Mr Nash said.Meanwhile, on July 19 musicians and licensees were due to hold a day of protests against the need for such a licence.
Groups of musicians planned to visit participating pubs and bars in the London area and attempt to perform.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Jazz Group Lord Colwyn said he expected to be thrown out of the Red Lion on Parliament Street for playing jazz illegally and the day was to culminate with a performance outside 10 Downing Street.
Pub operator Punch Retail threw its weight behind the campaign. Commercial director Andrew Knight said: "The existing law is yet another example of the red tape pub operators and individual licensees have to put up with.
"Pubs have always provided a platform for up-and-coming musicians to perform and live music often adds to the customers' enjoyment. We are backing the campaigners' call for reform."
Hamish Birchall, co-founder for the Campaign for Live Music was also at the event.
He told thePublican.com that the out-dated law was killing traditional and cultural music venues all over the country and criticised councils for using the licence as a means of boosting revenue.
Related stories:
Local councils under attack for exploiting PELs (10 July 2001)
Trade campaigns to update PEL system (21 June 2001)
Also:
Protesters: PELs "killing off live music in pubs" (20 July 2001)