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Music is Audible in Edinburgh

We are delighted to report that the City of Edinburgh Council Licensing Board has agreed to revise the wording of the notorious ‘inaudibility’ clause.

Published: 10 October 2016 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:28 PM

We are delighted to report that the City of Edinburgh Council Licensing Board has agreed to revise the wording of the notorious ‘inaudibility’ clause, which has stifled live music in the City’s music venues for years by stipulating that ‘amplified music from licensed premises must be inaudible in neighbouring residences’.

At a hearing that lasted over five hours, the Licensing Board heard from campaigners on both sides of the issue including the Musicians’ Union (MU) and Music is Audible. The Board agreed to a revision of the clause, which now reads 'Amplified music shall not be an audible nuisance in neighboring residential premises'.

The MU has been involved in the Music is Audible working group since its inception two years ago.

There is still a long way to go for the protection of live music venues in the city. The introduction of the Agent of Change Principle, for example, would go a long way to protecting grassroots music venues. However, this is certainly a very welcome step in the right direction.

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