MUSIC lovers can breathe a sigh of relief after changes to a new Licensing Bill mean it won't hamper live entertainment in the town.

Live music, which is very much a part of entertainment in Bromsgrove, was considered by some musicians to be under threat from the controversial bill, which is currently going through Parliament.

The bill would have made it an offence for musicians to play at an unlicensed venue and they could have been liable for a fine.

But now licensing minister, Kim Howells, has dropped that clause from the bill. He also plans to consult with musicians to make the bill more 'user-friendly'.

Tracey Middleton, singer from Bromsgrove folk group Amaryllis, said: "It would have meant the death of folk music if this clause had gone through. We need young people to be encouraged to play music and not be made into criminals for doing so."

Lickey End's Reg Casely, chairman of the Redditch Organ Society, said: "It was a stupid law in the first place. We're delighted the Government has seen sense."

The Government has produced a leaflet which contains 20 myths about the bill in an effort to set the record straight. It says that spontaneous singing of Happy Birthday and pub 'sing-alongs' will not require licences.

The bill, which should be implemented within a year, will still mean venues needing licences to play live music but these will be authorised by Bromsgrove District Council, instead of its current split between local authorities and magistrates' courts. The premises licence will have a box for managers to tick to state whether they require a public entertainment licence as well and it will not cost any extra. The bill will also mean the liberalisation of pub opening hours.