Dugher: Agent of Change?

Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Michael Dugher MP (pictured) has called for new measures to protect small music venues.

Dugher is speaking today at the venues day conference at Ministry of Sound in London and will reportedly call for the ‘agent of change’ principle to be adopted into UK law.

Agent of change, which exists in Australian law, essentially prevents residents from moving into a property close to an existing venue and then complaining about noise and also means that developers of residential properties built near an established live music venue would have to pay for soundproofing and other measures for mitigating potential issues between residents and venue operators.

Dugher said: “Since 2010, the Government has just stood by whilst grassroots music venues have been allowed to wither away. Small music venues across the country play a key role in allowing and enabling great young talent to grow and develop into our next global stars. They have played a vital role in the success of the British music industry and must be supported”.

He continued: “That’s why I support calls for the Agent of Change principle to be adopted across the country and why Labour will be considering what other measures could be put in place to help small music venues as part of our review into the arts. We need to act fast before it’s too late for many small venues”.

This follows London Mayor Boris Johnson announcing his support for a campaign to stop venues closing in the capital.

Find out more about Agent of Change and related issues on the Music Venues Trust website.