UK musicians are protesting a new musician licencing law passed in parliament last week. “It means that venues catering for audiences of 200 or fewer will have to obtain a licence to stage concerts – with the exception of unamplified ensembles such as string quartets. The government says public safety is at risk from unlicensed events, citing more than 1,500 fires in pubs and clubs in England and Wales in 2001. But the Musicians’ Union says its artists are being singled out – while performers such as stand-up comics and novelty acts are exempt.”