MACCA BACKS BLIGHTY VENUE BILL

Sir Paul McCartney has put his weight behind a campaign to preserve the U.K.'s smaller music venues, as a number of music figures lobby Parliament to introduce a bill that makes it harder for property developers to shut down pubs and clubs that host live music.

The agent-of-change principle requires property developers to ensure solutions are in place to protect pre-existing businesses, like music venues, before taking on a project. It was proposed by UK Music Chief Exec Michael Dugher, and follows a number of threats to prominent U.K. music venues over the last few years, including Ministry of Sound and Fabric, as well as a long list of club closures.

A number of musicians have joined McCartney, including Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, Craig David, Ray Davies, Billy Bragg, Chrissie Hynde, Sandie Shaw and Feargal Sharkey, in backing the bill.

“Without the grassroots clubs, pubs and music venues my career could have been very different,” Macca said. “If we don’t support music at this level, then the future of music in general is in danger.”

Artists, music execs and politicians gathered Wednesday outside Parliament ahead of the bill’s first reading. It has passed the first hurdle, being well received by a majority of MPs, with a second reading set for 1/19.