A month has passed since the Ministry of the Interior’s circular establishing systematic and coordinated inspections of venues. This wasn’t a fleeting flare-up, but a real shift in inspections.

Over the past 30 days, data collected through local press paints a clear picture:

➡️ Over 530 inspections conducted by task forces (NAS, Fire Brigade, and Police).
➡️ Approximately 42% of venues exhibited critical issues.
➡️ Over €180,000 in fines and seizures, with an estimated value of over €2.2 million.

Specifically, the most frequent irregularities that led to the measures were:
❎ Emergency suspensions due to barred, obstructed, or impassable emergency exits.
❎ Public entertainment activities conducted without a license and compliant fire safety equipment.
❎ Systematic exceeding of the maximum authorized capacity (overcrowding) compared to supervisory parameters.

But there is one statistic that should give us pause: 75% of the measures don’t concern clubs, but dance halls without a license.

What’s the real difference? Those with a C License (Public Entertainment) have invested thousands of euros to ensure standards that a venue serving only food and beverages cannot match: certified fireproof materials, escape routes calibrated to real flows, and tested evacuation plans.

The problem arises when someone attempts to “run a club” without meeting the technical requirements. It’s not a question of cunning, but of professional risk management.

Industry professionals today suffer a double defeat:
1️⃣ Unfair competition from those operating without a C License (and therefore with drastically reduced fixed costs).
2️⃣ Damage to the entire industry’s reputation every time an inspection makes headlines.

A reform is needed that clearly distinguishes those who invest in professionalism from those who improvise. Protecting those who comply with regulatory requirements is the only way to ensure stability throughout the live entertainment industry.

Improvisation comes at a price our industry can no longer afford.

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I’m Andrea Corelli, a music industry professional and advisor.

From Monday to Friday, I share strategies, behind-the-scenes stories, and the stories behind a song on LinkedIn. On weekends, I enjoy the flow.

If you need help with your artist, label, or music project, reach out to me.