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Busking - a lifeline or a nuisance?

Music journalist Will Chalk heads to St Albans, where the council wants to introduce tighter restrictions on buskers.

Some say it's unnecessary and unlistenable – others think it’s an essential building block for the music industry. Street performance - or 'busking' - has been around for centuries and is practised all over the world. It provides vital income for many musicians. And for some of the world's biggest artists, like Ed Sheeran, busking has been a crucial stepping stone towards stardom. But it's not for everyone.

For 5 Minutes On, music journalist Will Chalk heads to St Albans, where tighter restrictions are being considered for buskers. Are they fair, or will they make it harder for up-and-coming artists to survive?

Image Credit: Â鶹Éç

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6 minutes