The Live Music Forum

Hamish Birchall Bulletin

 

Wednesday 23rd January 2008 - Minister in public Q&A session on licensing/live music tomorrow at Olympia

Licensing minister Gerry Sutcliffe will talk about the impact of entertainment licensing on live music, and take questions from the floor tomorrow, Thursday 24 January, 11am-12noon, at Olympia:

http://www.eventshow.co.uk/visitors/sessions/  (scroll down)

This is an 'access session' in the Club Room, part of the annual Event Show.  Attendance is free, but subject to successful registration which can be done online:

http://www.eventcommunity.co.uk/registration/ev01t8_show.asp

For directions see: http://www.eventshow.co.uk/links/directions/

Former chair of the Live Music Forum, Feargal Sharkey, may also attend and put questions to Sutcliffe.

Among other things, this is an opportunity for the minister to explain why DCMS claimed on 17 December that the latest live music research found that licensing was not responsible for the 5% drop in live gigs, while the actual British Market Research Board study suggested that licensing was partly responsible.

He might also reveal how many schools in England and Wales are licensed for concerts by pupils for family and friends. A full premises licence authorising performances of live music, and the provision of entertainment facilities, would be required if more than 12 public performances are held a year (up to 12 such concerts per year could be legally held if covered by a Temporary Event Notice at £21 each).

 

Hamish Birchall

 

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