Form 696 anger

Plans to stop contentious live music measures are refused

15 July 2009 - Calls to scrap a contentious live music music form and a licence restricting small music venues have been rejected by the government.

UK Music had backed the recommendation of the cross parliamentary committee to end Form 696, which demands London licensees give the personal details of musicians appearing at their venues.

The body also supported proposals to stop licenses being needed for smaller venues and performances of up to two people under the 2003 Licensing Act.

But the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have rejected the recommendations and called for a further review.

'Totally immoral'

UK Music CEO, Feargal Sharkey said he was infuriated by the decision of the DCMS.

"We just think it is totally immoral, really inappropriate and just a very ugly idea," he ranted.

"It is just deeply saddening and deeply depressing that the Government are not prepared to put their hand up and accept responsibility for a situation that ultimately they created."

Introduced in 2005, Form 696 demands that London licensees give police details, including the names, aliases, private addresses and phone numbers of all musicians appearing at their venue.

It also requires details of the artists' likely target audience.

"I am extremely disappointed and really saddened in many ways." Feargal Sharkey, UK Music

Sharkey says the form is a huge hinderance to live music and divides music fans racially and socially.

"Everyone I've spoken to which includes members of parliament, are scratching their heads trying to figure out what is the justification? What is the logic?," he added.

"I am extraordinarily disappointed and really saddened in many ways."

Specialised survey

But the Government rejected his comments and defended their own research despite it indicating a 5% decrease in the number of venues available to up and coming bands

"The 5% figure is an old and very selective statistic from a specialised survey that did not even consider venues that stage live music as their core business," a statement from the DCMS said.

"In fact, there was a 7% increase in venues licenced to stage live music between 2007 and 2008, so we totally reject the suggestion that the Licensing Act has lead to a decrease in live music venues."

'Workable exemption'

The Government also argued that they have to consider the impact on people living in residential areas and this has made it "impossible to find a workable exemption".

A host of musicians have spoken out against the form including Reverend And The Makers lead singer Jon McClure and British rapper Kano.

Sharkey is now urging the Government to ditch the Licensing Act and Form 696.

He added: "My recommendation would be to scrap the whole Licensing Act, go back to the way we were before all this.

"That was much better than the situation we currently have."


Damian Jones