http://www.ukmusic.org/comment/185-an-open-letter-to-licensing-minister-gerry-sutcliffe

An open letter to Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe      
Wednesday, 31 March 2010 11:50
An Open Letter to Gerry Sutcliffe: will you support Lord Clement-Jones' Live Music Bill and Liberate Creativity?
March 31st 2010

- That the current Licensing Act is hurting grassroots live music is beyond doubt.

Over the past 6 years, Government have conducted eight consultations, two Government research projects and two national review processes, all of which reached this conclusion.

The Culture Media & Sport Select Committee did likewise last May, stating that "to encourage the performance of live music we recommend that the Government should exempt venues with a capacity of 200 persons or fewer from the need to obtain a licence for the performance of live music."

UK Music entered into this latest consultation with good faith, and in full agreement with the Select Committee that any exemption threshold should be raised from 100 to 200. -

Yours Sincerely,
Feargal Sharkey
Chief Executive
UK Music