OCT 13: Live Music: Licensed To Thrill?
http://www.musictank.co.uk/events/live-music-licensed-to-thrill
**THIS EVENT QUALIFIES FOR 2 LAW SOCIETY CPD POINTS**
Prepare for a clash of opinions, with individual livelihoods
and the future of the industry at stake. With concern mounting at the effects of the Licensing Act 2003 on small-to-medium sized venues, supporter of small venue exemption and one of Risk Assessment form
696's most strident critics, UK Music CEO Feargal Sharkey is confirmed
to keynote this debate, to be followed by one of the form's key
architects, Met Police Chief Inspector Adrian Studd who will also keynote. Joining the panel in defence of form 696 will be Reg Walker, Operations Director of Iridium Consultancy specialising in intelligence in
respect of organised crime targeting the music industry and festivals.
Kent Davis of the Rainbow Pub, Digbeth - a venue affected by
a noise abatement order - will likely quiz LACORS Director of Policy,
Mark Du Val on the Act's implementation with Licensing Consultant
Philip Doyle, Home Office and DCMS Select Committee Advisor on the
Licensing Act 2003 and Noise Abatement Society MD, Lisa Lavia among
other confirmed speakers.
This session will investigate the impact that the Licensing Act
2003, noise abatement orders and Met Police's Risk Assessment form 696
are having on venues, and the live music ecosystem throughout England
and Wales - from local authorities and licensed premises owners to
music performers and promoters. In the interests of balanced
discussion we shall hear from those who implement, police and support
the measures that are in place as well as from those who, despite best
endeavour, find themselves on the wrong end of court or noise abatement
orders, or indeed find it almost impossible to sustain a viable
business amidst what the Act's crictics claim is a sea of overly tight,
inflexible, restrictive and at times conflicting regulation.
This will be your chance to learn of the issues from all sides,
to question key decision makers and to voice your concerns. MusicTank
will be making a transcript of the event available to DCMS, the DCMS
Select Committee, LACORS, the LGA and individual local authorities.
The live music business is in rude health. Despite the recession,
record numbers of people are attending gigs, and last year revenues
from live music overtook those from record sales, with £1.39billion
generated from live music – up 16% on 2007 – whilst record sales
revenue fell 6% to £1.309billion ['Adding up the Music Industry for 2008', Will Page, PRS for Music].
But it is strong roots that facilitate success further up the chain,
and not all is rosy at the grassroots of our live music industry. In
July the government rejected widely supported recommendations from the
Culture Media and Sport Select Committee regarding changes to the
Licensing Act of 2003, including exemptions for small venues and, as
highlighted in MusicTank’s July editorial, noise abatement orders are having a destructive impact on small venues across the UK.
PART 1: 18.30-19.40 - LICENSING ACT 2003 & FORM 696
KEYNOTE 1 - FEARGAL SHARKEY (CEO, UK Music) - prior to his current appointment, Feargal was the Chair of the Live Music Forum, an advisory committee
established by Government to monitor and evaluate the impact of the
Licensing Act 2003 on the performance of live music. He is also an outspoken critic of Risk Assessment form 696.
KEYNOTE 2 - ADRIAN STUDD (Met Police)
- the 'brains' behind form 696 and Head of the Met's Clubs and Vice
unit, Studd has been a staunch public defender of Risk Assessment Form
696 since its introduction in 2006;
PANEL - DIANE BAXTER (Musicians' Union) - the MU has lent its
backing to small venue exemption and is an authority on the impact of
these measures on musicians' livelihoods; PHILIP DOYLE (Institute of Licensing & Licensing
Consultant) - Licensing Act 2003 advisor to both the Home Office and
DCMS select Committees, formerly head of the Licensing Business Unit at
Westminster City Council, he works with senior figures in business and
government to provide tailored solutions to licensing problems. In what
amounts to 'game keeper turned poacher', Philip is often consulted by
venue owners to assist them in defending local authority actions
arising from councils' policing of the Act and noise abatement issuess; REG WALKER (Iridium Consulting) - specialising in
intelligence in respect of organised crime targeting the music industry
and festivals, Iridium maintain that used correctly, form 696 is an
invaluable tool in assessing risks at events;
PART 2: 20.10-21.15 - NOISE ABATEMENT
KEYNOTE - KENT DAVIS (The Rainbow, Digbeth) -
venue owner of a legendary 2000+ capacity venue, Kent will kick-off
with a plea for joined-up thinking and a pragmatic approach to noise
abatement issues. As detailed previously MusicTank’s July editorial, his own venue's ability to resolve noise abatement issues appear hamstrung by local authority policy.
PANEL - DOMINIQUE CZOPOR (The Boileroom/we:Live) - owner of
this popular Guildford music venue, Dominque fought a long legal battle
with residents and sought protracted consultation with Environmental
Health during the venue’s £150,000 renovation. She founded we:Live out
of a desire to collectively assist and represent other individual venue
owners and promoters; LISA LAVIA (Noise Abatement Society) -
passionate about helping business and the public sector continually
collaborate to find innovative solutions to improve the quality of life
for all, especially in the area of reducing noise pollution; JOHN KING (Musician & Independent Campaigner) -
with first-hand experience of losing work due to the Act he has also
encountered rigorous over-enforcement by some Licensing Authorities.
John is co-author of a report into licensing conditions in St Albans.
The first of its kind, it reveals that St Albans Council have imposed
or accepted licence conditions that restrict the frequency and
regularity of live music performance in 53% of pubs with live music
permission; MARK DU VAL (LACORS) - leads on policy development,
driving improvement and adding value to local authority regulatory
services. Mark leads the policy group with responsibility for local
councils' services including health & safety enforcement, Licensing
Act 2003, England and Wales and environmental protection (air, land,
water & noise).
CHAIRMAN - KEITH HARRIS - MusicTank/Keith Harris Music Ltd/PPL Director of Performer Affairs
DIARY - Date & Time: 13 Oct '09 | 18.30 - 21.30hrs; Venue: Basement Bar, PRS for Music, Copyright House, Berners Street, London W1T 3AB;
COST - £25 MusicTank Members | £30 Trade Body | £35 Full Price - price includes drink on arrival and FREE post-event transcript.
Please remember all MusicTank events MUST be booked and paid for in advance - strictly no walk-up on the day!
Follow the debate on Twitter: #LAdebate
Full Details & Booking:
http://www.musictank.co.uk/events/live-music-licensed-to-thrill
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