According to Music Week, over 70 venues in London are now required to file the controversial Form 696 for every music event they hold, provision of the form having been added to the condition of their live music licences.
As previously reported, the Form 696, an extra licensing requirement introduced by the Metropolitan Police, has been heavily criticised because it asks for the personal details of every artist who performs at a gig, and for information on what genre the artists play. Some artists and promoters have questioned just what happens to the artists' personal data that is collected, while it's feared the genre information is used to make stereotypical judgements about the ethnic and social background of an artist's fans.
As also previously reported, UK Music chief Feargal Sharkey first raised and criticised the controversial form at a review of the 2003 Licensing Act, under which it was introduced, and since them UK Music, the Musicians' Union and Music Producers Guild have joined to formally protest against the dodgy bureaucracy.
According to Music Week, up to 70 venues now run the risk of a £20,000 fine if they don't file the form for each gig they host, and there are fears that police elsewhere in the UK may adopt its use.
Sharkey apparently plans to take up the matter with the minister responsible for licensing, Sport Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, and also plans to meet with the Metropolitan Police themselves to air his concerns. Music Week quote him thus: "It is true that UK Music has been busy behind the scenes for some time regarding Form 696 and I have some very high level meetings over the next couple of weeks. Following those, I am positive we will have a much clearer picture on this issue and how we progress and move forward".
I'm not sure how a venue is meant to decide what genre an artist belongs to, given that genres are generally undefined, loose and constantly changing. Perhaps it's based on MySpace profiles. In which case, every artist performing in London should change their MySpace genre to 'French Pop'. Let's see how the Met cope with the seemingly increasing number of French people filling the capital's gig venues.