Written question asked by Lord Redesdale (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Davies of Oldham (Labour) on Thursday, 24 November 2005.

Live Music: DCMS Press Release

Question: What consultations they held with (a) Market and Opinion Research International, and (b) the Live Music Forum prior to the addition of an extra point under ““Notes to Editors”” and the change to the quotation by the Minister of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport contained in the press release issued by the department on 25 August, entitled Live Music Scene—The Verdict; who sanctioned those changes; and when they were made.

Answer: On 10 May 2005, MORI informed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) of a complaint made to the Market Research Society (MRS) by a third party. The complainant argued that DCMS’s press release of 25 August 2004, announcing the results of MORI’s research into the performance of live music, had contained a misleading statement. The MRS upheld this complaint, and on 27 September 2005 MORI asked DCMS if it would amend its press release by adding the words ““and other venues”” to the reference to ““bars, clubs and restaurants””, and by inserting an additional footnote in the ““Notes to Editors”” to list the range of venues covered by the survey. DCMS officials complied with this request on 21 October. The Live Music Forum was not consulted as the change was a minor one, and the executive summary of MORI’s report, which had been sent to journalists with the original press release, had already made clear the range of venues covered by the survey.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2339; 675 c234WA
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Clubs Public houses Music Research Restaurants Press releases Department for Culture, Media and Sport MORI
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk