• The hearing is WED JULY 18th, 11am in Room 201 (2nd Floor, City Hall). http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycouncil/calendar.html
• If you do not know much about how city council operates, we suggest you start reading here.
• DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY OF THE ORDINANCE (starts on page 4) http://www.chicityclerk.com/citycouncil/agendas/license071807.pdf

The following is what the CMC intends to testify for the record at the council hearing on July 18th, 2007:

• The Chicago Music Commission is here today on behalf of Chicago's music community, including its small and law-abiding promoter music businesses.  We agree with the DBA's laudable intent to create a means to better ensure safe public music events in Chicago.  As Chicago's music economy expands, we want all Chicagoans to know that event promoters are being held accountable for their conduct.

• However, we cannot support this ordinance in its current form because we are concerned that the ordinance's language as drafted will add prohibitive costs to doing business in Chicago's music economy, thereby having the unintended consequence of driving out of the Chicago marketplace legitimate small businesses and encouraging illicit underground promoters to take their place.

• We believe that if given the opportunity we can work with DBA and small promoter music businesses to craft language that will allow the City to regulate responsible and punish irresponsible promoters.  Our objective in this process is to help craft language that will help the City meet its obligation to its residents to ensure safe music events while fostering a responsible and robust music business climate.

• Chicago's small music businesses generate almost $1 billion in economic activity. We have the third largest music industry in the country, employing 13,000 people.  We employ twice as many musicians as Seattle, and ten times as many as Austin, TX.

• But in order for Chicago to take the next step and become the great music city it can be, we believe lawmakers must constantly nurture their music community and avoid making new regulatory systems which discourage music activity and business.   Musicians and music related businesses are increasingly moving to cities where they are appreciated and supported, and cities across country are competing to have them because of the urban vibrancy and educated young people they bring in return. 

• With the eyes of the world on our wonderful city, including its vibrant music community, the CMC seeks your cooperation in helping Chicago create a responsible and sustainable music economy will ensure that Chicago’s music community, including promoters, reaches its full potential and rightful recognition as a one of the worldʼs great music cities.

• We respectfully ask for your support in crafting a revised ordinance to codify our concerns and help usher in a safe, responsible and business-friendly environment for Chicago music.