Feargal Sharkey praises Mayor's commitment to live music

British Music Rights Chief Executive Feargal Sharkey has praised Mayor of London Ken Livingstone's plan to replace the soon-to-be-closed London Astoria venue on Charing Coss Road with an even larger venue on Tottenham Court Road.

The Astoria venue is to be shut down and demolished to allow the completion of a new Crossrail transport network.

Prior to taking up his post as BMR Chief Executive in February 2008, Sharkey chaired the UK government's Live Music Forum which recommended that the Mayor establish a wide range of live music venues across the capital.