Proposals to outlaw so-called 'murder music' in venues, pubs and clubs are being considered as part of a review of Brighton and Hove City Council's licensing policy, writes Lawrence Marzouk in The Argus on 5 February 2007.

In 2006, the council threatened to withdraw the licence of Concorde 2 if it allowed Buju Banton – a Jamaican singer known for his controversial homophobic lyrics – to enter stage. Consequently, the concert was cancelled.

In 1992, Banton wrote and recorded a song called 'Boom Bye Bye' which advocates the shooting of gay men. He is banned from singing it in the United Kingdom but gay campaigners claimed he performed it abroad as recently as 2005. Buju Banton's promoter for his last UK tour said on the other hand that the offensive comments were made when Banton was just 15 years old, and that he had stopped performing the song.

The council's move could lead to that artists such as Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Elephant Man will never be able to perform in public in the city.

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