Feargal Sharkey is the former lead singer of The Undertones, and who is now CEO of UK Music, an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK's commercial music industry.
Sharkey’s distinctive voice and The Undertones’ high octane performances were a hallmark of the worldwide punk era. The teenage group won international fame with hits such as “Teenage Kicks”, “My Perfect Cousin” and “It’s Going To Happen.”
In the early 1990s Sharkey moved into the business side of the music industry, initially as A&R for Polydor Records, and then as managing director of EXP Ltd. He was appointed a member of the Radio Authority for five years from December 1998 to December 2003.
He became chairman of the UK Government task force the 'Live Music Forum' in 2004, to evaluate the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on the performance of live music and gave public evidence before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 11 November 2008.
In 2008, Sharkey was appointed as the CEO of British Music Rights.
In October 2008, he became head of UK Music, an umbrella organisation representing the collective interests of the UK's commercial music industry. He has become prominent in criticising the use of Form 696 by the Metropolitan Police requiring event promoters to provide data on performers and audiences.
He is to receive the degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt).
