Lily Allen responded to Ed O’Brien’s statement on behalf of FAC (Featured Artists Coalition) to UK government’s plans to cut off the internet access of persistent illegal file-sharers.
Ed O’Brien said cutting off illegal file-shares is not going to work: “It’s going to start a war which they’ll never win.” The FAC said “heavy-handed” tactics may turn fans away from music for good.
Lily Allen responded on her MySpace “I havent written on here for a while but I’ve taken the time to write this as I think music piracy is having a dangerous effect on British music, but some really rich and successful artists like Nick Mason from Pink Floyd and Ed O’Brien from Radiohead don’t seem to think so. Last week in an article in the Times these guys from huge bands said file sharing music is fine. It probably is fine for them. They do sell-out arena tours and have the biggest Ferrari collections in the world. For new talent though, file sharing is a disaster as it’s making it harder and harder for new acts to emerge.
“This is great if you’re a big artist at the back end of your career with loads of albums to flog to a new audience, but emerging artists don’t have this luxury. Basically the FAC is saying ‘we’re alright, we’ve made it, so file sharing’s fine’, which is just so unfair to new acts trying to make it in the industry.
“If this sounds like I’m siding with the record bosses, I’m not. They’ve been naive and complacent about new technology – and they’ve spent all the money they’ve earned on their own fat salaries, not industry development. But as they start to lose big from piracy, they’re not slashing their salaries – they’re pulling what they invest in A&R (artists and repertoire). Lack of funds results in A&R people not being able to take risks and only signing acts they think will work… (…) I don’t think what’s out there is perfect. It’s stupid that kids can’t buy anything on the internet without credit, forcing them to steal Mum’s credit card or download illegally. It’s this kind of thing that the record company bosses, artists, broadband providers and government should be sitting down and discussing.”
“I’m going to be writing British artists, saying just this: File sharing’s not okay for British music. We need to find new ways to help consumers access and buy music legally, but saying file sharing’s fine is not helping anyone – and definitely not helping British music.”
Radiohead news on this day..
- Ed O’Brien to give Midem Keynote – 2009
- Thom Yorke live from Nigel Godrich’s Basement – 2006
- DJ Shadows ‘The Gloaming’ remix on the web – 2004
- Radiohead on the BBC – 2004
- Radiohead asked to write music for ballet – 2002

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