Radiohead - O'brien: 'Illegal Downloads Aren't Killing Industry'

RADIOHEAD star ED O BRIEN is adamant the internet is not "killing" the music industry - because fans who illegally download albums still spend cash on merchandise and concert tickets.

The guitarist, a member of the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), has waded into a debate over the British government's proposal to launch a crackdown on internet service providers who refuse to ban illegal file-sharing.

He insists the record industry will not collapse as a result of online trading - but bosses need to offer cheaper music in order to survive.

O'Brien says, "I have a problem when people in the industry say it's killing the industry, it's the thing that's ripping us apart. I don't actually believe it is... (Pirates) might not buy an album, but they're spending their money buying concert tickets, a t-shirt, whatever.

"It's an analogue business model in a digital era. The business model has to change. You've got to licence out more music - have more Spotifys, more websites selling more music. You've got to make it slightly cheaper to get music in order to compete with the peer-to-peers.

"I find it staggering that the industry seems to be really dragging its heels on this - this is stuff that you could do in one week. Move quicker!"