Moby calls for RIAA to disband

Moby has called for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to be disbanded after a 32-year-old mother was fined $1.92 million (£1.17 million) for filesharing.

The Play musician made the comments on his official blog after the verdict was announced against Jammie Thomas-Rasset of Minnesota for making 24 songs available via the Kazaa network.

Moby said: "Argh. What utter nonsense. This is how the record companies want to protect themselves? Suing suburban mums for listening to music? Charging $80,000 per song?

"Punishing people for listening to music is exactly the wrong way to protect the music business."

He added: "I'm so sorry that any music fan anywhere is ever made to feel bad for making the effort to listen to music. The RIAA needs to be disbanded."

Last year, the RIAA said that it would stop suing filesharers and instead work with internet service providers to dissuade people from music piracy.