Indelicates: 'Let people download freely'

The Indelicates have stepped into the ongoing debate over the effects of illegal filesharing on the music industry.

In a Twitter conversation with Carter USM singer Jim Bob, the band's frontwoman Julia Indelicate argued that the business would adapt to an era of free downloads.

Julia said: "Let them download for free. Then sell something with your brand that has more value than a CD. Easy Peasy. There's too much music. Lots of people, including us, have been doing it for ages. The world didn't fall apart. Market economics see. It all works itself out.

"If it's all about the music, then you shouldn't mind giving it away. You have to work out what your audience IS likely to pay for. If you trust that they will all eventually have it for free, then the only option is to make something that have more value."

She added: "Because most music has very little value. Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold. Which means you get to sell what you like. Which is very very exciting. And live music won't save anyone either. Market economics. I'm parroting Simon Indelicate here.

"Also, part of your brand and our brand is writing. And we both already made books. So you're already doing it. In Soul Music by Terry Pratchett they sell sausages, but the concert is free. It's just economics."

Musician's group the Featured Artists Coalition and Lily Allen this week issued a joint statement urging the throttling of illegal filesharers' bandwidth after two warnings from internet service providers.