The Who's Pete Townshend: 'Apple is a vampire'

Pete Townshend has accused Apple's iTunes of "bleeding" musical artists, comparing the company to a "digital vampire".

Speaking at BBC 6 Music's inaugural John Peel Lecture, the Who rocker accused Apple of "destroying copyright" and claimed that services such as editorial guidance and "nurture" have been sacrificed as it has taken over the music business.

"Is there really any good reason why, just because iTunes exists in the wild west internet land of Facebook and Twitter, it can't provide some aspect of these services to the artists whose work it bleeds like a digital vampire, like a digital Northern Rock, for its enormous commission?" he said, reports BBC News.

Townshend also expressed anger over what he considers to be theft of his music in digital form, though he admitted that the recent change has not affected his personal finances.

"[When someone] pretends that something I have created should be available to them free... I wonder what has gone wrong with human morality and social justice," he explained.

"It's tricky to argue for the innate value of copyright from a position of good fortune, as I do. I've done all right. A creative person would prefer their music to be stolen and enjoyed than ignored.

"This is the dilemma for every creative soul - he or she would prefer to starve and be heard than to eat well and be ignored."

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