The one thing I have found from reading the comments section so far is that I have more respect for those artists that have cared to get involved in dialogue between the artists and the people posting on this message board, providing they are genuine, e.g. Edwyn Collins' manager and Ulrich Schnauss.  Also, like Radiohead, I have purchased work by both artists.  I want this dialogue from the artists themselves, not the record companies or representatives because, as has already been stated, the record companies are not to be trusted in the slightest.  In terms of music that I have bought online - Radiohead are the only band that spring to mind because they actually meant it, although I am still disappointed by the statement.  As mentioned on the NME website today by Ed, I still also love the physical aspect of music too - holding vinyl, looking at the artwork, having a CD.  However, I do also like the convenience of mp3 too.  I see both sides of the argument to an extent, but the artists side only comes into question when record companies are involved or preposterous statements about technology that they do not understand.

Come on artists, get involved with *your* personal views.  This is not Question Time - you do not have to follow the party line.  Say what you really think.

I understand that artists have to make a living. I have discovered many new artists, bought their CDs and attended their concerts because of illegal downloading.

When a friend recommends me a band/artist, I download their "best of" album and listen to it. If I didn't like it, it would go straight in the trash. If I liked it, the next time I went into a record shop, I'd buy the CD then delete the illegal files. Then over the next months, I'd buy more CDs from the same artist. I still find that CDs have a vastly superior sound quality to mp3s and it is my format of choice.

I wish people would stop thinking that every file downloaded is a lost sale. If I couldn't hear the tracks in advance, I'd be buying a lot less.The Daily Mail reports that a study by think-tank Demos shows that illegal downloaders are "music enthusiasts" and spend an average of  £33 more on music a year compared to non-downloaders. As such, going after the illegal downloaders may well hinder rather than help the music industry.

For me, one of the worst parts of this proposed legislation is that the financial burden of enforcing this ineffective law will be split between the Internet Service Providers and the music industry 50/50. In other words, all Broadband users, whether they download or not, will have to pay extra just to be put at risk of being falsely accused and disconnected! I just can't see that going down well.

What we really need is a legal "All you can eat" P2P service where fans can download unlimited DRM-free tracks for a monthly fee. I'm convinced that if such a service existed, illegal filesharing would be dramatically reduced.

 i am dissapointed at some of these negative comments slagging established artists

it always appears to be that way from the buying public who again seem to think that it is ok to filr share etc...

lets look at the opposite side...

if some of these negative voices above actually starved there way to sucess in the way one has to to become established and if they had published songs out there being ripped off etc they would be saying different things...

this is only a part of the solution 3 to 5 years ago who the fuck could forsee where all of this would lead? it is way convenient to say after the effect however we need to stop thisand lock thsi down as well as continually find new innovative solutions that keep all parties happy including labels, publishers, artists and fans

so lets cut the bullshit u negative ones help 2 find a positive path rather that critisize established artists who are merely trying to defend their intellectual position of which they are entitled to do so.

music is not free and should be deemed only at the artist/band/label/publishers discretion as a promo tool otherwise there will be no industry in the future... just a mad max cultural highway of yet more fucking confusion.

what the FAC are doing is the start of an answer at an important part of ones career...again these fuckers who dont have careers who are stuck in bedrooms waiting for god or Universal to find u on my space is never gonna happen

keep it real and call a spade a spade

dENVER {CEO/FOUNDER www.music2text.com twitter.com/music2text]

Unfortunately the government had already agreed on this action before we got a look in, hence the emergency meeting.

One thing I have to point out, which I know many of you already realise, is that there are many very poor musicians who are struggling to survive and the FAC is about helping all musicians. If we didn't have artists like Billy and Ed fighting our corner then nobody would give this organisation a second look. It's right, they don't need the money, they're giving something back by doing it to help out new musicians on the scene. And I'd say that what they're doing is pretty rebellious as they're doing a good job of shaking up the music industry and generating lots of discussion right now.

The other main point is that we are strongly against punishing music fans. This emergency meeting was held as a means of damage limitation, to get the government to soften their bill while we look for other alternatives. Unfotunately they didn't give us time to offer any major alternatives as the bill was being presented the following day.

Most of us are not on major labels, even some of the major artists in the FAC and I can say with hand on heart that the most important relationship an artist can have is with their fan base. This is something that we are intent on developing so I ask that you please work with us rather than against. We can't give our work away for free but then we don't want to rip people off either and the solution to this problem is not going to be an easy one but it will help if we're working together on it.