British musican says music industry is 'lazy'

Brian Eno, the British musician who came to fame with the 1970s rock band Roxy Music, has accused the music industry of being 'lazy' in respect of the Internet, and still hanging on to old ways of doing things instead of moving forwards. Speaking on the Today Programme on the BBC's Radio 4, he also said that young musicians understand perfectly how to use Internet-based services to promote their music and are comfortable with doing so.

I put these comments here simply because policy-makers are frequently proffered elderly musicians who plead that the Internet is ruining their careers and reducing their royalties on which they depend for a pension. Those who are getting on with it and adapting their ways, are unheard at a political level - but they are the ones whose voice should be heard.

Mr Eno is a highly-respected music industry insider - and considered by many to be an 'elder' of the rock music industry - who is speaking out. He is also putting his money where his mouth is and releasing his new music on the Internet first - before putting out a CD.

His comments also illustrate how the music industry is divided between those who welcome the Internet and the opportunities it brings, and those who still seek to protect their 20th century business models. It is also important for policy-makers to recognise this division, and seek to create policies that help the industry as a whole to move forward.