The record industry asks nicely for all the downloading to stop (see the spoofing piece earlier in the week). I say give the customers what they want and they will pay for it, until then dl away.

"In 2000 in America, seven albums sold more than five million copies. Since then, none has sold more than five million copies," he said, putting the fall down to consumers who spurn the record stores and search elsewhere to get their music for free.

Kennedy said Irish supergroup U2 sold 10 million copies of their first Greatest Hits compilation album. The second volume is due out this year and he wondered: "Are these figures still attainable?"