Townshend to Apple: Stop Bleeding Musicians

Pete Townshend has a message for Apple: It can either help the struggling record industry or bleed it “like a digital vampire." Speaking at a lecture in honor of a BBC DJ, The Who guitarist called on iTunes—which “exists in the wild west Internet land of Facebook and Twitter”—to provide services to “the artists whose work it bleeds like a digital vampire, like a digital Northern Rock, for its enormous commission."

He gave eight suggestions, including scouting for new talent and providing “creative nurture” to artists. He also laid into those who illegally download music, the Telegraph reports. While most creative people “would prefer their music to be stolen and enjoyed than ignored,” he noted that those who download music without paying “may as well come and steal my son's bike while they're at it." (More Pete Townshend stories.)