Lily Allen's recent blog about illegal file-sharing online has prompted an expert to rebuff her claims that "it's making it harder and harder for new acts to emerge".

John Russell, the editor of DailyMusicGuide.com, explained that illegal file-sharing by users of torrents and websites is not making it more difficult for new artists to be found - it's actually making it a lot easier.

He explained that it worked for the Arctic Monkeys when they gave away music for free, making them popular with the mainstream music industry very quickly.

Mr Russell continued: "Whether file-sharing has "a dangerous effect" on the music industry as a whole is a different matter, and hugely subjective depending on what stage a band or artist is at in their career."

"I have no doubt illegal file-sharing will put off serious artists intent on pursuing a career in the record industry."

Lily Allen may have caused a stir with the likes of Pink Floyd and Radiohead, who she criticised for having enough money to be able to claim that their fans would be criminalised under propositions by Lord Mandelson to suspend internet accounts of generations of music lovers.

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