The past few weeks of early January 2009 have certainly been eventful for the UK music industry, which is attempting to work with broadband ISPs toward the development of a method designed to counter the increasing prevalence of illegal file sharing (To Ban or Not to Ban). This process began in earnest last year when six of the country's largest ISPs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the creative industry and agreed to the principal of warning illegal downloaders about their activity (news).

The MoU was ultimately seen as an ignition switch to kick-start the process toward developing tighter restrictions and better solutions for the problem. Unfortunately, despite the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) warning in its 2009 Digital Music Report that 95% of music downloads (40 billion files) are illegal and unpaid for (news), the creative (music, movies etc.) industry, government and ISPs have so far failed to reach a voluntary agreement (news).

Internet providers may now risk the prospect of tougher legislative sanctions from the government unless a way forward can be found. To that end ISPreview has hooked up with UK Music (who?), an organisation representing the UK’s commercial music industry, to discuss some of the problems and potential solutions to this situation. This interview includes feedback from UK Music’s Press and Communications Executive, Adam Webb, its CEO Feargal Sharkey and Chairman Andy Heath.

ISPreview's UK Music - Illegal File Sharing Interview Part1
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/articles/09_ukmusic_interview_part1/