A MUSICIAN says illegally downloading songs could do more good than harm to the industry.

More than seven million people have obtained music illegally through the internet this year, according to figures from the British record industry's trade association.

James Martin, Harwich Road, Little Oakley, said the only people affected by online piracy are rich artists and fat cat record companies.

“It broadens tastes and gives people a leg up to start with,” he said.

“The top musicians are overpayed and have had it easy for too long."

Mr Martin has co-written an album of songs for Harwich group Kennedy Green.

He helped produce their charity single, Rocket Girl, to raise money for CLIC Sargent children’s cancer charity, after Declan Heath, a school friend of the girls, died of cancer in 2004.

He added: “I don’t think we lost anything from people downloading the single. “Those people wouldn’t have bought it anyway.” Kennedy Green’s charity single is available from www.kennedygreen.co.uk