Vinyl-only vow from King Creosote to fight illegal downloading

A PIONEERING record label boss has pledged to turn the clock back by only releasing his acts' future tracks on vinyl.

In what could prove an uphill battle to counteract the illegal downloading epidemic, Kenny Anderson, aka King Creosote, says he will shun the digital music scene, which he feels is "crippling" the industry.

The 43-year-old, whose grassroots label helped to launch acts such as KT Tunstall, right, believes a vinyl renaissance will enable fans to reconnect with their idols rather than contribute to the current industry blood-letting via unlawful downloads.

Under the moniker King Creosote, Kenny has self-released more than 40 albums.

"We want to release music the old school way," said Kenny.

"I have the sense that a track doesn't connect with the audience unless it's on vinyl.

"Today people have thousands upon thousands of songs on their computer and I feel much of the music is not valued or appreciated. Downloading is crippling music. It's downloaded for free and then played through the worst of speakers."

The Fence Records chief suggests that despite technological advances, vinyl should be the main listening format for the discerning music fan.

He said: "When I finish an album I'm gutted when I leave the studio because I know I will never hear it as good again unless I get it on vinyl and on a good record deck.

"Then it's like having the band in the room with you. I don't see anything wrong with the ritual of putting a record on a deck and listening to it instead of having it on in the background."

He stressed that independent music is at a perilous crossroads. "People seem to think now that all music should be free. Why? We are at a period where when the last record shop closes, the last small venue sells up, the last hi-fi store is shut and touring bands limit their gigs to London and Glasgow, music fans will realise what they have done by downloading music for free.

"It's a myth that money comes back to the artist in different ways through downloading. There's not been a marked increase in ticket sales for live gigs. In fact in 1992 my band sold out the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen – a 400-strong crowd. Since then I have had more press, more TV coverage but I could maybe get around 200 people. It makes me think people have lost interest in music and I blame the fact they are over-subscribed with downloaded music they don't even listen to."