Lily Allen joined the file-sharing debate in North London last night along with over 100 other British musicians.

The star, who previously said she wasn't going to attend, was praised as “extremely brave” by Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien for turning up to the three-hour “heated” debate.

The meeting at Air Studios in Hampstead was called after there was a very public rift between artists about how illegal file-sharers should be dealt with.

One side, led by Allen, worried about the “threat illegal downloading presents to the music industry” and wanted perpetrators punished, while the campaign group, the Featured Artists' Coalition, originally argued that cutting of internet accounts would be unfair.

Those in attendance last night eventually unanimously agreed that perpetrators should not have their internet accounts suspended.

Instead they deemed that those illegal file-sharing should be sent two warning letters telling them that if they continue to break the law they will have their bandwidth restricted making downloading a more laborious task.

Aside from Allen and O'Brien, an array of acts signed a statement including Pink Floyd's Nick Mason, George Michael, Annie Lennox, Patrick Wolf, Billy Bragg and Tim Rice-Oxley.

The signed statement will be handed to the government who will proposing a new law from next Tuesday.

Speaking to the BBC after the meeting, Ed O'Brien said of Lily Allen: "She's taken a lot of flak for what she's said. What she's done has been brilliant because she started the process where artists have stood up and said, you know what, there is a consequence to illegal file-sharing.

"In the meeting, we didn't always agree but we came to an agreement that we thought was good for everyone.

"We're going to have further meetings like this, we're going to get together - we've realised the importance of doing this together.”

(by Scott Colothan)