Paul Weller has criticised bands who give away their music as a free download.

The former Jam frontman said that, if he could get away with it, he would “like to charge people double the price” for his records.

Weller made the comments in an interview with BBC 6Music, to be broadcast on Sunday (June 1st).

“I’m not having it. It lessens the art, cheapens the art. Why shouldn’t an artist be paid for the work he’s doing? It’s not for free,” he said.

A number of bands have chosen to give away their music over recent months. Last month, Coldplay allowed fans to download new single ‘Violet Hill’ for free from their website.

In October last year Radiohead gave fans the chance to name what price they paid for their new album ‘In Rainbows’.

Weller’s comments coincide with the release of his new double album ’22 Dreams’, which is out on Monday (June 2nd).

(by Jason Gregory)