Mr Howells was speaking at the Midem fair, which attracts more than 10, 000 executives from 96 countries.

BBC: Music piracy 'threatens industry'

He was honoured with the Green World Award at the Midem music conference for the festival's history of environmental fundraising and ecological initiatives.

BBC: Glastonbury tickets are 90% sold

MIDEM, part of Reed Elsevier, those attending must pay for four nights in a hotel, though the real business gets done in two days.

ECONOMIST: Trade fairs