I think this attitude that music can be compared to something like food is wrong. I believe that artists should be paid, but this focus always on pop music is out of date. I mean supporting emerging artists is important but is EMI really the best company to do that? I think smaller labels are the future and 'stealing' tracks from a multinational with teams of lawyers to make sure both the artist and the customer don't step out of line is about as morally dubious as stealling cigaretts from Malbro.
What Townshend is complaining about creativity not being valued anymore is rubbish. We are just getting closer to the real price. Why should a rock star be worth millions for being creative? Would Townshend have been any less creative if he got paid a third of what he earnt? It's the same bullshit you see in sport with footballers getting paid millions to do something the enjoy.
With the disintegration of major record labels we can at least be certain that in 30 years time we wont have as many rusty old millionairs whinging about not being paid enough. Good music doesn't need loads of cash to be made and thankfully today it doesn't need loads to be distributed.