KISS star Gene Simmons has accused the music industry of not reacting fast enough to curb the problem of illegal file-sharing.

The bassist said lawsuits should have been issued against illegal downloaders sooner and that the error had cost “hundreds of thousands of jobs” in the industry.

“The music industry was asleep at the wheel and didn't have the balls to sue every fresh-faced, freckle-faced college kid who downloaded material,” Simmons said.

“And so now we're left with hundreds of thousands of people without jobs. There's no industry."

The bassist added: "Make sure your brand is protected. Make sure there are no incursions. Be litigious. Sue everybody.

“Take their homes, their cars. Don't let anybody cross that line."

Simmons was speaking at the MIPCOM convention in Cannes, France, reports Ars Technica. The convention is a content market for multi-platform entertainment.

The problem of illegal file-sharing has continued to blight the music industry over the last decade.

(by Jason Gregory)