Keith Urban Clarifies Illegal Download Comments

Keith Urban has apologised for appearing to encourage fans to illegally download his music, insisting he misspoke during a recent awards acceptance speech.

Urban won favourite male artist at the People's Choice Awards on 6 January, and thanked members of his fan club, Monkeyville, as he took to the stage.

Praising fans for promoting his music online, he said, "I don't even care if you download it illegally, give it to your friends, I really don't care."

The remarks sparked outrage among the music industry - but now Urban has offered up an explanation and he's adamant he does not support the practice.

He says, "I didn't mean I want people to steal music but a lot of people end up buying albums and turning their friends on to it. It came out wrong and I apologise."