On his recent, widely praised album, Songs For A VeRRY Small OrchesTRA, the highly acclaimed Wexford artist, Pierse Turner, made a very direct appeal to fans not to pirate his music, with the request: “Please don’t burn or email my album!”

Now Turner is advising all unsigned artists to follow suit. Having done so himself with great success, in what is a variation on the 'honesty box' philosophy, he believes that it’s a request that's well worth making,
“Trust is a major factor in the new non-industrialised music world," Turner tells Hot Press. "If I saw that on an album that I had purchased, I would honour it! But I’ve never been asked!”

Turner insists that he believes in the essential decency of music fans. “When Radiohead let people create their own price, most people were generous," he adds. "Again, it’s the new mindset of 'no middle man'. People have no idea that we are struggling to keep making albums, so we must tell them how to help! It should be on the cover of all independent albums, to let music lovers know that our future is in their hands.” He will make the same appeal across the Irish sea.

The Wexford singer – who is accorded the title of 'Maverick of the Year' and strongly featured in the Hot Press Annual, due in shops on Friday – has been playing to full houses recently. Tracks from Songs For A VeRRY Small OrchesTRA have been getting considerable late night radio play on RTE Radio One and from 2 FM's Dave Fanning.

Turner will perform at the Wexford Art Centre (December 22) and at the Grand Social, Dublin (27).