The Who's Roger Daltrey has slammed Simon Cowell – insisting the music mogul has done nothing for the music industry.

His comments follow claims - since denied by organisers - that Cowell was in contention to receive the Outstanding contribution award at next year's Brit Awards.

Speaking to the Sun newspaper, Daltrey said: “Cowell has done for music what Gordon Brown has done for the economy — nothing.”

In previous years, the coveted prize has been won exclusively by musicians, including Sir Paul McCartney, The Bee Gees and Oasis.

As previously reported, the 2009 Brit Awards will take place at London's Earls Court on February 18th.

The ceremony, which will be broadcast live on ITV, will be preceded on January 20th by a nominations launch.

It will be the third year in a row that the awards ceremony has been broadcast live on television.

(by Jason Gregory)