Townshend releases music-writing software

The Who rocker Pete Townshend has created a pioneering new computer program which can turn anyone into a songwriter - including his girlfriend's dog.

Townshend hopes the new technology will inspire wannabe musicians to try their hand at songwriting, because the program is so user-friendly.

"You can put data in and get a piece of music out," he said. "It's as simple as that."

The rocker also confessed to using his girlfriend's dog as inspiration for his music-making.

"I, as a composer, would try to get something out of this dog that would give me the chance to turn the dog into music," he said.

"I might listen to the way it breathes, I might touch it and see how it feels, I might listen to its bark, I might look at the rhythm of his running."