The IFPI has said that Russian social network vKontakte is “choking” the country’s music market, but that it now has the opportunity to become a powerful legitimate service.

The global trade body’s CEO Frances Moore spoke following a report from the US Trade Representative, which includes vKontakte in its list of “notorious markets” for the fourth year running.

Moore suggested that the controversial platform - which “uses unlicensed music to attract viewers and generate substantial revenues from providing access to ...