Music site RnBXclusive.com has been shut down by the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).
A takedown notice warned visitors who have used the site to download music they could face up to 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
Soca said music posted on the site was "stolen from the artists" and may have "damaged careers".
A man has been arrested for fraud and bailed pending further enquiries, police told the BBC.
"Soca targets organised criminal enterprises profiting from the exploitation of the UK public and legitimate businesses," the agency said in a statement.
"Much of the music offered for download by the RnBXclusive.com website was illegally obtained from artists, leading the industry to attribute losses of approximately £15m per year to the site's activity."
Soca added that the action was part of a wider operation combating illegal uploading of copyrighted material online, with several sites being targeted using "varied techniques".
Some industry observers believe the action is a fresh sign that British authorities are stepping up efforts to stamp out online piracy.
However, Loz Kaye, leader of the Pirate Party UK, said he disagreed with the nature of the closure.
I have taken this from the UK’s BBC News web site, a good win for the music industry and especially for music artists everywhere, it's not the whole article Co2.
A takedown notice warned visitors who have used the site to download music they could face up to 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
Soca said music posted on the site was "stolen from the artists" and may have "damaged careers".
A man has been arrested for fraud and bailed pending further enquiries, police told the BBC.
"Soca targets organised criminal enterprises profiting from the exploitation of the UK public and legitimate businesses," the agency said in a statement.
"Much of the music offered for download by the RnBXclusive.com website was illegally obtained from artists, leading the industry to attribute losses of approximately £15m per year to the site's activity."
Soca added that the action was part of a wider operation combating illegal uploading of copyrighted material online, with several sites being targeted using "varied techniques".
Some industry observers believe the action is a fresh sign that British authorities are stepping up efforts to stamp out online piracy.
However, Loz Kaye, leader of the Pirate Party UK, said he disagreed with the nature of the closure.
I have taken this from the UK’s BBC News web site, a good win for the music industry and especially for music artists everywhere, it's not the whole article Co2.
