Led Zeppelin, one of the world’s last big music acts to resist digital distribution, are to release their back catalogue to online music stores.

The band, who became one of rock’s most influential groups with songs like Stairway To Heaven and Whole Lotta Love, will release their original albums and make all tracks available for sale individually on November 13. Warner Music admitted the band were “one of digital music's final holdouts” and said the Led Zeppelin catalogue would be offered to all online music retailers.

Guitarist Jimmy Page said: "We are pleased that the complete Led Zeppelin catalogue will now be available digitally. The addition of the digital option will better enable fans to obtain our music in whichever manner that they prefer."

The band has also struck a deal with US company Verizon Wireless, allowing Led Zeppelin songs to be used as mobile phone ring tones.

The band, who formed in 1968 and split in 1980, are still revered by fans and critics. When they announced, last month, that they were to reform for a one-off concert this November, music critics filled column inches with anticipatory musings, and demand for the £125 tickets crashed booking websites.

The November 26 concert, at London’s O2 Arena, will be the first time the band has played a full set together since splitting 27 years ago. The concert - a tribute to Ahmet Ertegun, the founder of Atlantic Records, who died last year - coincides with the release of a Led Zeppelin greatest hits compilation, Mothership.

Led Zeppelin’s foray into the digital world leaves The Beatles as one of the only big-name bands yet to allow downloads. While songs from Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s solo careers have hit internet music stores, The Beatles catalogue, despite persistent rumours of imminent deals, is yet to go online.

Should the catalogue’s digital release be delayed much longer, Liverpool's finest could miss the digital download boat. Last week, Radiohead dealt a blow to online music stores and record labels when they offered their new album via an ‘honesty box’ system. Fans were invited to download In Rainbows, and were asked only to pay what they believed it worth. A third of downloaders are believed to have paid nothing for the 10-track recording.

The band’s move was seen as an acknowledgement of the reach of music piracy. File-sharing websites, which allow internet users to share tracks and download music for free, have long been challenging legitimate sites such as Apple’s iTunes store.

Radiohead's history-making download offer was followed by reports that Madonna may leave Warner Music, her record label of 25 years. The pop giant is believed to be poised to sign a deal with Live Nation - a concert promotion firm. The 'material girl's' decision is seen as further proof that musicians are accepting that, in the future, their earnings will have to come from touring rather than track and album sales.

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