Zep Goes Digital

Led Zeppelin, one of the most notable holdouts in online music sales will finally become--legally--downloadable.

Perhaps surprisingly, Verizon is prominent among the services that will turn the mightiest heavy-metal licks of all time into fluid bits. Led Zep songs will be available as both ringtones and downloads. Not surprisingly, iTunes is among the other services to carry the lucrative digital goods. November 13 is the big day.

The news comes as the band's three surviving members are about to perform in public for the first time since 1980 (not counting Unledded, the indispensable Page/Plant duet released on DVD, CD, and vinyl). They're also signing a $60 million deal to extend their contract with music publisher Warner/Chappell for another decade. Good to know the boys won't be starving.

There are still a few high-profile holdouts from the legit download business, including the Beatles (long rumored but never arriving) and Garth Brooks.

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