iTunes to Finally Release Led Zeppelin Catalog; Reunion to Follow

Led Zeppelin is one of rock's greatest bands in history. The English rock band hit the scene in 1969, nearly forty years ago. They have since kept away from the digital downloading era. Realizing the potential by releasing their music to the internet, Atlantic Records and Rhino Entertainment will be releasing their entire catalog to iTunes on November 13th.

On November 13th, all eight of Led Zeppelin's studio recordings will be available to download for a set price for the entire 165-song collection. If customers preorder the set, they will be entered into a drawing that will win them a pair of tickets and a trip to London to enjoy their November 26th concert. That prize also includes a dress rehearsal the day before the show.

The advantage of going to digital formats is new kids just learning about music or really following what makes music so powerful will discover this band, nearly forty years into their existance. Files have been traded over peer-2-peer networks in the meantime. Despite not being released to online retailers, Led Zeppelin has continued to profit from their recordings over the years. Along with the decision to release their material, they have extended their contracts with publishing company Warner/Chappell Music that is at an estimated $60 million for an additional ten years. Complete details have not yet been released on that deal. Because of the competing deal for publishing rights, only the Beatles and Garth Brooks have outsold Led Zeppelin in the U.S. digitally.

Led Zeppelin disbanded themselves after the death of their drummer John Bonham. The remaining three members will reunite for the first time in nineteen years on November 26th at The O2 in London. The concert will benefit the educational charity of Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records who recently passed. In place of John Bonham to play the drums will be his son Jason. After the announcement, the official website for the charity crashed in a matter of minutes due to having over one million people register for only a mere twenty thousand tickets available. Tickets were priced at roughly $250.