EMI and Virgin will this week become the first major record labels in Europe to sell music downloaded through the internet, writes Nick Mathiason.

The companies have agreed terms with Buylando, a Swedish company, to allow music fans to buy albums from a range of artists, including Massive Attack, Gorillaz and Mariah Carey (pictured), which will be transmitted digitally through the internet.

Sources close to the labels forecast a rash of similar deals in the next few months in a bid to move music distribution online, potentially sounding the death knell for high street music shops.

The news follows a recent agreement enabling renegade US music file swapping company Napster to license music from 150 European independent labels.

• The EMI and Virgin albums will be sold at www.buylando.se