Following a weekend which saw Top of the Pops - the legendary long running music show come to an end after 42 years of broadcasting - Birmingham lawyer Andrew Sparrow is launching a book which explains the laws relating to internet and mobile phone music downloads.

Mr Sparrow, founder and principal lawyer with Lecote Solicitors, says the internet is widely acknowledged to be the principal reason for the change in music trends.

His latest book - the fifth on internet law he has written and had published in the last ten years - is called Music Distribution and the Internet - A Legal Guide For the Music Industry. He says it has been written to coincide with the huge growth in internet music downloads, which has reshaped the record industry in the last two years.

"The record industry initially wished that online music would not take off and they were slow to realise its potential," Mr Sparrow said.

"This led to a series of illegal peer-to-peer download websites offering unlicensed music for free. The position has now changed and the music business has found a variety of new ways to monetise their artists' music online.

"In fact the internet and mobile phones have made music more accessible than ever and the mediums have injected new life into both single and album sales.

"There are many legal issues which surround making music available online and the book deals with the legal problems a music business or anyone wishing to offer music content online must overcome.

"There are issues relating to copyright protection when offering music across networks, contractual considerations such as those which relate to music ringtones which are very popular with young people.

"Other laws covered include data protection rules and royalty collection for songs delivered via the web.

"The way young people access music has changed. One only has to look at the last edition of Top of The Pops aired this week to see how the music world is different.

"Teenagers get their favourite artists songs and music videos delivered to their mobile phones - they don't have to wait for a weekly television show.

"There are real opportunities for new businesses connected with music distribution now that the internet is a part of our everyday lives.

"However, the new era in music also brings new legal demands. The book serves as a guide to what those issue are and how to evelop a successful online music business for today's market."

* Music Distribution and the Internet - A Legal Guide For The Music Industry. Gower Publishing, £55.