Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger has claimed that the days when musicians made money from music sales has ended.

The band enjoyed most of their success after the release of their 1972 album 'Exile On Main Street', which was followed by a number of lucrative tours.

Their career was also sustained by the advent of the CD, while many modern day stars have suffered from illegal file-sharing.

The singer, who is worth £190 million, said the Stones had been fortunate to emerge during a more fruitful period.

"There was a small period from 1970 to 1997 where people did get paid and they got paid very handsomely," Jagger told BBC News.

"They did make money but now that period's done.”

He added: “If you look at the history of recorded music from, say, 1900 to now, there was that period where artists did very well but the rest of the time they didn't."

As well as Jagger, many of music's other richest stars, including Sir Paul McCartney, first emerged in the 1960s and 70s.

(by Jason Gregory)