The Beatles (Finally) Coming to iTunes
Enjoyed by (likely) billions of people worldwide, the Beatles are so popular, they've even had their songs rocketed off into space. Despite the group's global popularity, none of its albums have ever shown up on iTunes, due, unfortunately, to a bit of a legal tiff between Apple, the dudes behind iTunes, and Apple, the group's record label. Well, all the parties involved -- namely, Paul McCartney and Apple (computer) -- have finally settled their differences and the Beatles invasion of iTunes is set to begin. McCartney indicated last year that he was working on the deal, even saying it would happen in 2008. Indeed it has happened, and it's apparently setting Apple (the computer guys) back $400 million, which will be distributed across all the members of the Fab Four (including the estates of the dearly departed ones), plus Apple (the music recording guys) and, of course, Michael Jackson, who does indeed own the publishing rights to many Beatles songs.
There's been no specific mention of exactly when the albums will show up online, but it shouldn't take long.
From Engadget and UPI
Related Links:
- Beatles' 'Across the Universe' to Be Blasted Into Space
- McCartney Says Beatles Coming to iTunes Finally
- George Harrison Joins iTunes
- Switched 2008 Laptop Guide





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Comments
20
Subscribe to commentsjrod1611Mar 10th 2008 11:13AM
Its about time! If we could only be so lucky and get AC/DC and others to cave everything would be good in the music universe.
ShannonMar 10th 2008 12:16PM
Can someone please do something to get the publishing rights back to the rightful owner? There is something wrong with this world if Michael Jackson can make literally millions of dollars using the song that he would never have the capacity to ever create or write.
Give Paul his and John's songs back! :[
into228Mar 10th 2008 12:35PM
Shannon uhm michael jackson created the greatest cd in "thriller" i think he has the capacity to eclipse paul and john and own them at the same time.lol the haters of mj are crazy like it is his fault he is getting paid off paul and john.lol they signed thee rights over and lost there publishing with a crappy deal they signed whose fault was that.?
jaymenMar 10th 2008 1:02PM
anyone who tries tro compare Jackson to the Beatles knows NOTHING about composing music. So what of Jackson wrote Thriller? The Beatles catalog is worth a 100 times that of Jackson's... which is why Jackson bought it in the first place.
200 yrs yrs from now, music historians will still be listenig to the Beatles... you won't be able to say that about Jackson, Madonna or any other of the MTV stars. The Beatles wrote music in era where you actually had to PLAY the instruments... and not rely on computers with automatic quantizers and pitch shifters.
Carl JohnsonMar 10th 2008 1:20PM
Anyone with a good sound system knows that downloading Beatles MP3's from iTunes will be a waste of time on lousy sound quality. What Beatles fans are REALLY waiting for are all of their stereo and mono tracks beautifully remastered for high quality CD or DVD format from the Abbey Road studio master tapes. Downloading lousy MP3's of Beatles material from iTunes makes little sense to me.
Carole HamlettMar 10th 2008 1:33PM
The Beatles (in my opinion) are one of the greatest bands ever although I enjoy Michael Jackson's music and dancing also. I do hope that with Jackson's financial troubles, Paul McCartney will be able to buy back the Beatle's music catalog (especially since Paul completed his divorce settlement). Although M.J. will probably sell the catalog to the highest Dubai bidder.
DaveMar 10th 2008 2:13PM
I want Bobby Goldsboro
markMar 10th 2008 2:49PM
lets not waste anymore of our time discussing
THE BEATLES vs michael.........this is a insult
to anybodies intelligence. end this discussion
NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW
michael's name should never be mentioned alongside w/ THE BEATLES when it comes to music.
vichammerMar 10th 2008 2:49PM
Michael WAS a great artist... but even at his height, his music, although enjoyable was simple pop music, nothing complex, nothing thought provoking. Not that he didn't try. But reality is, the Beatles haven't been with us since, what 1969, and are STILL being appreciated and listened to by billions, as if they were STILL a group. How crazy is that? Michael IS STILL HERE and is still writing and performing "great" music. But his fan base has stopped growing, as has his growth as an "artist". Separately the Beatles had amazing solo careers in the Seventies and early Eighties. Michael Jackson WAS the EIGHTIES. But since time has passed, the Beatles music still holds true to many old and NEW fans and continues to last. Michael's star has and continues to fade. Michael was great for the Eighties. The Beatles are great FOUR-EVER.
Kenneth DiazMar 11th 2008 5:15PM
with regard to the beatle catolog michael only owns half of it now since he owed almost a 100 million to sony records.so he had to put up half of the value at the time of the beatles.and to be fair paul had a chance to buy it before michael had a chance .he was too cheap to pay 10 million for them because he wanted yoko to go half with him.but since she was a widow of one of the songwriters she knew under us law that his half of the copyright would revert to his heirs at the renewal time.so michael jumped in and paid like 40 to 50 million for them and the rest is history
cashflaggMar 10th 2008 4:48PM
"Thriller" is the single most overated music collection in the history of the world. Aside from "Billie Jean", a borderline great song,and "PYT", a nice safe slice of pop, the album is prefab, vacuous crap. Have you listened to the lyrics of the title track? This is a classic? Stapling in an Eddie Van Halen solo on "Beat It" just to appeal 18-34 white males is far too cynical and calculated. It's not music - it's market research. "Off the Wall" was 10x better and that album was just decent.
gailMar 10th 2008 5:10PM
I will never waste my money on beatles music. There are so many new and better artist available. You can hear all the beatles music for free on the radio 24/7.
David ScottMar 10th 2008 5:24PM
Someone mentioned the Beatles and AC/DC in the same blog post? I hope there's a little puff of smoke somewhere and a blackened spot on the ground
vicMar 10th 2008 6:09PM
i agree, you cant compare MJ with the FAB FOUR...JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE, AND RINGO they are the BEST OF THE BEST period!!!!!!
bamiller56Mar 10th 2008 6:46PM
Dave, while I fear you jest, I really DO love Bobby Goldsboro!!! LOL
MarcMar 10th 2008 7:42PM
Carl Johnson, your ignorance is showing. iTunes doesn't use the mp3 format. They use AAC (mp4), and I have to presume that they will offer the 256kbps format without DRM. This may actually LEAD to having the songs remastered. The difference between 256 and lossless would be hard to measure with test equipment, let alone an average ear. I'm sure someone will argue with that - it's inherent in blogs, but I've actually seen output from test equipment. Good test equipment.
AnthonyTMar 11th 2008 12:17AM
I have all of the Beatles cds ripped on my iPod. All I want now is just the cover art! LOL
joeMar 11th 2008 5:13PM
“there are the Beatles... and then there’s everybody else”. their popularity and longevity are proof of their genius. innovative from the start, they were the template for every band that came after. there will probably never be another group like them again. what other band gets regular rotation on radio almost 40 years after they break-up?
JasonMar 14th 2008 1:25AM
Oh be quiet vichammer michael STILL is a great artists look at all the artists who pay tribute to him and emulate his moves and wrong vic also and whatever cashflagg and sorry mark but we WILL continue to put michael's name along side them and elvis it's only insulting to keep denouncing him of that and sorry jaymen but YOUR the one who doesn't know anything. into228 thanks for actually bringing some sense into this place and shannon no there is something wrong when you don't realize that michael is the one who 25 years later STILL has the highest selling album in music history and tell me do the beatles have that or did they get a record 8 grammies in a single night etc.? You guys can keep denouncing MJ all you like but he owns the rights to alot of the beatles songs so deal with it.
togidubnusOct 11th 2008 12:49PM
Calm down, kiddies. Poor old Jacko's a great act, but no great writing talent. Rod Temperton wrote most of Jackson's hits, let's not forget, whereas them Beatles wrote all of theirs (even Ringo). And lots of them. So beat it (just beat it. Ooh! etc.)