Apple iTunes to Sell Beatles Songs?

March 10, 2008 5:30pm by

Marketwatch reported earlier today:

Apple Inc. (AAPL) may have finally reached a deal to sell the songs of the Beatles through the iTunes Music Store. The London Evening Standard newspaper reported on Saturday that Paul McCartney has agreed to make the Beatles catalog available on iTunes for an estimated $400 million. The deal would reportedly result in royalties from the sale of Beatles songs to be paid to McCartney, Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison. Michael Jackson and record labels EMI and Sony Corp. (SNE) would also reportedly receive payments because of various ownership agreements involving Beatles songs. Apple spokespeople didn’t immediately return calls for comment

Billboard noted:

Reports on Friday suggested that unnamed sources "close to Sir Paul McCartney" had confirmed that the Beatles catalog would be available online though iTunes and other legal services "within months." However, the claim has been met with a string of "no comments" from the Beatles’ own label Apple Corps, and EMI…

Efforts to clear the Beatles’ music for digital distribution were long delayed by a trademark dispute between Apple Inc. and Apple Corps., which was finally resolved in February 2007. Speculation about the catalog’s arrival online increased following a Billboard interview with McCartney in May 2007, in which he said that the deal to release it was "virtually settled."

Here’s my little Beatles secret: I have been posting a new Beatles video every Sunday for the past few years at the essays & effluvia blog …

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Sources:
Apple Inc. Downplays Beatles ‘Speculation’
Tom Ferguson, London
Billboard, March 10, 2008, 10:15 AM ET
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003722487

Apple reportedly near deal to sell Beatles songs on iTunes
Rex Crum
MarketWatch, 1:14 p.m. EDT March 10, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/2w2uqr

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What's been said:

Discussions found on the web:
  1. muckdog commented on Mar 10

    Apple and American Idol in the same week? Who cried “Uncle” on those Beatles’ rights?

    Maybe Paul is planning on getting married again and will need the cash for the eventual divorce settlement?

  2. Phil Whitman commented on Mar 10

    I just watched the video – I was 12 at the time that show aired and remember it being quite a big deal – brings back fond memories.
    Thanks
    Phil Whitman

  3. bluestatedon commented on Mar 10

    I wish it were going to be possible to purchase “Norwegian Wood” or “She’s a Woman” without having some of the proceeds going to that ambulatory freakshow, Michael Jackson.

  4. IdahoSpud commented on Mar 10

    How ironic… Apple computer was only able to use the “Apple” name with permission of Apple Records (owned by the Beatles) by promising never to enter the music business.

    Looks like Apple Computer’s corporate word and ethics are no better than any other corporation’s…

  5. MarkTX commented on Mar 11

    Who The F

    is buying a Beatles Song NOW!!!!!!!!!

    Seriously, WHO IS BUYING A BEATLES SONG NOW????

    When I Get Old…….?
    Many years ago……..?
    Huh????

  6. Justin commented on Mar 11

    Yeah, it doesn’t seem that Beatles Songs and I-tunes are both targeting the same demographic.

  7. MitchN commented on Mar 11

    MarkTX —

    Dude, you can’t be serious?

  9. Paperback Writer commented on May 16

    Or, maybe, perhaps, anyone who is even remotely interested in music–at all. There is nary a musician alive who would not admit to at least some inspiration originating from The Beatles, including the Dropkick Murphy’s (my own personal favorite band). Are you boys (presuming, of course, that IdahoSpud is also male) so egocentric that you really believe only teenagers use itunes and own ipods and that only teenage girls could possibly be interested in listening to Beatles tunes?

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