Apple actively courting the Beatles

Another small point on the "buy the catalogue" fantasy, you'd also have to buy Sony out of their share. Can't see them selling cheap.

In any event, at least the Beatles - as ever - are keeping things interesting in the digital marketplace. It's incredible that they still inspire so much emotion from so many people. As a cultural phenomenon they're just fascinating, regardless of how you feel about the music.

I for one will probably stump up for whatever bespoke Beatles brand iPod they end up coming out with either this Christmas or next, and I ain't complaining.

Strange, my iPod already has the White Album... Wonder how that happened. :P

Buying CDs... is that like borrowing them from friends or the Library* and ripping them?

* I mean the big building where they loan books, not /Library, /System/Library, or ~/Library. :-)

"Why buy DRM'd music online when you can buy and rip a CD into higher quality, non-DRM, universally compatible MP3 files for about the same cost or less?"


Why? Because I don't want to spend nearly $30 for 30 songs when I only want half a dozen. So, I would MUCH rather spend $6 and get the songs I want. The DRM'd argument is really just baloney anyway. I can easily remove the DRM if I am all hot and bothered about it, which I'm not.

I like the music of the Beatles well enough... but all this fawning and trouble over a band that hasn't put out an album 35 years? All the endless remastering and repackaging? Ugh. Enough.

"Remastered" my ass. A load of CDs going through a computer to make MP3s, WMAs and AACs. They were remastered AGAIN 3 years ago. What a load of garbage.

The catalog *is* for sale -- or at least negotiated sale. Check out this story at CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/BUSINESS/06/09/jackson.finances/index.html

The catalog was used as collateral.

A quote: "Jackson, through Sony/ATV, owns all but a small selection of the Fab Four's compositions, including megahits like "Yesterday," "Let It Be," and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." He does not, however, own the actual sound recordings; those rights are held by EMI's Capitol Records."

As others have realized, and someone should point out to Eddie Cue, the Beatles have been available in a digital format for years... the CD. They've re-issued and re-mastered the albums many times for that format so there's no reason to think they won't do the same for downloadable digital.
I'm sure they'll sell well once they are available just because of the hype that will surround them being available to download, but I would think that anyone who really wants a Beatles album on their iPod has already ripped one of the many versions that are on CD.

"Apple Corps is currently remastering the Beatles' entire catalog, in preparation for electronic distribution. However, a vendor has not yet been named."

Here's what I don't understand: Apple Corps (wow, I really just never get over the kitsch-factor of their name) clearly is interested in making money off their intellectual property. I mean, they've sued Apple Computer 3 separate times to prove they're still legit. If they truly care to make money off the Beatles' work, is there another service to turn to? Napster? No, they're letting people stream music for free...and is anyone really buying from them? Rhapsody who? ...and who else is left standing?

From a money-making stand point, which is a stand-point Apple Corps is clearly still interested in, it ONLY makes sense to put aside differences with Apple Computer and release the Beatles songs on the iTMS.

So, I'm with #3 - these two need to quit their bickering and realize there's lots of money to be made off the Beatles songs....so, work together, and make that money, boys!

Off course Corps and Comp will dance. These aren't the Beatles of the sixties and seventies who embraced the counterculture, peace, love and to hell with greed and material things.

Paul McCartney, as big a fan as I am, has been able to execute the two contortions and three and half somersaults needed to journey from the counterculture to "Why shouldn't I charge the highest concert ticket prices ever if people are willing to pay for it?"

Once Comp gives them the $$ numbers on iTMS, of course Corps will come around.