Filed under: iPod Family, iTS, iTunes
The Beatles to be exclusive to iTunes Store?
Apple and the Beatles have a long, litigious history. As you may be aware, the Beatles created a record label on which they sold their music. The name of that label? Apple.Apple Computer, many years ago, agreed not to sell music so that there would never be any confusion between the two companies. Then along came the iPod and the iTunes Store and then another lawsuit.
It would seem that Apple and Apple are letting bygones be bygones and are close to reaching an exclusive deal for the Beatles catalog. Steve had personally invited the Beatles to join the iTunes Store, and it looks like they may take him up on the offer. The iTunes Store, if Fortune is right, will be the only place where you will be able to purchase digital versions of the Beatles work. This will be a big boost to the iTunes Store, if it is true. Though I wonder if the Zune Market place is working on getting the Rutles' catalog.
Thanks, Sam G.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JonECat said 10:41AM on 11-27-2006
This would be huge if they could get this done soon. The holiday shopping in the iTunes music store would have a huge boost with this deal.
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jonathan said 10:48AM on 11-27-2006
People put too much stock in having the Beatles online. For Beatles fan, they already own all of the original and re-mastered CD versions, and are less than enthusiastic about the 128kbps ACC files, when they probably already have HIGHER quality Beatles songs on their iPod.
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bryan Webster said 11:31AM on 11-27-2006
i thought that weirdo michael jackson owned all the rights to the beatles songs anyway??
but i am with jonathan, all beatles fans already have their songs from other media. Maybe they need to do more than just put the songs on iTunes, what about a beatles iPod or a never heard of before secret beatles songs!
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Craig said 11:06AM on 11-27-2006
In a related story, the Zune Marketplace is very close to negotiating an exclusive deal with Beatlemania.
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Thomas said 1:00PM on 11-27-2006
In reality, the coup for music stores in being the first to carry The Beatles is not in the selling of the music - it's in the marketing of the fact you can sell the music. It's in the cache of being the first to carry the biggest/best band of all time but also the biggest hold out in terms of online music.
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This is Me said 11:34AM on 11-27-2006
Are you kidding me? I guarantee that, within 24 hours of being put on the iTS, the Beatles will populate the top 10 albums and singles download lists. I don't know what it is either; I have most of the catalog too. Still, I'm looking forward to the remastered albums on the iTS.
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Matthias Gansrigler said 11:54AM on 11-27-2006
The Beatles are the best group on earth. They will definitely rule the iTMS.
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initialsBB said 11:53AM on 11-27-2006
This is huge ! In any case The Beatles have to sell as much music as possible since the rights start expiring in 2013 (for the first recordings).
Bryan Webster : I think that Michael Jackson owned the rights to the compositions, but the original recordings still belong to Apple Records... IMHO.
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Jon said 11:56AM on 11-27-2006
Apple Corps (the record label) really needs to do this. I don't think the bands they represent have produced songs in years.
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consumer_q said 12:20PM on 11-27-2006
A True Beatles Fan would have the catalogue on vinyl, 8-track, cassette, CD, and now, AAC. Anything less, and you are just a poseur.
;)
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thefireguy said 12:40PM on 11-27-2006
Money does so talk - those cool english boys for my past can't really rule anymore without iTunes and their handlers know it!
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king_juanito said 2:15PM on 11-27-2006
This would be GREAT news!
being a fan of both "Apples", this would make me very happy,
i had a feeling something like this would be in the works, if you look at Paul Mccartneys latest tour DVD, they have a quick little interview with Mr. Steve Jobs!
why would they add a interview with mr. jobs after that whole mess in court?,
unless maybe, they might be on friendly terms now?
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Scott H said 2:51PM on 11-27-2006
Just imagine the iPod commercials with authentic Beatles songs as the soundtrack! This would be a HUGE coup for Apple (Computer), and further cement the iTunes store as THE online music source, and the iPod as THE only portable music player worth bothering with (which of course it is already).
How long before the Special Edition Beatles iPod, with the full catalog? What color should it be? Apple Corps. green? Strawberry red? Anything but brown :-)
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artech said 3:49PM on 11-27-2006
This is the solution! ;)
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maijc said 3:36PM on 11-27-2006
zune already has rubber soul in their catalog... just a thought.
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artech said 3:53PM on 11-27-2006
I put a link on the previous comment that didn't work...
This is it: http://flickr.com/photos/tsevis/85465560/
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akalaas said 4:07PM on 11-27-2006
http://blog.wired.com/music/2006/11/beatles_catalog.html
Zune marketplace exclusive? i hope not.
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ace junior said 9:22PM on 11-27-2006
THE COPYWRITE ON BEATLES MUSIC EXPIRES VERY SOON!
British copywrite lasts 50 years- these songs will start being public domain in the next decade
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