Filed under: Apple Corporate, iTS, Rumors, iTunes
EMI/Apple press event on Monday
Could this be the introduction of Beatles music in the iTunes Store?According to the BBC, Apple sent a notice to certain members of the press on Sunday (except TUAW, for some strange reason) inviting them to a press event in London for this Monday. Expected to attend are Steve Jobs, EMI representatives and a special artist or band who will offer a live performance. Plus, the invite teases an "...exciting new digital offering." Hmmm.
Apple, Inc. and Apple Corps settled their dispute back in February, and several months ago Steve issued this invitation:
"..We have always loved the Beatles, and hopefully we can now work together to get them on the iTunes Music Store...We are glad to put this disagreement behind us."
Thanks, Fraser!
Update: Before we get too excited, let's remember today's date. Though that would be a mean trick.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Aron Trimble said 3:08PM on 4-01-2007
Entire Beatles catalog in lossless, here we come!!
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Aron Trimble said 3:09PM on 4-01-2007
BBC wouldn't punk us would they...?
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Fraser Drew said 3:32PM on 4-01-2007
This should be intresting....Hopefully Mr S. Jobs pulls something else out at the same time! (unfortunate they announced it on 1st April, brings supicions!)
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Lucas Cantor said 3:40PM on 4-01-2007
It may be April Fools, but remember it's the anniversary of Apple's founding too!
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Joey said 4:18PM on 4-01-2007
Quote: BBC wouldn't punk us would they...?
I think they pulled off one of the best hoaxes in TV history some time back.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/1/newsid_2819000/2819261.stm
Apart from that, my hunch is that it'll be the Beatles on iTMS.
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Greenline said 4:28PM on 4-01-2007
"Under the terms of the arrangement, Apple Inc took full control of the Apple brand and licensed certain trademarks back to the Beatles' record company Apple Corps for continued use."
I don't remember reading that anywhere!!!!
Exciting but feels fishy.
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Vincent said 5:04PM on 4-01-2007
@Greenline: it's true!
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/02/05/apple-inc-and-apple-corps-ltd-finally-settle-trademark-dispute/
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Dave said 5:16PM on 4-01-2007
Beatles on iTunes? John and George are no longer with us, so that means the live performance might just be from... Ringo Starr. Yay.
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Adam said 5:46PM on 4-01-2007
Fake. Fake fake fake. Where is this event? Why announce it the day before, on a non-business day? Why is only the BBC reporting this? Why announce on Monday when the iTunes Store is updated on Tuesday?
This could be true but I don't know. Smells of quite the fish to me.
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Tofu the Kid said 5:58PM on 4-01-2007
I can't see how it would be the Beatles catalog. Sir Paul has just announced his signing with Starbucks and Ringo isn't much of a draw by himself. Also, doesn't Michael Jackson own 50% rights to the Beatles catalog now? Seems to me that's why there was a fallout after their collaboration in the 80s (Paul introduced Michael to the idea of buying publishing rights and Michael promplty bought the rights to the Beatles catalog by outbidding Paul).
I'd wager more on other british EMI acts that are still around such as: Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Depeche Mode or the Rolling Stones. I don't think all those catalogs are complete either.
I also don't think it would be an April fools joke because it would be a really really lame one. Apple and EMI are going to announce something Monday... maybe the Beatles... April Fools? i don't think so.
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Nick said 6:12PM on 4-01-2007
Although the BBC can be fairly foolish at times, I'd doubt this is an April Fool's joke. Anything involving third parties can be a little sensitive: if this had been made up, one can just imagine furious Microsoft fanboys complaining that the BBC had given Apple some very valuable free publicity.
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Mgkwho said 6:22PM on 4-01-2007
It's actually MacWorld.co.uk that first reported the story. BBC picked it up afterwards.
-=|Mgkwho
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n8thegr8 said 6:27PM on 4-01-2007
DRM Free music is say!
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Jon said 6:47PM on 4-01-2007
I believe BBC radio also had a spoof news broadcast stating that Big Ben would be replaced with a digital clock once.
"I'd wager more on other british EMI acts that are still around such as: Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Depeche Mode or the Rolling Stones. I don't think all those catalogs are complete either."
But why have a press conference for artists already in the store? If it's not the Beatles, it has to be big otherwise it wouldn't warrant a whole press conference (unless it's an April Fools joke of course).
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Allan said 7:03PM on 4-01-2007
When I were a lad in Britain
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Jon said 7:21PM on 4-01-2007
From AppleInsider:
"Though speculation would suggest such an event may involve an announcement regarding The Beatles' music catalog and iTunes, Macworld UK cites sources who warn that Monday's announcement is unrelated to that matter."
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Bob said 8:55PM on 4-01-2007
Screw the Beatles: give me some 720p content for Apple TV.
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Jon H said 9:25PM on 4-01-2007
"But why have a press conference for artists already in the store? If it's not the Beatles, it has to be big otherwise it wouldn't warrant a whole press conference (unless it's an April Fools joke of course)."
If EMI was letting Apple sell their music without DRM, that would be worth a press conference.
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andrew harrison said 9:49PM on 4-01-2007
Looks like EMI is going to be selling their music without DRM.
From the WSJ:
"In a major reversal of the music industry's longstanding antipiracy strategy, EMI Group PLC is set to announce Monday that it plans to sell significant amounts of its catalog without anticopying software, according to people familiar with the matter.
The London-based music company is to make its announcement in a press conference that will feature Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs. EMI is to sell songs without the software -- known as digital rights management, or DRM -- through Apple's iTunes Store and possibly through other online outlets, too."
From here: http://tinyurl.com/2bp6g8 [preview only, you need to be a subscriber to see the full article]
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Martin said 4:01AM on 4-02-2007
How about Radiohead? They're currently not available on iTunes. A friend of mine runs a major music e-commerce company which offers online sales services linked directly to the chart compliation and royalty systems. He recently had a meeting at the Radiohead offices in Oxford, but no agreement was reached...
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