Filed under: iTS, Rumors, Odds and ends
Beatles-on-iTunes talks 'stalled' says Paul
Talks between Apple, Inc., Apple Corps, and EMI to bring the Beatles catalogue to the iTunes Store have "stalled," according to a statement by Paul McCartney to the Associated Press.
McCartney said, "The last word I got back was it's stalled at the whole moment, the whole process." He told the BBC that "heavy negotiations" were in progress with EMI, who said they were "working hard to secure agreement with Apple Corps."
My ill-informed, Captain Obvious guess? Someone's holding out for more money. The AP oddly suggested that the holdup is related to a trademark dispute between Apple Corps and Apple, Inc. which was settled in court last year.
McCartney continued, "I really hope it will happen because I think it should."
[Via Cult of Mac.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gus Jenkins said 12:20PM on 11-25-2008
Does anybody really care about this?
Any true fan already has the entire library on CD and can rip it themselves to play on their iPods at whatever quality they wish, including lossless.
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Jon said 12:26PM on 11-25-2008
I think you mean any true fan has it on vinyl. I remember hearing The Beatles on vinyl after I'd heard it on CD and radio so often, and it just can't compare.
mrsteveman1 said 12:30PM on 11-25-2008
I don't care but not for that reason. I'm tired of these huge companies screwing around and wasting time on something that should otherwise be simple.
Jason Martin said 3:24PM on 11-25-2008
Actually, I do care. I don't own any Beatles albums because I've come to appreciate them more recently. I was never really much of a Beatles fan as a teen or young adult. It wasn't until Pandora started integrating their music into my Radiohead and Ben Folds stations. Although they were songs I'd heard before, I somehow heard them in a different way. Now, I'd like to buy their music, but I don't really buy CDs anymore. I'd like to buy digital versions, but neither the Amazon mp3 store nor iTunes (my digital stores of choice) have the music. Since it's theoretically coming, I'll wait patiently.
I count myself as a fan now, and to assume that all of the "real" fans already own the music assumes that "real" fans have been fans for years, which obviously isn't the case.
Ralph F said 3:43PM on 11-25-2008
Ridiculous argument. The same was said when the CDs came out. And the same could be said about any artists' work.
I'm tired of rehashing it, so I won't yet again, but remember too this will be for the remastered works. That plus it's a digital age, it needs to be on digital, etc etc ad nauseam.
Allan@dsol.co.uk said 12:39PM on 11-25-2008
Has this all become some point of honour type thing - We MUST get the Beatles on iTunes?
As Gus said above, does it really matter to anybody any more outside Apple and Steve Jobs? If somebody wants to hold out for more money then OK; let them go on indefinite hold. It won't affect either Apple, although one will be noticeable by its absence and people can draw their own conclusions.
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Jason said 12:41PM on 11-25-2008
I grew up listening to the Beatles and their music is a part of my very soul, but I am so sick of hearing of this crap.
The hand-wringing, money-grubbing, mustache-twisting extortion involved in these negotiations is vile. It's so far removed from anything the Beatles ever stood for or promoted with their music.
I can only hazard a guess that it's Apple Corps holding out for more riches from the big Apple Inc teat. If so, I think Apple Inc. should tank the whole process and let the Beatles strike a deal with Microsoft for Zune branding, or maybe with Napster.
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Steve said 12:47PM on 11-25-2008
Okay, I'm going to tell you something important, so read very carefully.
NO ONE CARES ANYMORE ABOUT THE BEATLES
ON ITUNES!!!
I wish everyone including Apple would just drop this whole thing and let Paul and Ringo choke on the fact that they were stupid and missed their opportunity.
I already have every Beatles song I want on my iPod and so does everyone else. This is such a complete non-issue. Let this story die, PLEASE!!
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quizco said 12:56PM on 11-25-2008
I have a confession to make:
I have bought over 500 songs off of iTunes. Pretty much every song I've ever liked. Beatles is not on iTunes. (Duh)
So, against my better judgement I had my son locate them on Limewire. Done. My collection is complete. Sorry Apple Corps, Paul & Ringo. I'm sure I'm one of millions who did the exact same thing.
My bad.
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quizco said 12:59PM on 11-25-2008
Correction: Your Bad.
basscadet said 6:15AM on 11-26-2008
as simple as that: a) who cares b) there are other ways to get them c) no money will be gained from turning people away to torrents or soulseek etc.
Jack said 1:11PM on 11-25-2008
Well... suppose the next service comes along and THEY are the first ones with the Beatles. Not a good omen.
a la U2: Beatles iPod Anyone?
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alansky said 1:19PM on 11-25-2008
"Any true fan already has the entire library on CD..." --Gus Jenkins
You're completely ignoring the fact that a new generation of young music lovers is now discovering the Beatles for the first time. There may be millions of listeners out there who do not own a single Beatles CD, yet love the Beatles' music and are well on their way to becoming big fans.
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Joey said 2:05PM on 11-25-2008
Who cares. I've already downloaded them for free. This ship has already sailed.
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Jason Sawtelle said 2:38PM on 11-25-2008
Monkees are on iTunes. 'nuff said.
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Neil said 6:55PM on 11-25-2008
Ummm.... It's EMI holding out for more money. EMI own the publishing rights to The Beatles back catalogue. EMI are the problem.
Once again... EMI.
Of course you all say "nobody cares". Just watch it shoot to the top of the download chart when it finally does arrive.
Steve will do something special with it.
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ixnay said 8:18PM on 11-25-2008
Two Words: Yoko. Ono.
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Subterfuge said 9:36PM on 11-25-2008
This seems like a Steve Jobs pet project.
note to SJ....
NOBODY GIVES A FRACK! Tell the fab 3 to go play in traffic.
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Greenbook said 7:54AM on 11-26-2008
Don't you mean fab 2?
Luna Lovegood said 9:06AM on 11-26-2008
Who cares if it's EMI, Apple Corps, or Paul and Yoko (or all of them!) holding out for more money? The Beatles catalog online will be a goldmine of mammoth proportions, and Steve Jobs and Apple, Inc. will reap its cash rewards for decades. CD sales of Beatles albums will plummet once the catalog is for sale as digital downloads, so is it any surprise this deal hasn't been closed yet?
In the meanwhile, choosy mothers choose BitTorrent.
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