Apple and Apple bury the hatchet, planning iTunes push?

There really hasn't been a whole lot of love lost between Apple Computer and Apple Corps over the years -- especially since that whole "we won't sell music" debacle -- but it seems that Stevie J and co. might finally be getting through to the guardians of all things Beatles, and could be on the verge of an exclusive iTunes launch of the elusive catalog, reports Fortune. From the sound of things, plenty of millions are set to change hands if the deal goes through, with Apple Computer potentially providing a good bit of advance cash for the marketing push and prospective sales. The Beatles haven't been incredibly receptive to the use of their music in marketing so far, though there was word recently of a downloadable offering somewhere, but it sounds like Steve is hoping they'll make an exception to be featured in one of those snazzy iPod ads -- it was good enough for Dylan and Bono afterall. Purportedly EMI Group, the band's label, is the catalyst behind these talks, and while nothing is quite legit yet -- in fact, it's all still hearsay as far as we're concerned -- hopes are high for Strawberry Fields, Revolution, LSD and all that jazz down in Cupertino any day now.

[Thanks, Mack S]

[Paul @ Nov 27th 2006 11:02AM]

Uh... I thought the beetles were available on the Zune marketplace, which hardly makes this an iTunes exclusive.

[bbydon @ Nov 27th 2006 11:04AM]

you mean the Beatles.
And i don't think they are available anywhere.
Apple corp said they were not releasing them until they got a perfect digital version to download.

[slayer @ Nov 27th 2006 11:12AM]

People still listen to the Beatles??

[Steve @ Nov 27th 2006 11:15AM]

Of course they/we do! Hell, I'm still in college and I love the Beatles.

[Matt B @ Nov 27th 2006 11:19AM]

I listened to so much Beatles growing up, I don't listen to them anymore. Still love them though.

[Russ @ Nov 27th 2006 11:21AM]

Not only do people still listen to the Beatles, they buy their wares like crazy. I'd say Beatles stuff sells more than the Super Secret, Slightly Altered, Versions of the Stars Wars Movies. I'm trying to find a newer stat but Forbes has the Beatles catalog earning 40mill in 2001.

[Andy @ Nov 27th 2006 11:28AM]

Here's a prediction: A Beatles iPod. It will probably outsell the U2 version. The question is...What color will it be?

[Bhaughbb @ Nov 27th 2006 12:37PM]

My guess if it ever happened would be a new variant of white, because yellow just wouldn't make for a nice looking ipod. Should not require further explanation if you know the beatles.

[Javaflash @ Nov 27th 2006 11:30AM]

Paul, I don't think those copies are legal. You might want to think twice about buying them. Apple Corp(The Beatles) is famous for suing companies who sell/represent/use/do anything with their music/logos without permission.

They sued Nike, EMI, Capital Records - their own record company for heaven sake, over the use of one song in a commercial, with licensing rights already paid. They even sued Apple over Apple, and forced Apple out of any music business (predictably, two companies are still "talking about what exactly does that mean"... in court).

[guitarboy @ Nov 27th 2006 11:36AM]

It will be available as soon as Paul settles that divorce thingy......

[Lee Gibson @ Nov 27th 2006 11:44AM]

People still listen to Slayer?

[Ig @ Nov 27th 2006 11:46AM]

The entire Beatles catalog is still widely available on CD. Ripping and encoding tracks yourself is a lot of trouble to go through, I know, but it works and you can encode at MUCH higher bitrates than what you'd get through iTunes.

[Rich @ Nov 27th 2006 11:57AM]

Been available for a while on AllOfMP3.com. Of course the legality of this is slightly questionable, but still...

[Jim @ Nov 27th 2006 11:58AM]

THE BEATLES ARE ON ZUNE / URGE MARKETPLACE ALREADY.

[Frank @ Nov 27th 2006 12:21PM]

The Beatles are not available on the Zune marketplace. They are listed, but have a status of 'Not Available'...

[Paul @ Nov 27th 2006 8:54PM]

Hmm... Apparently other people do not like the Zune marketplace, My comment got voted down a bunch, and its merely a fact. If another sales location has the item, it hardly makes it exclusive.

That said, you were probably voted down due to the all caps lock...

[Javaflash @ Nov 27th 2006 11:59AM]

This is a VERY VERY POSITIVE news for Apple Computer Inc. If Steve Jobs can cook a deal similar to iPod U2 Special Edition, we're looking at a section of demographics, who are adverse or reluctantly to accept "digital mediums," come on board of iPod/iTune/iTV wagon exclusively.

Better, they are the type of consumers who insist on paying + can easily afford the highest premium on the ease of use. Apple Computer Inc. delivers that better than anyone else does.

Finally, the remaining holdouts of old music will follow. Then, other vertical mediums such as movies will embrace the trend sooner rather than later. Wars are won before they're fought indeed. Someone should tell Steve Jobs to ink the deal pretty much at all cost ASAP.

[Sean D. @ Nov 27th 2006 12:12PM]

The Beatles are NOT on the Zune/URGE marketplace... they're not available, and there was never a deal made between MS and Apple Corp- I saw that story on Digg too, but I think it was a media ruse! Do a search right now and you'll find no matching results.

[jptech @ Nov 27th 2006 12:22PM]

How can anyone not listen to the beatles? They are the most influential band of the whole of rock music. Their music is good in whatever style it is performed in (except for that DJ Dangermouse crap(that guy has no skills)). They have bridged the generational gap. Let It Be was voted the best rock song ever in history. It still holds that title. So, show me something better that has come along in the past 30 years.

as for apple corps and apple computer patching things up, they should. apple corps has lost a ton of revenue by not selling online. My wife and I own all the beatles albums in original vinyl and cd. There's also a ton of stuff I have on my ipod that isn't readily available to buy. (esher demos and ed sullivan performance and live concerts)

[SteveJ @ Nov 27th 2006 12:47PM]

I like the Beatles fine, but I have heard them enough that I'm mostly content just to hear a few tracks randomly as a result of others playing them. I don't need to buy any of their albums, at least not for $10 a pop. On the other hand, I could see downloading the albums off emusic if they would make their catalog available there - the price would then be much lower and would seem worth the download, even if to be infrequently listened to. Ah well, that sure isn't going to happen any time soon.

[KC @ Nov 27th 2006 1:00PM]

So, Micheal Jackson's financial worries might be coming to an end if this deal goes through since MJ still owns the loins share of the beatles catalog so he'll be getting a cash flow out of the deal aswell.

[Tyler @ Nov 27th 2006 1:13PM]

Lest anyone doubt the continuing popularity of the Beatles, they are currently NUMBER 1 on Last.FMs chart of internet music played, culled from actual listeners computers.

1 The Beatles 567676
2 Red Hot Chili Peppers 409432
3 Radiohead 449478
4 Coldplay 279551
5 Muse 413264

(ranking, Band, #playcount for week)

[CatchWithoutArms @ Nov 27th 2006 1:17PM]

ugh coldplay but yes for muse being number 5.

I thought michael jackson owned most of the beatles catalog now, so yeah this will probably happen then.

[bbydon @ Nov 27th 2006 1:34PM]

im not sure if micheal jackson/sony will profit the most from this.
He doesnt own performing rights or the actual beatles songs.
Just the .... hell its too complicated for me.
I'm sure he will get some dough but not as much as the fab 4 and apple corp

[Pfft @ Nov 27th 2006 1:44PM]

"What color will it be"

Yellow, of course. A Yellow Submarine model.

[Gordy @ Nov 27th 2006 1:47PM]

They'll all make money off of the deal:

MJ: 25%
Sony/ATV: 25%
Beatles: 50%

[Begbie @ Nov 27th 2006 2:17PM]

Since the Beatles aren't a one hit wonder band, why would anyone would want to purchase inferior iTune quality music instead of purchasing the CD?

[Javaflash @ Nov 27th 2006 3:39PM]

Begbie, because convenience triumphs quality. Besides, the majority, wait correction, overwhelming majority of the consumers cannot spot the difference. Some of us don't even mind listening to vinyl.

The Beatles - "A Day in Life" of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band = best track ever made from that decade...

[Sheena @ Nov 27th 2006 4:40PM]

Yes! A yellow iPod!! Can they shape it like a submarine? 'Course the montage on the cover of Sgt Pepper wouldn't be too bad either.

Or how about a green apple click wheel on a white iPod?

[Chris @ Nov 27th 2006 4:41PM]

Since the currently available Beatles CD's are now 20 years old, it would make no sense to use those masters as a basis for an iTunes release. I don't see the catalog becoming available for legal download anywhere until proper remixes/remasters are done. Those old CDs sound awful compared to the current crop of amazing SACD/DVD-A remasters from the Beatles' contemporaries (i.e. Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Doors, the Who's "Tommy"). Somebody should get George Martin and/or Geoff Emerick on the horn and get this done!

[jared @ Nov 27th 2006 6:02PM]

A Beatles iPod will (hopefully) never happen. In an alternative universe where a Beatles iPod does occur, it's all white with a laser etching of the Abbey Road cover photo on the back. That universe also features subway ads with that same photo, but altered to depict the fab four sporting telltale white earbuds.

[Dave95 @ Nov 27th 2006 8:07PM]

No one could hold-out from the GREATEST most influential salesman in the world, Steven P. Jobs!

[Wardell Latham @ Nov 28th 2006 12:30AM]

What Beatles aficionado doesn't already have all or most of the Beatles songs they want on their DAP already?

[Scupfisher @ Nov 28th 2006 12:56AM]

People who own all the *gasp* records and don't want a second copy on CD.

[Patrick @ Nov 28th 2006 5:37AM]

Me thinks the Apple Corp logo on the wheel would seal the deal for a Beatles iPod. Plus it's a no-brainer: All the Beatles music, movies, and bonus photos. Beatle freaks may not buy it, but their friends and family will be gifting them like crazy.

I want this to happen just so I can get the album artwork instead of adding it myself.

[Tech^Cellfish @ Nov 28th 2006 7:46AM]

If Beatles should sign with someone now, iTunes should be the store. Forget the war and make some money. But Beatles should sign a short-term deal, so that they will be on sale on the Zune store then the Zune worldwide launch is completed

[Kris L. @ Nov 28th 2006 8:07AM]

I don't understand how all of a sudden it's cool to not like or not care about the Beatles. (I also don't understand how $10 is unreasonable for an album price. I guess that's all these brats getting everything for free, so why pay money for something really good?) No wonder there are so many crap bands out there...no one can appreciate history, so they make it completely impossible to move forward any more.

It's almost enough to make you want to give up.