There are two great mysteries of the digital age: how did a Welshman become the
most powerful man in Japan and when will the Beatles be available for download on iTunes? While the former will forever remain a mystery, speculation picked up on the latter in 2006 after Apple and Apple Corps -- the record label owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and the estate of George Harrison --
settled a long running dispute. In September of last year, Yoko Ono apparently went so far as to
whisper its imminent arrival only to be rebuffed by EMI which licenses the Beatles' recordings. Unfortunately, things don't look any closer to being settled today.
Reuters is reporting an impasse, quoting Ono as saying, "Steve Jobs has his own idea and he's a brilliant guy. There's just an element that we're not very happy about, as people. We are holding out." She then added, "Don't hold your breath ... for anything," presumably while cracking a whip and laughing maniacally. Fitting don't you think, as legend has it that Lennon's first encounter with Ono involved her passing him a card that read "Breathe."
posted August 6th 2010 4:16AM
@SexyKate Good on you...
Countdown to permanent ban: 3... 2... 1...
Didn't she already ruin the Beatles once?
@AyeBeAPirate one is never enough.
@AyeBeAPirate without Yoko, we'd probably have another solid decade of the Beatles AT LEAST. one of the worst tragedies in music ever...
@AyeBeAPirate
You can be my Yoko Ono. You can follow me where ever I go.
@AyeBeAPirate
She never ruined the Beatles. The fans were just mad that Lennon hooked up with Yoko. Tough shit for the Beatles fan. asshole fanatics.
Uhm doesn't MJ own almost their entire collection??
@AyeBeAPirate
Who's the guy in the photo? Heh.
@MoonWalkerCTE In his will he gifted them back to paul
@AyeBeAPirate
At least someone has the guts to stand up the arrogant a$$hole that is Steve Jobs
@ravissimo
As a Beatlemaniac myself, I can tell you that Ringo Left the band temporarily in 1968 during the White album sessions, then George Harrison was the first Beatle to record an album ("Wonderwall music") as a solo artist released in 1968.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderwall_Music
Later Lennon formed a band with Clapton doing concerts in Toronto (1969).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Peace_in_Toronto_1969
McCartney tried all he could to keep the Beatles united, by controlling everything (including bringing the Eastman lawyer to help save their company) which frustrated the others.
To me Lennon was the one who disbanded the Beatles not McCartney or Yoko, he was the one who took her to the Beatles sessions violating their own rules.
Now as a Beatles fan I think it is shame that their music is not available digitally.
Such a Great band.
Long Life The Beatles
@pspitts
I agree in less harsh terms. Who knows how tainted the Beatles could have become. Look at Dylan, pink Floyd, or indeed the majority of post Beatles lennon/mcartney, everyone loses it and makes rubbish.
Tom waits is one of the only artists who continually delivers and innovates long term!
What would have happened to the Beatles during punk?
@AyeBeAPirate
No matter whether or not Yoko Ono is fully to blame for the Beatles' break-up, it suffices to say that she's probably up there with the most hated people in the world, even today.
@AyeBeAPirate
Add her to my top ten reasons why copyright terms should be rolled back to where they were when the Beatles were founded.
@AyeBeAPirate
This may be the first time an article on Engadget with an asian woman holding something doesn't get "what misc gadget" posts...
@AyeBeAPirate
"Imagine there's no Yoko... I wonder if you can..."
Word dude! Zune is such a better platform and so much nicer to work with and look at.
@MarkAnderson
I would gladely give up musical genius.
Just to have you as my very own personal Venus.
@pspitts Yeh and if you've ever had a best friend who had lots of promise but f'd off to go prance around with some broad, then you would understand where people come from when they say she ruined the Beatles.
Yoko just PWNED that Apple in her hand.
Put the music on another online store then?
@R2 D2
beep
@R2 D2
I'd like to see it come to Amazon's mp3 service.
@R2 D2 Yeah, someone should tell Yoko that this online store has them already.
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5097161/The_Beatles_-_discography_(2009_Remastered)
Whatta dumb ass.
@R2 D2 Rhapsody has them loooooooong ago. For Subscription and Pruchase
@R2 D2
This. I wouldn't be surprised if the greedy little ... wants to sell the songs for more than $0.99 each, either. Yoko Ono - top notch waste of life.
@R2 D2 Or you could just walk over to Tower Records and ... oh wait
@R2 D2 Mog also has a pretty good collection of Beatles songs. Really it just seems as though they're only licensing out content guaranteed to generate income through licenses. Hell even Grooveshark may have rights to the beatles due to their agreement with EMI.
Isn't Yoko a rightsholder to it? Couldn't she just, y'know, say yes? Or are there contracts that forbid her from that?
Damn you legal torts, damn you to heck
Beatles aren't THAT great. Don't get me wrong. I love listening to their music but they are overrated... Then again, a lot of objects/bands/people/ect are.
@Doctor Comrade Well, for todays standards and "type" of music, yes, you're right. But in their age, they were the hottest shit!
@Doctor Comrade No, they're not.
@Doctor Comrade
You may not like them, but 200 years from now Beatles will still be played on the radio. They are timeless, probably moreso than the classical composers we hold in high regard today.
@Doctor Comrade
Agreed,
I have never understood what people liked about the Beatles and their bubblegum, childish styled music.
If you ask me the only one of the "Fab Five" that had any talent was John Lennon, he had a more adult musical style and wrote some very good songs.
Let's move on and let go of the Beatles and their crappy music, (We all live in a yellow submarine) what a f*,#ing joke.
@Doctor Comrade My thoughts exactly, they were good but seriously overrated. My reaction to this whole affair is just "meh".
@JayVe Seriously? You think they're more timeless and will last longer than the likes of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven? Wow..
@Doctor Comrade
Typical RollingStoner... Always bashing the Beatles and people who enjoy their music. You're just jealous because the rolling stones are...
wait, isn't this a gadget blog???
The Beatles get less viruses, and they look better. Sure, you can't get their music at the most popular music store, but that's the price you have to pay. It probably costs more too... you know, the typical Beatles Tax.
@troublekid
The Beatles were pop-music for the times, so they were popular.
On the other hand, this just shows how much you get screwed as an artist - you don't own your own music (I suppose if you give up your rights to the labels, it's your fault...)
@troublekid I find it weird to troll a music article on a tech site so ill just assume you're ignorant. First it was the Fab Four. George, Ringo, Paul, and John. Secondly The Beatles rapidly progressed out of "bubblegum pop" listen to Rubber Soul and after excluding Yellow Submarine.
@Doctor Comrade
I agree with you that they are over rated. Perhaps I'm an ignorant jerk too because a lot of people downranked you. I upranked you, and maybe the three other people who are sick of hearing about them will do the same, then others will be able to see your comment again.
The Beetles are like the TV show 'Friends.' Far too popular with far too many fans, and I never understood why.
@Doctor Comrade
Led Zeppelin>Beatles
@troublekid
Who was the fifth beatle?
You must not have listened to much of the music you are trash talking. Rubber soul is pretty damn far from bubble gum or childish. Really, get over the cliche bs and give a great band some credit.
On point of the story, it's a shame the apples can't come to an arrangement on this and stop a silly game that just causes them to lose money and exposure to younger markets.
@loocas
Today standards? come on.
ABBEY ROAD album is a masterpiece of music, THAT IS THE STANDARD.
@Duke
Ever heard of Stu Sutcliffe?, though he never officially joined them after their fame he did start the band with them.
I don't even like the Beatles and I know more about them than you do,
Here. go do your homework and read this article..
http://www.stu-sutcliffe.com/
Oh yes, Again on the album (RubberSoul) "Nowhere Man" one of the better songs on it was writen by John Lennon
@johnston9234
Small Faces >> Led Zeppelin
Led Zep plagiarized everything about Small Faces.
Look at this clip from 1968.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PR6MFy9gl4
@Beatnik That might be the most unconvincing argument I've seen in a while. I love the Small Faces, and Winwood has a beautifully technical voice, but they don't even remotely stack up to Zep.
Until another band puts out an album as good as Zeppelin IV, they'll remain the best of all time.
@troublekid
You know more than me because you internet searched Stu who died in the early days? The guy was with them for a year or so. I don't need a damn article on the web to explain things, but thanks. How many albums did he record? If anyone was the 5th it would likely be Epstein...but again, he wasn't was he? They were not the fab 5.
Your seem like an angry egomaniac who just hopes to get some credit after talking out of his ass.
Also, I have no idea what your point about rubber soul has to do with my comment.
@Duke
You obviously take this Beatles crap serious, don't you?
Go play with your Beatles Album collection and "FAB 4" action figures, run along now young man...
@Shadow
Very clever, I like what you did there.
@anyone who cares about what's available/not available on iTunes
Why go with DRM'd anything or loss-filled mp3's? Just purchase the physical albums (gasp!) and rip to FLAC (wait, that isn't any iPod/Phone/Pad approved format and therefore does not exist...)
@troublekid
I really don't take it serious, but my wife does. You were being an ass and I was calling you out on it, that's all. Funny you call someone you don't even known a young man. Trust me - you're off base there.
Because yoko uses android.