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The Beatles show up in iTunes

Nilay Patel — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:42:00 EST

We're still holding out hope for a cloud-based subscription service to make that full-page teaser on Apple.com seem worthwhile, but it looks like today's unforgettable iTunes announcement will indeed just be the arrival of the Beatles to the store -- the Fab Four's page just went live, about 20 minutes before the official announcement. It looks like the entire catalog is available in a $149 box set complete with iTunes LP content, and there's also a few videos for your enjoyment. We're sure some of you are super-stoked about being able to buy this stuff in yet another format -- and we're glad Steve and Yoko worked it out -- but unless something else happens today we're feeling like we just witnessed a lot of empty hype.

Update: Yep, it's official -- the Beatles are on iTunes. No streaming announcement, no subscription service. Apple's given its entire front page over to a full-size shot of the boys, and as a bonus the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" video will stream for free for the rest of the year. Ringo, can you sum this up for us?

"I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes," said Ringo Starr.

You were always our favorite, Rings. PR after the break, along with a screencap of Apple.com for posterity.

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The Beatles show up in iTunes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WSJ: Apple bringing Beatles to iTunes after a seven year wait

Paul Miller — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:06:00 EST

It's not like The Beatles are lacking in legacy and cultural saturation, but we have to lament the generation of kids that have yet to hear the Fab Four in album form -- at least, in legally-obtained album form -- thanks to the group's conspicuous absence from the largest music retailer in the US . Now, a mere seven and a half years after Apple launched the iTunes store, with countless hopeful rumors in-between, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that The Beatles catalog is a lock for tomorrow's iTunes announcement. This is according to WSJ's "people familiar with the matter," and matches with what Billboard calls "the best bet" from what it's managed to scrounge up. Even with such an imminent announcement, WSJ's sources warn that plans could change at the last minute, and that the talks between Apple, Beatles reps, and EMI were taking place as recently as last week. Still, we just have to believe this is going to happen, cross our fingers, and wear our lucky socks tomorrow -- because really, who wants to wait another seven years?

WSJ: Apple bringing Beatles to iTunes after a seven year wait originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yoko Ono regarding Beatles on iTunes: 'Don't hold your breath'

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:16:00 EST

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."

Yoko Ono regarding Beatles on iTunes: 'Don't hold your breath' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Beatles finally coming to iTunes, according to Yoko Ono (update: EMI says not tomorrow)

Ross Miller — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:17:00 EST

Even more than in past years, the build-up to Apple's iPod event this Wednesday has been nothing if not a bevy of The Beatles / iTunes rumors -- the company even broke with its traditional Tuesday event date to have it instead on "09-09-09," the same day The Beatles Rock Band and a new box set are due to hit store shelves. Now it looks like we've heard it from none other than Yoko Ono herself, who in a now-pulled Sky News article confirmed that the Fab Four's headed for digital distribution. All that's left of the piece is a Google cache of the first sentence, so for the full skinny, it looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Update: EMI is telling Financial Times that, while conversations are still going on, no announcements will be made tomorrow.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Internet, Software

The Beatles finally coming to iTunes, according to Yoko Ono (update: EMI says not tomorrow) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paul McCartney: Beatles on iTunes stalled, I'm not dead

Thomas Ricker — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:10:00 EST

In a new twist to the wearisome saga of the Beatles digitizing their music catalog for iTunes (or any digital service, for that matter), Paul McCartney says that the negotiations have "stalled." McCartney said, "It's between EMI and the Beatles, I think," before adding, "I really hope it will happen because I think it should." While an EMI spokeswoman sounded hopeful about the matter getting resolved, we'll just assume this is all Yoko's fault in keeping with tradition.

Filed under: Portable Audio

Paul McCartney: Beatles on iTunes stalled, I'm not dead originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beatles' catalog coming online at long last?

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:37:00 EST

Word on the street (and by street, we mean mostly British tabloids) is that Paul McCartney's deal to sell the Beatles back-catalog is done, and the Greatest Works of Musical Art Ever Recorded will be appearing on the iTunes store "within months." Of course, we've been hearing whispers about this for what seems like a million years, and since both Apple Corps and Apple are delivering "no comment" and "rumor and speculation" responses on the topic, we won't get too excited. Still, there does seem to be some serious movement on this front, with everyone and their mother saying the lot is to be sold any day now for around $400 million -- which is no small sum. We will, of course, keep you abreast of any developments which will lead to you stocking your music players with the Fab Four's work.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Beatles' catalog coming online at long last? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 Mar 2008 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Computer prevails over Beatles' Apple Corps

Marc Perton — Mon, 08 May 2006 08:03:00 EST

The long and winding road of the Apple v. Apple battle appears to have finally come to an end, as a British judge has decided the case in favor of the American computer company. In the most recent episode, Apple Corps, the record label owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and the estate of George Harrison, had sued Apple Computer, saying that the iTunes Music Store violated an earlier settlement in which Apple Computer had agreed not to sell music. However, Apple Computer argued that the iTunes service only sold data, and the judge agreed, and told them so. "I find no breach of the trademark agreement has been demonstrated," he said. "The action therefore fails." Steve Jobs commented that he was glad that the battle was over, and added, "we have always loved the Beatles, and hopefully we can now work together to get them on the iTunes Music Store." You mean, you'll be selling Beatles data, right Steve?

Update: If you'd like to pore over it, the full legal decision has been posted by The Times. In the decision, the Judge says a key factor in ruling for Apple Computer was the fact that "for Computer to cross into Corps' territory with its mark it would have to have indicated, by its use of the mark, that Computer was the source or origin of the music. ... The ownership of the rights is always attributed to the correct person within the ITMS and in the track information on any downloaded track."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Portable Audio

Apple Computer prevails over Beatles' Apple Corps originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 May 2006 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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