beatles
Latest
Ringo Starr joins iTunes
You may not be able to buy the Beatles' music as a group from iTunes, but you can buy most of the member's solo stuff. Lennon, McCartney, and now Starr. That's right, Mr. Conductor's music is available on iTunes including Photograph: The Digital Greatest Hits (which is an iTunes Plus album). One more thing to note about Ringo, other than he has the best name our of anyone in the Beatles, is that he is a Mac user. I was poking around his personal website, and stumbled across his photography section. Those certainly look like Photo Booth pictures to me. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
John Lennon on iTunes
Imagine all the people... downloading John Lennon's songs. It isn't hard to do-- John Lennon's music is now available on the iTunes store as of last night. Right around 3AM, reader Ricky (thanks!) saw the graphic above pop onto the store, and noticed that Working Class Hero, among other albums, had arrived, and then disappeared about half an hour later. He speculated that they were working on a full release today.And he was exactly right-- Apple has announced that sixteen of Lennon's solo works are now for sale on the iTS, including the "digital debuts" of the Lennon Legend and Acoustic collections. Additionally, for the next 30 days, six of the albums will include exclusive video content-- Working Class Hero looks like it has a "Give Peace a Chance" video on it, and Imagine includes a video for the classic title track. And all of the albums are available not only regular price ($.99 a song), but also at iTunes Plus prices, which means $1.29 a song, but completely DRM free.First Paul McCartney, now Lennon, and the Beatles has to be just around the corner. Power to the people, right on!Thanks, Ricky and Zack!
McCartney on iTunes, Beatles to follow?
Everyone seems to be very excited about the possibility of the Beatles catalog being available on iTunes. Now, I'm a fan of the Beatles, but it seems to me that everyone who is big into the Beatles already has all their work, and even if they were missing somethings the real fans would demand high quality tracks than those currently available on iTunes (it would be great if the tracks were DRMless though).That being said, I am sure some folks are excited about Sir Paul McCartney's announcement that his next release will be his first available for download via iTunes. He also says that the Beatles catalog is very close to being available online.[via Digg]
Beatles settle with EMI -- is iTunes next?
Another hurdle on the way to an eventual Beatles-on-iTunes debut has been cleared. Today, ContactMusic reported that Apple Corps has settled with EMI over unpaid royalties. Apparently, this ongoing dispute has been one of the issues that has blocked online digital distribution of Beatles tracks. This settlement may allow EMI to distribute Beatles songs online in the near future. If so, you may soon see the Beatles showing up in iTunes. It's been a long and winding road and we're still not near the end.Thanks Jeff Kirk & everyone who sent this in.
EMI to say goodbye to DRM?
Early today we posted about tomorrow's EMI press conference in London featuring the one and only Steve Jobs. May people thought this could mean that the Beatles music catalog would be coming to the iTunes store. While this would be interesting, the Wall Street Journal reports that EMI is doing something much more interesting than simply adding the Beatles to iTunes.According to the Wall Street Journal (the whole article requires a log in) EMI has decided to offer a significant portion of its music catalog sans DRM. That's right, one of the Major Labels (notice those capital letters) is taking Steve up on his thoughts on DRM. Let's hope that the other Labels (and movie studios) follow suit. DRM is cold comfort to content creators, and an annoyance to legitimate consumers.[via Daring Fireball]
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.
Steve Jobs presenting in London at EMI event, Beatles rumors flow again
Looks like El Jobso is coming out of his busy, busy office in Cupertino to, of all things, present "exciting new digital offering" at an EMI media event in London. Now, EMI is, as many know, where much of The Beatles catalogue resides, and none of that music has ever been made available online; we've long heard rumors of Apple getting the digital exclusive -- especially since Apple Corps and Apple, Inc. have settled their differences -- so to you, dear reader, we submit this: wouldn't any kind of real Beatles fan already have all the cuts on vinyl or CD -- or at least have downloaded or copied all they need? And hell, anyone who doesn't already have this stuff can always go pick it up relatively cheaply at any local record store and rip it -- at least then you won't have to deal with the DRM. In other words: we're still not sure why we should care about the world's most ubiquitous rock band selling music on the world's most ubiquitous digital download service in an all out DRM-love-in.[Thanks, Josh]
Celebrity Miis on tees
It ain't Wii shirt day, is it? Maybe we're just in a fashion groove here, but this Beatles-Mii shirt was too good to resist. Just imagine the possibilities for other celebrity-themed Mii shirts. We've already seen a demand for celebrity Miis, after all, so why wouldn't we want to plaster them to our bodies? Whose Mii would you wear?The best part of this shirt is that you can get the Miis for your own Wii -- on the Nerdy Shirts website, they've got the friend code listed. Go forth, young Beatles fans, and make friends.[Thanks, Chris!]
SuperBowl Bombshell?
As we all well know, Apple stunned the world with a single SuperBowl commerical back in 1984. And now the Toronto Sun claims that Apple "plans a 'special' announcement scheduled for a Super Bowl commercial on Feb. 4." As Erica previously posted, all signs point to the Beatles in iTunes. Electonista is even suggesting that access to the remastered Beatles catalog may be on iTunes before CD.While the Beatles in iTunes is not nearly as big a deal as the introduction of the Macintosh, it will be a welcome addition and yet another big SuperBowl victory for the team from Cupertino.
Beatles on iTunes? Finally?
Macworld UK reports that the Beatles may be joining the iTunes store as early as next month. Rumors from a popular Beatles fansite say a deal has been struck between Apple Computer (now, and tellingly, called Apple Inc) and Apple Music (the Beatles). For me, as soon as I heard that Apple was changing its name and dropping "Computer", I suspected that we might be hearing some news but this is as yet still in unsubstantiated rumor territory. It's not going change the way we live and learn but I'm kind of looking forward to buying "Twist and Shout" as a single digital track.
Nayio Humming Search tries to recognize tunes, doesn't know the Beatles
We don't know how well a humming-based song recognition online service would do, given that we're unsure which we distrust more, people's ability to hum on-key or software's ability to recognize it. Still, that hasn't stopped Nayio from trying to build such an application. The idea is that if you hum a few bars into your computer via its online "Humming Search," Nayio should be able to recognize the tune and then take you to Napster to buy it. However, one blogger, Rafe Needleman, says that his experience with the site isn't so positive, given that it couldn't recognize his humming of a Nirvana tune nor his Juliard-trained wife's humming of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine." And if you can't recognize the Fab Four, Nayio, it's so over between us.[Via digg]
John Lennon + Halo 3 ad = instant karma
Following hot on the heels of the Gears of War remix phenomenon comes a stellar entry in new Halo 3 "Starry Night" remix/mashup arena. It's surprising how well John Lennon's "Instant Karma" works with this ad, and it just plain trumps the Halo music, sorry Marty. Please don't go all Yoko on our ass.[Thanks, Eric]
The Beatles to be exclusive to iTunes Store?
Apple and the Beatles have a long, litigious history. As you may be aware, the Beatles created a record label on which they sold their music. The name of that label? Apple.Apple Computer, many years ago, agreed not to sell music so that there would never be any confusion between the two companies. Then along came the iPod and the iTunes Store and then another lawsuit.It would seem that Apple and Apple are letting bygones be bygones and are close to reaching an exclusive deal for the Beatles catalog. Steve had personally invited the Beatles to join the iTunes Store, and it looks like they may take him up on the offer. The iTunes Store, if Fortune is right, will be the only place where you will be able to purchase digital versions of the Beatles work. This will be a big boost to the iTunes Store, if it is true. Though I wonder if the Zune Market place is working on getting the Rutles' catalog.Thanks, Sam G.
Robbery averted via Beatles fan webcam in Liverpool
Britain, rightly or wrongly, is crawling with surveillance cameras for spying on its citizenry. But there's a whole class of cameras that could be used for security purposes that MI5/MI6 may have forgotten about: webcams. On Friday, a Beatles fan happened to be watching the webcam that's trained on Mathew Street, a nabe in Liverpool that houses the famous Cavern Club, where the Fab Four got their start. This astute fan watched from his home in Dallas as three perps were breaking into a sports store. He picked up his phone and called the Liverpool police -- and the suspects were arrested. Techmology 1 - 0 Crooks.[Via Reuters]
iTunes Music Store: resistance is futile
The Associated Press says the writing is on the wall: either your music is available on iTunes or you're irrelevant. The article points out that several artists that were resistant to having their music available online have given in (and flagging CD sales aren't helping). However, there are still holdouts including Kid Rock and the Beatles. Why don't they want consumers to have more options? There are many reasons, though the article cites: Piracy (which CD's really don't stop) Not wanting people to only buy one track (you must respect the album and not get the one good song without all the crappy ones) Small profits from online sales Will we see the Beatles catalog available on the iTunes Music Store? Perhaps when I'm 64 (get it? Aww, come on that was funny).
Apple actively courting the Beatles
With the lawsuit behind them, Apple is actively trying to get Beatles music added to the iTunes Music Store. According to an article at Bloomberg, Apple Corps is currently remastering the Beatles' entire catalog, in preparation for electronic distribution. However, a vendor has not yet been named. Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes, hopes they'll look towards the iTMS:"We certainly will do everything we can to get them on iTunes. The Beatles aren't available in any digital format today but they are going to be one day. We certainly hope that happens on iTunes." Is there too much animosity between the two giants, or can they let bygones be bygones? Time will tell. All I know is that my iPod is just begging for the White Album.[Via MacDailyNews]
Found Footage: John Lennon invented the iPod?
That's what this short movie from James Serafinowicz (and starting some folks from Shaun of the Dead) posits.Thanks, j kim.
Apple Computer prevails over Beatles' Apple Corps
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!]
The Wii zeitgeist, via YTMND
The net's been busy this weekend. Here's a smattering of YTMND clips that best capture the zeitgeist of Nintendo's mighty Wii announcement. Few of these are safe for work. You've been warned. Gonads and Strife remake (Overall choice award.) Wii all want to change the world (Most comforting award.) Wii wii hahahaha! (Simple. Effective.) Kramer goes Wii (Whoa. Nintendo ON is like, totally real.) Wii will, wii will rock you (Captain Obvious award) Why can't wii be friends? (PS3 and Xbox 360 choice award) Ev-wii-body hurts, sometimes (Emoboy choice award.) Wii wii simulator (toilet humor award) Gunther-style (best sound-track award)
Beatles will sell music online, join rest of us in 21st century
iLounge is reporting that the Beatles catalog is currently being remastered in preparation for (finally) selling it through online music services (yea, plural). A Reuters article states that Neil Aspinall, a former Beatles road manager and witness in the Apple vs. Apple trademark lawsuit, is apparently working on remastering the Beatles' catalog and doesn't think it would be right to offer downloads of the old masters, and then release the remastered versions at a later date. Good call Neil.Presently, there is no ETA on when the remastering process will be finished or when the online music services could finally sell one of the most highly-anticipated online music catalogs in history. Who wants to place bets that, once the Beatles finally go digital, the catalog will be an iTunes exclusive?
