Post by furychick on Nov 16, 2010 20:31:32 GMT
Credit to news.yahoo.com
FINALLY!!!!!
After years of singing out of tune, Apple and the Beatles announced today that they were able to work it out and the Fab Four's legendary pop tunes are now appearing on iTunes, the world's largest music retailer.
The group's 13 remastered studio albums are now available for purchase in digital format through the Cupertino company's online store. Fans can also get a special "Beatles Box Set" that includes the first-ever Beatles concert in the United States at Washington Coliseum in 1964.
"We love the Beatles and are honored and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes," Apple CEO Steve Jobs, a fervent Beatles fan, said in a statement. "It has been a long and winding road to get here. Thanks to the Beatles and EMI, we are now realizing a dream we've had since we launched iTunes 10 years ago."
The deal, consummated after years of friction over trademark disputes, represents the marriage of two of the world's most powerful pop icons -- John, Paul, George and Ringo, and Apple.
"I lost my youth waiting for this day," said Needham & Co. analyst Charles Wolf. "It's by far the greatest rock group that's ever been assembled and getting them on iTunes is very symbolic. It's not going to affect Apple's earnings or sales in any material way, but it nonetheless adds to the brand. It's a brand builder."
The two remaining living Beatles also issued statements.
"We're really excited to bring the Beatles' music to iTunes," Sir Paul McCartney
Advertisement
said. "It's fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around."
"I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes," Ringo Starr said. "At last, if you want it -- you can get it now -- the Beatles from Liverpool to now! Peace and Love, Ringo."
The wives of deceased band members John Lennon and George Harrison also publicly embraced the deal.
Getting the Beatles on iTunes is a deeply personal accomplish for Jobs, said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies. "Steve is a huge fan of the Beatles and has wanted to have their music on iTunes since day one."
For years, the big impediment was a long-running legal dispute between Apple and Apple Corp., the record label the Beatles owned. Soon after Jobs and Steve Wozniak launched Apple Computer in the mid-1970s, Apple Corp. sued its namesake, charging trademark infringement. But the companies settled their differences in 2007, with Apple gaining ownership of the "apple" name, logo and related trademarks, some of which it licensed back to Apple Corps.
That settlement paved the way to having music from McCartney and other individual Beatles on iTunes, but it didn't lead to the Beatles themselves making an appearance.
While Beatles fans could transfer music from CDs to their laptops -- and listen to it digitally -- for years, the agreement has a certain symbolic value to it, Bajarin said. The world's most iconic rock band has made the "shift to fundamentally go all digital."
Single albums are available for purchase and download for $12.99 each, double albums for $19.99 each and individual songs for $1.29 each.
The special digital "Beatles Box Set," which sells for $149, contains the 13 remastered studio albums with iTunes LPs and all mini-documentaries, "Past Masters," and the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" concert film. In addition, Beatles fans can stream and view the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" concert film from iTunes for free for the remainder of this calendar year.
The group's 13 remastered studio albums are now available for purchase in digital format through the Cupertino company's online store. Fans can also get a special "Beatles Box Set" that includes the first-ever Beatles concert in the United States at Washington Coliseum in 1964.
"We love the Beatles and are honored and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes," Apple CEO Steve Jobs, a fervent Beatles fan, said in a statement. "It has been a long and winding road to get here. Thanks to the Beatles and EMI, we are now realizing a dream we've had since we launched iTunes 10 years ago."
The deal, consummated after years of friction over trademark disputes, represents the marriage of two of the world's most powerful pop icons -- John, Paul, George and Ringo, and Apple.
"I lost my youth waiting for this day," said Needham & Co. analyst Charles Wolf. "It's by far the greatest rock group that's ever been assembled and getting them on iTunes is very symbolic. It's not going to affect Apple's earnings or sales in any material way, but it nonetheless adds to the brand. It's a brand builder."
The two remaining living Beatles also issued statements.
"We're really excited to bring the Beatles' music to iTunes," Sir Paul McCartney
Advertisement
said. "It's fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around."
"I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes," Ringo Starr said. "At last, if you want it -- you can get it now -- the Beatles from Liverpool to now! Peace and Love, Ringo."
The wives of deceased band members John Lennon and George Harrison also publicly embraced the deal.
Getting the Beatles on iTunes is a deeply personal accomplish for Jobs, said Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies. "Steve is a huge fan of the Beatles and has wanted to have their music on iTunes since day one."
For years, the big impediment was a long-running legal dispute between Apple and Apple Corp., the record label the Beatles owned. Soon after Jobs and Steve Wozniak launched Apple Computer in the mid-1970s, Apple Corp. sued its namesake, charging trademark infringement. But the companies settled their differences in 2007, with Apple gaining ownership of the "apple" name, logo and related trademarks, some of which it licensed back to Apple Corps.
That settlement paved the way to having music from McCartney and other individual Beatles on iTunes, but it didn't lead to the Beatles themselves making an appearance.
While Beatles fans could transfer music from CDs to their laptops -- and listen to it digitally -- for years, the agreement has a certain symbolic value to it, Bajarin said. The world's most iconic rock band has made the "shift to fundamentally go all digital."
Single albums are available for purchase and download for $12.99 each, double albums for $19.99 each and individual songs for $1.29 each.
The special digital "Beatles Box Set," which sells for $149, contains the 13 remastered studio albums with iTunes LPs and all mini-documentaries, "Past Masters," and the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" concert film. In addition, Beatles fans can stream and view the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" concert film from iTunes for free for the remainder of this calendar year.
FINALLY!!!!!