Apple's negotiation with Beatles put on hold
updated 05:50 am EST, Tue November 25, 2008
Beatles iTunes delayed
Paul McCartney has said that the negotiations to bring the Beatles' music onto iTunes have encountered problems, according to the Associated Press. "The last word I got back was it's stalled at the whole moment, the whole process," he said. Apple Corps, Ltd., the band's holding company, has thus far prohibited the Beatles' music to be sold on any Internet outlets. EMI, the label that owns the recordings, claimed that it was still trying to resolve the matter, but would ultimately need Apple Corps' blessing before any agreements could be reached.
"I really hope it will happen because I think it should," McCartney said, adding "It's between EMI and the Beatles, I think." An EMI spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that the various parties have been unable to reach an agreement, but expressed hope that progress will be made soon.
Even Steve Jobs indicated a desire for the entities to work things out. "We'd love to have the Beatles. It will happen — I hope by the first half of next year," he said in an interview last year. "As soon as they're ready, we're ready."
Apple Computer and Apple Corps had fought a legal battle against each other in 2006. The music company sued the computer manufacturer over the use of a logo, although the judge did not agree with the accusations. The exact reasons for the current delay in the iTunes talks remains unknown.
Unbelievable
11/25, 07:44am reply
Its almost amusing to watch this story develop. You'd think a complete has-been would be a lot more eager to stay amidst the new generation. At this point, Beatles means nothing more than disgusting bugs to many.
jarod
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Joined: Apr 2005
Let em...
11/25, 07:45am reply
do without iTunes! McCartney's a greedy git and the quality of the Beatles music pales anyway. What a nimnull!
smitch
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Joined: Nov 2005
5 Years
11/25, 08:18am reply
I wager a lot of negotiation is on precisely how much value the Beatles back catalog still has, given that in 5 years time, recordings made in 1963 will be out of copyright in the UK, which means all their musically significant work will be out of copyright within 10 years.
So this is pretty much the last window of opportunity to squeeze money out of those assets.
Note : song-writing or publishing copyright runs for 50 years after the death of the writer, but the Beatles publishing is owner by Sony rather than EMI.
JulesLt
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Joined: Jul 2005
didn't take long
11/25, 08:19am reply
for the "now" generation to chime in.
there are 3 parties involved, who knows where the trouble lies. yet... you people continue to offer your take on the quality of their music and the individuals as though it has some merit.
it doesn't. don't like the music? don't listen to it. go listen to what you like and shut up already.
nat
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Chime In
11/25, 08:53am (1 reply) reply
Truly amazing how narrow minded people are. I don't like Elvis Presley, but I recognize how he made a whole genre more palatable and popular to people.
The Beatles took pop music and created art (with the overlooked help of George Martin).
I disagree with most of my peers, and I think music today is MUCH better than it was in the 70's (I will take new pornographers or the Kings of Leon over Styx or Kansas any day), BUT a lot of the writing styles and post production ideas originated with The Beatles.
The question is, if you talk to the musicians today, not the audiences following the next great thing, they will go on and on about it. You can here their influence in everything from NIN (Reznor's a fan), Feist or anyone else.
Sorry to rant, but they are not just disgusting bugs.
I just hope we passed the audition!
dynsight
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Joined: May 2005
demand
11/25, 08:59am reply
a quick search on piratebay uncovered the discography being seeded by 468 people and leeched by over 600. And this is only today.. imagine the millions of times this has been downloaded
So there at least seems to be a lot of demand for it. But just think of the lost revenue the Beatles could have had over the years... what a shame!
eldarkus
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Joined: Feb 2004
solid gold
11/25, 10:41am reply
Sorry children but the Beatles' music is time tested and holds a permanent place in the our western culture. Steve must see the lack of The Beatles in iTunes as serious omission. Call them has beens if you like, but include Miles Davis, George Gershwin, Hank Williams and the countless greats that came before your time and the loss will be yours.
kerryb
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Joined: Aug 2001
Corporations!
11/25, 11:20am reply
"You never give me your money."
"You only give me your funny paper."
"And in the middle of negotiations, I break down."
Who ever said that, knew what they were talking about! Oh, wait...
I agree with kerryb. The Beatles are too iconic in music history, as well as, defining a decade of American history that to dismiss them so lightly as those who call them "has beens" is absurd. To my gen X's, Y's, Z's and O's friends out there, pick almost any artist popular today among the young generation and then bring their name up 35 - 40 years later and see what response you get.
MeandmyMac
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Joined: Feb 2008
Time tested but not worth
11/25, 11:21am reply
Time tested yes, but worth how much? They could make millions or even billions if they would just get on with it. But there GREEDY!!!! The EGO is to BIG!! And Apple Corps are a bunch of Losers lost in time! CD's don't sell anymore, online music does, hello? If they think for a second that they will get more for there online music then anyone else, they are in for a bad disappointment!
horvatic
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Joined: Apr 2002
Matbe they're waiting...
11/25, 11:24am reply
...until every person on the planet has the entire catalog on their computer via download or CD rip.
moldyapples
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Joined: Jul 2006