Problems blamed on "people in the middle"

Former Beatles member Sir Paul McCartney claims that the record company EMI is the only force still resisting the push to put Beatles music on iTunes. In a BBC interview, McCartney suggests that he still wants to see the tracks distributed through Apple's media portal.

"To tell you the truth I don't actually understand how it's got so crazy," he said. "I know iTunes would like to do it, so one day it's going to happen."

McCartney did not elaborate on the precise nature of the "business hassles" created by the middlemen at EMI. "There have been all sorts of reasons why they don't want to do it."

Various rumors previously suggested the catalog should have been added some time ago, although the project has yet to materialize. The entire Beatles LP collection was finally released on a limited-edition USB stick before the holidays in 2009, potentially indicating the record label is warming to alternative forms of digital distribution.

EMI played down McCartney's comments, claiming that discussions are ongoing. "We would love to see The Beatles' music available for sale digitally." The label has not provided any solid details regarding a time-frame for iTunes availability.

by MacNN Staff