Catalog held up by Apple Corps dispute with EMI

Following Apple's announcement that it would finally bring Beatles tracks onto the iTunes store, additional information of the negotiations has surfaced. Apple reportedly beat offers from Google and Amazon to secure the digital catalog, industry insiders have told the New York Post. Although the terms of the final deal were not disclosed, Apple may have been forced to take a smaller cut to guarantee exclusivity into 2011.

Rumors of Beatles on iTunes have circulated for several years, but the deal was reportedly delayed by disagreements between the Beatles' Apple Corps, EMI and Apple. EMI's head of recorded music, Roger Faxon, is said to have placed a high priority on finding a resolution to the problems.

"Roger has really led EMI down this path," said EMI executive VP Dominic Pandiscia, in an interview with Billboard. "We can't understate his influence on making this moment happen."

Apple Corps' Jeff Jones was also credited with overcoming roadblocks in the stalled talks, after his predecessor, Neil Aspinall, failed to come to agreement. Aspinall had been a major player in the decades-long legal battle between Apple Corps and Apple over the fruit trademark.

In just two days of availability, the Beatles tracks are already dominating the iTunes store's sales charts. Even the expensive Beatles Box Set was in the 12th spot, even with a $149 price tag.

by MacNN Staff