Beatles still not on iTunes ... and, who cares?

Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:38PM EST

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Talks between the various Beatles record labels and Cupertino have "stalled," according to Sir Paul. So, barring a miracle, that means no Beatles on iTunes (or on any music download service) before 2009. Meanwhile, millions of Beatles fans (who know how to rip CDs, after all) shrug and move on.

Somehow, the whole "Beatles on iTunes" thing is still seen as some kind of digital music milestone, so much so that every time Paul McCartney pipes up about the subject, we get a flurry of headlines.

The latest? Sir Paul tells the AP (via PaidContent.org) that negotiations between Beatles record label Apple Corp, EMI, and Apple Inc. have "stalled at the whole moment, the whole process," although "I really hope it will happen because I think it should."

McCartney was pretty vague about what's holding everything up ("They [EMI] want something we're not prepared to give them,") but Fortune's Apple blog has a simple explanation: "Paul wants more money." Gotcha.

While negotiations drag on … and on … any excitement about the Beatles actually arriving on iTunes has long since evaporated. Why? Because it's not 2004 anymore.

Back then, getting the Beatles on iTunes would've signaled that digital music had truly come of age. But that was then; today, iTunes is the No. 1 music retailer on the planet, and even stubborn digital holdouts like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Kid Rock have jumped on the MP3 bandwagon. If anything, the Beatles (or their various representatives, at any rate) look more out of touch than anything else. 

Oh, and another thing: There's this feature on iTunes (maybe you've heard of it) that lets you, as they say, "rip" your music CDs into MP3s, which are then playable on your iPod or music player of your choice.

Now, besides the fact that I've put the Beatles on a personal 10-year playback hiatus (don't you dare call up "Twist and Shout" on the jukebox), I ripped my old Beatles CDs long ago—and I'm sure you have, too.

So I think Sir Paul might be in for a nasty surprise come 2010, when all the "t"s are crossed and the "i"s dotted … and nobody really cares anymore.

Not that we care now, actually.

Comments on Beatles still not on iTunes ... and, who cares?

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  • 1 Posted by shutrbug@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I agree that it's too late for them to make an impact, and I'm a long time Beatles fan from my youth.

  • 2 Posted by kola10002000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Beatles were packaged and sold the same as a freak show. Their entertainment value is long pass.

  • 3 Posted by saraponce@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    i still think they should go on itunes why not its never too late for the beatles i simply love there songs!!!

  • 4 Posted by allularmilo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    The reason for the Beatles not being on iTunes is that Michael Jackson has some ownership of the music, and he and McCartney do NOT get along. Years ago, The Beatles sold the rights to the music to Jackson, and made a verbal agreement that Jackson sell the rights back to the Beatles when Jackson was back on his feet financially. And Jackson breached the verbal agreement, and there was no way to prove there was an agreement. So that's why the Beatles aren't on iTunes. The Beatles (especially Paul) don't want to see Michael Jackson get richer off of something the Beatles should have.

  • 5 Posted by allularmilo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    And to add, I can't blame the fans for not caring. I have every Beatles album in my iPod. The only thing that would make everything better is that iTunes constantly loses my album artwork, thus showing the music note where the art should be.

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