Apple Finally Snares Beatles

[onehandle]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Steve Jobs is nearing the end of his long and winding pursuit of the Beatles catalog. Apple Inc. is preparing to disclose that its iTunes Store will soon start carrying music by the Beatles, according to people familiar with the situation, a move that would fill a glaring gap in the collection of the world's largest music retailer.

The deal resulted from talks that were taking place as recently as last week among executives of Apple, representatives of the Beatles and their record label, EMI Group Ltd., according to these people. These people cautioned that Apple could change plans at the last minute.

Spokesmen for Apple and EMI declined to comment. Apple on Monday posted a notice on the home page of its iTunes Store that it would make "an exciting announcement" Tuesday morning.

Terms of the deal that brought the Beatles music to iTunes couldn't be learned, and it was unclear whether other online music services would gain access to the catalog too. However, Apple maintains a roughly 90% market share in the online music business.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703326204575617004052395816.html

[Amerigo Vespucci]

1. THAT'S Apple's "Your life won't be the same after tomorrow" bullshit BIG NEWS?

Oh, be still my beating heart! You mean I can now purchase Beatles songs in the iTunes store, even though I own all of last year's remasters of EVERY FUCKING NOTE THEY EVER PLAYED?

WOW!

HEY! STEVE JOBS! Just BITE me. Really, BITE me.

:rant:

[pipoman]

2. It's so nice when zillionares make even more money...

[naaman fletcher]

10. copyright protection was never intended to last this long

It was intended to last long enough so that artists would have an incentive to put effort into their work. However, no artist would ever not produce a work for fear that they would only be able to profit off of it for, say, 20 years.

[madrchsod]

3. that was it? really that was it?

i did`t have the bucks for the remastered vinyl so i`ll settle for the cd`s. hearing my mono vinyl beatles albums through 12in three way wharfdales is something an ipod can`t come close to.

[alfredo]

9. No, there will be "one more thing." I think there will be

an announcement concerning Facebook and iTunes. There might be a move to the Cloud, and a subscription option. Let's wait and see.

[sally cat]

4. Well played by Apple. That band is an up and comer.

[Kurska]

6. Let me be the first to praise you on your sardonic wit.

Certainly had me laughing

[Berry Cool]

8. I don't know

I heard that groups with guitars are on the way out.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

12. Yeah. They're so yesterday. n/t

[Grassy Knoll]

5. Anybody who owns or borrows any CD can....

download it to your iPod anyway , even beatles movies.

[harun]

7. The people in least need of my money, Apple and the Beatles.

[LTR]

11. To a big fan like me, it doesn't sound like a big deal

They got me last year with the remastered catalog. Money well spent, IMO. Eventually, I'll get the mono set. :)

If anything, the iTunes deal allows the Beatles more access to younger ears, who don't really buy CDs anymore. The only appeal for hardcore fans is if they make 24-bit lossless files available (a.k.a. better than CD).

As for the ones who poo-poo any attempt the Beatles make at marketing their music, y'all can kiss my ass. Great music is great music. And suffice it to say, they do give good value for the money. Better than most of the pop garbage being released today.

[edbermac]

13. I thought the big news was that Apple was banning Oasis.

Anyway good for Apple as the Fab Four can do no wrong.

[htuttle]

14. Oh come on, you guys -- it was a big deal for Steve!

Actually Apple Computer and the Beatle's Apple Records have had a pretty stormy history over copyrights going back to Apple (computer)'s founding days.
Then it flared up again over the iPod/iTunes thing, being that Apple (Computer) had promised to stay out of the music business.

So I'm sure that it was a big day for Steve.

But for me? Meh.

:shrug: