“Apple Inc’s settlement with Apple Corps has triggered much speculation about the arrival of Beatles catalogue on iTunes Music Store. Whereas this settlement doesn’t mean that the catalogue will suddenly appear tomorrow, it was an essential hurdle that needed clearing before it could happen. That said, the numerous other elements being negotiated in this are probably already at reasonably advanced stages and there is speculation that it will happen as early as next week,” Mark Mulligan blogs for JupiterResearch.

Mulligan writes, “So, just how big a deal is getting the Beatles online? Well, quite a big deal actually. For Apple it means that they can finally say that the iTMS is a universal offering with no major gaps. They also get to have a premier music brand on board and a sure thing in terms of sales. However, given the negligible margins in digital music sales the latter factor isn’t the key issue. It’s all about enhancing the overall proposition and then using the Beatles brand to build the iPod and iTMS brands.”

“What is means for the Beatles catalogue is access to new customers and, more importantly, strong marketing potential,” Mulligan writes. “…If Apple’s marketing strength is fully utilised it’s not fanciful to speculate that the Beatles could dominate the singles charts in 2007. Combined with, perhaps, a new CD and heavy promotion of existing albums, could generate strong sales.”

Full article here.

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Apple close to offering Beatles music via iTunes Store – December 05, 2006
Fortune: Apple close to landing exclusive iTunes Store deal with The Beatles – November 27, 2006
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