“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.
Related articles:
Wired News: Apple iPods pre-loaded with music are about to become the new CD – February 06, 2007
NPD’s Crupnick: Beatles-iTunes deal ‘almost certain’ – February 05, 2007
Apple Inc. and The Beatles’ Apple Corps Ltd. enter into new agreement – February 05, 2007
The Beatles to share the love with Apple’s iTunes Store on Valentine’s Day? – January 16, 2007
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
The Beatles catalog to be available for download ‘soon’ – November 13, 2006
Apple will do ‘everything we can’ to lure The Beatles to iTunes Music Store – May 10, 2006
I would re-purchase a Beatles album just to show Sir Paul that he made the right choice.
The Beatles Albums will certainly help in getting a wider fan base to check out iTunes. The bigger question on my mind is why is there an ad next to this text field for WOW windows vista?
WTF, do we really need to advertise for the evil empire?
Jeez it’s like Han Solo going to the dark side full-time and killing Chewey!
-Pi
Patience, only a few days to go until February 14th …
“Apple it means that they can finally say that the iTMS is a universal offering with no major gaps”, and this, actually means, that any other artist that is not in the iTMS is not relevant. So, You want to be relevant? get up on the iTMS train. Same for the Movie studios.
where’s my LED ZEPPLIN!!!!
“universal offering with no major gaps”? Not quite. There are some favorite Van Morrison pieces yet to appear. The Wavelength album appeared in the earliest weeks of iTunes, then disappeared, never to be seen again. Many other odds and ends favorites never made their appearance, so I may have to convert them from LP, scratches and all, to MP4/AAC using something like iMic (unless anyone has other recommendations).
Isn’t Radiohead on the Apple Corps label? Perhaps their cataloge might also appear on iTMS in the near future?
This is so overhyped.
If I want Beatles music I can buy it now.
Oops, I already own all the Beatle CDs and it is already on my iPod.
The idea that the Beattle will somehow make a difference for iPod or iTunes or is CD-sales thinking. Certainly, it will be nothing but positive, since they are loved by many. They will sell millions and there may even be a noticeable one week (or so) spike in sales. CD sales are driven by major acts and hits and iTS certainly needs to have those. However, online sales are from a more diverse set of groups/bands/acts, since it allows single tracks to be purchased and, therefore, is less about the hit CD or high profile band than quality songs.
I am sure people that love vinyl and believe the concept of an album was created in 2000 BC will disagree, but online sales, by favoring quality songs, improves the music industry, which hypes only a few ac ts. The Beattles obviously are NOT the result of hype and have CDs where nearly all the songs are high quality. My point is not to dismiss or insult the Beattles or say they wont sell millions on iTS. However, I do not think that the idea of individual bands bringing “brand” to iTS is really more than a nice positive, not a difference maker for iTS business. Great for fans, but just a cog in the machine in terms of business.
What about AC/DC? That’s a major gap to me!
I probably won’t buy any new releases from UK artists, as an article in the NYTs yesterday indicated that these artists, including U2 funnel their royalties thru the Netherlands, which doesn’t tax them. What a bunch of hypocrites. They tell gov’ts to feed Africa with our tax dollars, and then they avoid the taxman, themselves. I’m sure the Beatles do the same.
Here’s the link about european bands, particularly the ones in the UK using the Netherlands as a tax-dodge:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/business/yourmoney/04amster.html
You need to register to read it.
GMAN:
Every song Led Zeppelin ever recorded along with every song Plant, Jones, and Page ever recorded after the band disolved is on my iPod, DRM free! Life is good. 😀
I don’t get it.
Why are The Beattles important?
If you’re a huge fan, you already own their CDs. Import them into iTunes.
If you’re a casual fan (like myself) you own their album of #1 singles.
Who is going to repurchase their music at a lower quality. What’s the payoff?
The Beattles are not relevant because they can not make new music. Unless they have some great unreleased songs in a vault all these years, why should I care?
As a marketing tool perhaps but I question the number of people who would buy a Beattles-branded ipod. Maybe bring back the signature ipods and offer several choices from all genres.
Come on Jimmy, Get the Led Out! We want Swan Song video and music on our iTMS!!!
So I will soon have my choice of an U2 brand iPod, my Beatles brand iPod, my Cheech & Chong brand ipod, my Zappa brand iPod, my 50cent brand iPod, my, my…where will the silliness end???
The Beatles are great, have all their music, but when did they stop making music, over 35 years ago?
+++++++++++++
Steve – concentrate on bringing out better computers! What is taking so long with Leopard, etc.?
Can you imagine being a teenager in the early 1970’s and some stereo or other company announced they signed up Benny Goodman from the 1940s to put their songs on 8-track tape.
You think any teenager back then would be interested in 30 year old music? Heck, no.
You think any teenager TODAY is interested in 30-year old music? I have three teenagers, had them listen to some Beatles songs…they were interested…NOT.
For the record——-
The first Beatles record came out in 1963 (England)
in the US (MEET THE BEATLES) it was January 20, 1964.
43 years ago!
The last Beatles record came out February 26, 1970
HEY JUDE – 37 years ago.
Hmmmmm….February 26….do I smell and anniversary marketing opportunity coming up????????
Yoko – I am the eggman, koo koo-kachoo!
Yeah, baby, Zeppelin is the last big hold-out!
Uhhhh, John,Paul,George,Ringo, that would be “I am the walrus…”, not “eggman”. You’re getting your Beatles mixed up with your Beastie Boys (somehow).
Cubert: Check the lyrics.
“I Am the Walrus”
I am he as you are he as you are me
and we are all together
See how they run like pigs from a gun
see how they fly
I’m crying
Sitting on a cornflake
Waiting for the van to come
Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday
Man you’ve been a naughty boy
you let your face grow long
I am the eggman
they are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g’ joob
Mr. city policeman sitting
pretty little policemen in a row
See how they fly like Lucy in the sky
See how they run
I’m crying
I’m crying, I’m crying
Yellow matter custard
Dripping from a dead dog’s eye
Crabalocker fishwife
Pornographic priestess
Boy, you’ve been a naughty girl
you let your knickers down
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g’ joob
Sitting in an English garden
waiting for the sun
If the sun don’t come you get a tan
from standing in the English rain
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g’ joob
Expert, texpert choking smokers
don’t you think the joker laughs at you
See how they smile like pigs in a sty
See how they snide
I’m crying
Semolina pilchard
climbing up the Eiffel tower
Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna
Man, you should have seen them kicking
Edgar Allan Poe
I am the eggman
They are the eggmen
I am the walrus
Goo goo g’ joob
Goo goo g’ joob
Goo goo g’ goo
goo goo g’ joob goo
juba juba juba
juba juba juba
juba juba juba juba
juba juba
I don’t get it. Why are The Beattles important?
iPod G8TR wants to know why the Beatles are important. Another moron who thinks anything older than he is must be irrelevant! He doesn’t get that a whole generation of kids who have barely heard of the Beatles will discover their music thanks to the magic of downloadable music. Too bad for iPod G8TR. But he doesn’t care; he’s too busy listening to the latest crap on the radio.
Ummm Chris I don’t know where you get your info, buddy, but Radiohead is not and has never been on Apple Corps. They were on Capitol and EMI and are currently unsigned as they record their 7th album.
Keep in mind that the Beatles catalog has been/is being remastered to sound better than the discs released 20 years ago.
G8TR and the others who question the relevance of The Beatles and others from more than 30 years ago:
1) The album “1”, released just a few years ago, has sold more than 20 million – closer to 30, I think.
2) The album “Love”, a mash-up of The Beatles tunes, has sold more than a million and is still hanging around in the Top 20 of the Billboard Top 200 albums.
3) The Rolling Stones had the highest-grossing concert tour ever last year.
4) Ever seen a Beatles or Stones CD in the discount bins?
The Beatles are going to sell like crazy on iTunes. A Beatles iPod, if it becomes a reality, will set the market alight.
I guarantee that.