The Beatles now available on Apple’s iTunes Store:
“The Beatles have remained one of the most reliable franchises in the business. In 2009, 39 years after breaking up, they sold the third-highest number of albums of any act in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan, with 3.3 million copies sold. In the past decade, the Beatles sold the second-highest number of albums of any artist (trailing Eminem by 2 million units), and the second-highest number of albums since SoundScan launched in 1991 (Garth Brooks has sold more), according to SoundScan,” Ethan Smith reported yesterday for The Wall Street Journal.
UPDATE: 10am EDT: Apple.com’s home page now shows:
Photo by Bruce McBroom/© Apple Corps Ltd.
Apple’s press release, verbatim:
Apple Corps, EMI and Apple today announced that the Beatles, the most influential and beloved rock band in music history, are now available for the first time on the iTunes Store. Starting today, the group’s 13 legendary remastered studio albums with iTunes LPs, the two-volume “Past Masters” compilation and the classic “Red” and “Blue” collections are available for purchase and download on iTunes worldwide as either albums or individual songs. Fans can also get a special digital “Beatles Box Set” featuring the “Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964” concert film, a worldwide iTunes exclusive which captures the Beatles’ very first US concert.
“We’re really excited to bring the Beatles’ music to iTunes,” said Sir Paul McCartney. “It’s fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around.”
“I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes,” said Ringo Starr. “At last, if you want it—you can get it now—The Beatles from Liverpool to now! Peace and Love, Ringo.”
“We love the Beatles and are honored and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “It has been a long and winding road to get here. Thanks to the Beatles and EMI, we are now realizing a dream we’ve had since we launched iTunes ten years ago.”
“In the joyful spirit of Give Peace A Chance, I think it is so appropriate that we are doing this on John’s 70th birthday year,” said Yoko Ono Lennon.
“The Beatles on iTunes—Bravo!” said Olivia Harrison.
“The Beatles and iTunes have both been true innovators in their fields,” said EMI Group CEO Roger Faxon. “It’s a privilege for everybody at EMI to work with Steve Jobs and with Apple Corps’ Jeff Jones and their teams in marking a great milestone in the development of digital music.”
Each of the Beatles’ 13 legendary remastered studio albums, including “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Revolver,” “The Beatles [The White Album]” and “Abbey Road” include iTunes LPs, which create an immersive album experience with a beautiful design and expanded visual features including a unique mini-documentary about the creation of each album. The two-volume “Past Masters” compilation and the classic “Red” and “Blue” collections are also available.
Single albums are available for purchase and download for $12.99 each, double albums for $19.99 each and individual songs for $1.29 each.
The special digital “Beatles Box Set” ($149) contains the 13 remastered studio albums with iTunes LPs and all mini-documentaries, “Past Masters,” and the “Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964” concert film, a worldwide iTunes exclusive which captures the Beatles’ very first US concert in its entirety. In addition, Beatles fans can stream and view the “Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964” concert film from iTunes for free for the remainder of this calendar year.
Find The Beatles on Apple’s iTunes Store here.
MacDailyNews Take: “Life is very short and there’s no time, for fussing and fighting my friend. I have always thought that it’s a crime, so I will ask you once again: try to see it my way, only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong. While you see it your way, there’s a chance that we might fall apart before too long. We can work it out. We can work it out.” – Lennon/McCartney
Ohh boy. iTunes sales just went FOOOM.
Wow, man. I’ve overcome with indifference..
Seriously, anyone into the Beatles will have already got the records/tapes/CDs ripped and in their iTunes library already.
And this is worthy of an big announcement why?
Please allow me to introduce myself…
Ooooh ….. yawn. I love the Beatles but come on.
AWESOME!!!!
/s
Finally, an end to the relentless speculation as to when this will happen. For that reason alone, I’m thrilled!
@ Catseye
I couldn’t agree more. I love the Beatles too, but a day we’ll never forget? Seriously Apple?
Big woop
@ Mick Jagger
This is clearly NOT the big announcement. It’s not the time yet!
As of today we will be streaming.
A day we‘ll never forget?
To Lala and the NC data center!
I’m trying hard to care, but somehow it’s just not working.
This can’t be all it is. Must be just the tip of the iceberg.
Now all we need is Cold Chisel.
Who cares??? If your a fan, chances are you would own the CD’s anyway!
Thats all????
Wao!
Nice. Not necessarily all. Airplay is operational. I still think we’ll hear data center news — and I still think it’s going to be streaming live broadcasts.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
this was the friggin announcement but its not 10 yet in NY
Hehe… Apple.com is still saying:
Tomorrow is just another day.
That you’ll never forget.
Check back here tomorrow for an exciting announcement from iTunes.
I guess there is going to be a perpetual exciting announcement from iTunes tomorrow
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This is actually great news. Mostly symbolic I guess, since most everybody has ripped the Beatles that wants them. Still it is another victory for Apple and Steve Jobs.
I already have the Beatles on CD.
I want the Beatles movies on Blu-ray.
A day we’ll never forget because it was way too late. Ha!
‘Please allow me to introduce myself?’
That’s the opening line of Sympathy for the Devil, the rolling stones…..
I sure hope that is not all the hype is about?
Anyway to watch the keynote live in 15 min?
I think I have all the Beatles already. If there is a song or two, I wont have to purchase the cd.
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