Apple has announced today that it has finally licensed The Beatles’ music for sale through its iTunes store, ending a stand-off that began before the invention of the iPod, with complaints that Apple was infringing the trademarks of the band’s own record label, also called Apple (although the logos were very different!). A deal has now been reached in talks between the two Apples, band members and EMI, which distributes The Beatles’ music.
Finally together...
The Beatles have therefore finally got a ‘ticket to ride the digital music bandwagon’, after many years when the remaining band members (or perhaps EMI) have resisted making their back catalogue available for download.
Apple launched iTunes to sell music for iPods and other devices in 2003, and The Beatles are the only significant artists to have refused to license their music for sale.
Apple invited the media to a secret event with the teaser: “Tomorrow is Just Another Day”. The invite included four clocks, showing the scheduled time in four countries, and evokes the Help! album cover.
This is just a sign that Apples hold on the music download market is not going to reduce anytime soon!
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