Beatles to release tracks on iTunes

Fri, 13 April 2007

In my previous post a few months back, I reflected on a strange triangle between Apple Inc, Apple Records and EMI. What happened (meanwhile) is that Apple and Apple have settled their trademark dispute, Steve Jobs has called for DRM-free music and been backed by EMI, not only in the words but in action. Now, as we know, Apple Inc. sells DRM-free music via iTunes online store.

Yesterday, Neil Aspinall has stepped down as chief executive of Apple Corps which manages the Beatles’ commercial interests, after being in his position for over 40 years. His replacement is no one else but Jeff Jones, former executive vice president at Legacy Recordings/Sony BMG Catalog Worldwide.

London’s Daily Telegraph is reporting that EMI and Apple agreed to a confidential settlement of their longstanding dispute (over £30 million underpayment by EMI between 1994 and 1999), and that “Executives at the group’s company Apple Corps Ltd and EMI can now sit down and work out a new royalties deal to cover music downloads of their hit singles and albums by websites like iTunes.”

Being the market leader, and with rights to Apple trademark, the Apple Inc is very likely to be the first in line to release Beatles’ music online via the iTunes store.

Stumble it!