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Google and Amazon Bid for The Beatles' Catalog as EMI and Apple Corps Squabbled

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A pair of reports issued yesterday and today are shedding some light on the behind-the-scenes negotiations that finally led to The Beatles' catalog finally coming to the iTunes Store yesterday.

Billboard reports that the multi-year holdup in bringing The Beatles to iTunes was in large part a result of squabbling between record label EMI and Beatles holding company Apple Corps, neither of which had the sole power to reach a deal for digital distribution of Beatles content.
Much of the impasse was between Apple Corps and EMI. Although EMI has the rights to exploit the Beatles catalog under an existing agreement with Apple Corps, there was enough ambiguity in the deal that EMI was not free to fully negotiate in the digital realm as it would have liked.

"Apple Corp and EMI had some major issues to work through with respect to the granting of rights to exploit the master recordings that the Beatles gave EMI," a source with knowledge of the relationship says. "EMI would never be in the business of doing something against the wishes of the Beatles."
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The stalemate was reportedly broken by EMI's new head of recorded music Roger Faxon, who made bringing The Beatles to iTunes one of his top priorities. On the other side, Apple Corps' Jeff Jones, who took over the reigns of the company in 2007, has also been credited with bringing a fresh willingness to negotiate to the table.

While Billboard's report notes that Apple is assumed to have paid a "substantial" advance to EMI to obtain The Beatles' catalog, a report from The New York Post claims that no such such upfront payment was made to EMI as part of the deal.

The New York Post's article also reports that Google and Amazon were pitching to obtain the digital distribution rights for The Beatles' catalog, but that Apple offered the other parties involved the best deal.
Google and Amazon were also pitching to secure the Beatles rights for their own digital music stores, according to industry sources.

In the end, Apple's iTunes, which remains the dominant digital music store, offered the Beatles the best deal despite the previous bad blood between the two entities, sources said.
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The Beatles are currently making a strong showing in Apple's lists of top iTunes Store sellers, with over 60 of the group's songs currently ranked on the Top 200 Songs list and all 17 of the album/box set releases ranking among the top 50 albums.

Article Link: Google and Amazon Bid for The Beatles' Catalog as EMI and Apple Corps Squabbled
 
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https://www.macrumors.com/2010/11/17/google-and-amazon-bid-for-the-beatles-catalog-as-emi-and-apple-corps-squabbled/
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I'm just waiting for all the rest of the "who cares" and "the beatles suck anyways" comments to come rolling in.
 
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mmccaskill said:
Could this exclusivity result in an anti-trust law suit?
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No. Walmart and Target sign exclusives on music all the time. Remember when you could only buy Garth Brooks from one store? Essentially same thing.
 
who cares? me!!!

I think this is some of the biggest news Apple has ever released - people, do you KNOW the history between Apple and Apple? I NEVER thought I'd see this day! I won't even be purchasing any tracks from iTunes (i already have both box sets) BUT I think this is tremendous news and I am extremely excited for Apple. This was such a major void in the iTunes store - the biggest music store on the planet without the band that influenced probably 70% of its catalog? Come on, this is huge!!!

I think many people simply understood the teaser. It's not that it's a day you will never forget, the phrase was a play on Beatles references - the hints were in the phrase.

Anyway!
 
mmccaskill said:
Could this exclusivity result in an anti-trust law suit?
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Doubtful. Especially since it's a timed exclusive, "through 2011".

All that it can really result in is butthurt... and possible retaliation, like one of the others securing exclusive AC/DC rights. (The last big hold-out.)
 
Making up news?

I like the Beatles and am glad that it is available on itunes, but the details of the agreement are meaningless to me.

Not surprised that a bunch Beatles fans are drooling at every bit of trivia that comes out about the Fabulous Four.

Done with it.
 
Seriously?

Who cares? Buy the remastered digital CDs'; rip them for yourself at your own preferred bite/rate; stick the CDs in a safe deposit box; put your music where you want it - w/o iTunes. End of story.
 
8ate8 said:
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I'm just waiting for all the rest of the "who cares" and "the beatles suck anyways" comments to come rolling in.
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Anyone who takes the time to post here obviously cares. Those who TRULY don't care moved on. So it's especially hilarious to see people take the time to write "who cares?"
 
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My question is if you don't like the beatles who do you like?

I mean sure I know people who don't like the beatles but they all acknowlage that they were a great band, never have I seen so many people with such misinformed hate. It's is a new low for this forum.
 
Cool to get the scoop on what happened. Glad they're with iTunes even though I already have their albums :eek:
 
Is anyone else really surprised by the performance of the Box Set? It's the #11 album on all of iTunes right now, beating all but 3 of The Beatles' own studio albums!
That's quite something considering it costs $150.
 
NebulaClash said:
Anyone who takes the time to post here obviously cares. Those who TRULY don't care moved on. So it's especially hilarious to see people take the time to write "who cares?"
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Maybe because the article is about the behind the scenes deal for a popular band. I doubt that most Beatles fans care about "the dealings", as long as the music is available.

This type of story is belongs in a Beatles fan forum or on the super market tabloid. That why some takes the time to say "Who Cares".

My opinion.
 
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