Prior to any official announcement, iTunes Preview was displaying images of The Beatles' albums. The tracks appeared on iTunes Preview 20 minutes before Apple's excepted announcement, dubbed 'tomorrow'.
A wide range of albums are now for sale, including Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, The 'White Album,' Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be.
Additionally compilations The Beatles - Past Masters, Vols. 1 & 2 are also included along with the 'Red' and 'Blue' best-of compilations from the 1970s, recently re-issued after a sonic polish.
Single albums are available for purchase and download for £10.99 each, double albums for £17.99 each and individual songs for £0.99 each. The Beatles Box Set meanwhile, a snip at £125, includes all the band's studio albums plus the Past Masters collection.
Albums come with short mini-documentaries, which made their debut last year when The Beatles catalogue was reissued and remastered.
To celebrate the iTunes debut, Beatles fans can also stream and view the "Live at the Washington Coliseum, 1964" concert film from iTunes for free for the remainder of this calendar year.
A short biography sums up the Beatles, claiming that their story is "mythic" and that "it's difficult to summarize their career without restating cliches."
The surviving Beatles along with Apple's Beatles loving CEO appear very happy with the deal after years of delays and unfulfilled rumours.
“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 honoured 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 realising 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.”
Oh boy: iTunes broke the news before the official 3pm announcement.
The Beatles in late period mode.
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Comments received
harw1n said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
What is exciting about this? zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Mark Hattersley said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
Official: I never have to write another "Beatles Coming to iTunes" rumour ever again.
*crack* breaks open bubbly!
jquartson said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
@harw1n
If you have to ask.....!!!!
Andy80F said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
Bit of a "so what?" response to the Beatles on iTunes, I was expecting something more interesting. Beatles are a great band (and many albums are already in my itunes library) but my iPad needs 4.2 more than it needs the Beatles.
Andy80F said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
Bit of a "so what?" response to the Beatles on iTunes, I was expecting something more interesting. Beatles are a great band (and many albums are already in my itunes library) but my iPad needs 4.2 more than it needs the Beatles.
Dragonfly said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
I thought they had sorted that out years ago... What's the big deal ? Next they'll be announcing Laural & Hardy comes to iTunes Rentals. I think Apple may be living in a bit of a time warp :-)
Tony said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
Could have made a few more stories from this non-announcement.
Still cheaper to buy elsewhere.
stucham said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
Why on earth Apple have wasted money - and it will be a fortune, knowing how long it has taken them to 'negotiate a settlement' because the sticking point will have been money, for a group that was lauded primarily by little girls at the time of their live performances and will be of little interest to present day youngsters and almost certainly not to adults.
paul.addison said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
Who cares? It bothers me that Apple think this has any importance at all. The thing I'll remember about this day is that Apple has fallen much further in my esteem, I though that impossible after the daylight savings problem.
Jonah said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
Yes, the Daylight Savings Disaster ranks up there with the banking crisis, I agree.
Tom said on Tue, 16 Nov 2010
It makes Jobs happy, so, even though we've all waited so long anyone who wanted the Beatles already has them on MP3 or whatever.
I wonder if they'll finally take Sosumi out of the next OS release...
showbizjohn said on Wed, 17 Nov 2010
Beatles? Big deal, yawn.
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