The Beatles finally make their way to iTunes after Apple announces it will be adding the legendary pop group's catalog to their digital music store. (NOVEMBER 16, 2010) APPLE ITUNES HANDOUT - It's been a long and winding road, but the Beatles are finally available on iTunes, filling a conspicuous gap in the digital music store's library.A black-and-white photo of the Fab Four, with the text,"The Beatles. Now on iTunes" greeted visitors to the iTunes website. The songs will be sold for $1.29 each, albums at $12.99, and double albums at $19.99 -- in line with other premium-priced music on iTunes. The availability of the Beatles' hit albums like "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Revolver" and "Abbey Road" is expected to give a boost to digital music sales this quarter and could possibly save their long-time record company EMI Group from defaulting on its debt in March, according to a person familiar with the situation. The iTunes-Beatles agreement is exclusive into 2011, according to EMI, but the company declined to say when in 2011 it would expire. The deal comes after years of fruitless negotiations between Apple founder Steve Jobs, Beatles management company Apple Corps and the Beatles label EMI. |
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