Tech giant Apple will now offer the entire Beatles catalogue on iTunes, following years of legal tussles between the company and music giant EMI.
The addition of the Beatles’ catalogue is a significant milestone for iTunes, as the band’s music was one of the most prominent missing pieces on the world’s largest digital music marketplace.
Former member Ringo Starr has repeatedly said the addition of Beatles’ music to iTunes is one of the most frequent requests he receives from fans, and analysts have pointed out the addition of the band’s catalogue is a giant leap forward for the digital music industry.
Apple said in a statement it had struck an agreement with Apple Corps and EMI to launch the Beatles’ entire catalogue.
“Starting today, the group’s 13 legendary remastered studio albums with iTunes LPs, the two-volume “Past Masters” compilation and the classic “Red” and “Blue” collections are available for purchase and download on iTunes worldwide as either albums or individual songs.”
Sir Paul McCartney said in a statement the addition of Beatles’ music will come alongside the addition of mini-documentaries and an iTunes-exclusive concert film.
“We’re really excited to bring the Beatles’ music to iTunes,” he said. “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.”
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
