Beatles coming to iTunes?

Stephen Withers
Monday, 02 April 2007 02:27

Your IT - Home IT

News that Apple CEO Steve Jobs will attend an EMI event in London later today has renewed speculation that Beatles tracks will soon be available from the iTunes Store.

This follows the recent settlement between Apple and Apple Corps concerning the Apple trademark, which is now owned by the iPod and Mac maker, and licensed to the Beatles' company.

Furthermore, the Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band featured in Steve Jobs' demonstration of the iPhone at Macworld 2007, and EMI CEO recently praised the simplicity of the iPod and iTunes.

EMI officials have been close-lipped about the subject of today's event, and the invitation only refers to an "exciting new digital offering" and a "special live performance" by an unnamed guest or guests.

Alternative explanations for the event are that it was an elaborate April Fools joke (the invitations were apparently issued yesterday), or that EMI is taking up Jobs' recent challenge to music companies that they should drop DRM on tracks sold through iTunes and other download services.