This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Business News Digital Labels & Publishers Top Stories
The Beatles arrive on iTunes: People saying things
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 17 November 2010
Paul McCartney: “We’re really excited to bring the Beatles’ music to iTunes. 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”.
Ringo Starr: “I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes. At last, if you want it – you can get it now -The Beatles from Liverpool to now! Peace and love, Ringo”.
Yoko Ono: “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”.
Olivia Harrison: “The Beatles on iTunes – Bravo!”
Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs: “We love the Beatles and are honoured and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes. 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”.
EMI CEO Roger Faxon: “The Beatles and iTunes have both been true innovators in their fields. 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”.
Official Charts Company MD Martin Talbot: “This is amazing news for music fans in the lead up to Christmas. Beatles fans – and fans of music of all ages – have wanted The Beatles’ classic repertoire to be available for download since digital music became a reality six years ago. The recent success of their remastered ‘Red’ and ‘Blue’ greatest hits CDs showed that there is still lots of demand for their timeless music, 40 years after their split. As a result of this massive historical step, we are certain that their music will make a big impact on the Official Singles Chart – starting off this coming Sunday – over the coming days and weeks. Along with the rest of the country, we will be tracking it closely”.
BPI chief Geoff Taylor: “The announcement that The Beatles will be available to download legally on iTunes marks the coming of age for digital music. British music fans have never had so much choice – from the smallest indie dance act to the superstars of rock and roll, there are millions of tracks available on more than 70 different digital music services, catering for every possible taste and budget”.
Music industry analyst, blogger and Forrester Research VP Mark Mulligan: “So finally Apple gets the Beatles catalogue Steve Jobs has been pining for. Thank goodness that is out of the way; now we can focus on important developments. The fact that securing the content of a band old enough to be most young music fans’ grandfathers (and some) [is such big news] is a sad reflection of the state of the digital music market. Yes, it will be a success. Yes, we’ll have numerous Beatle number ones (probably including at Christmas). But that’s just further depressing evidence of the old geezer skew of digital music buyers. The digital music market (and the young music fans that record labels desperately need to get engaged) needs new music products, not yesteryear’s hits repackaged. So, congratulations Steve on finally getting your Beatles catalogue; now can you please turn your attention to innovating your digital music services”.
