Digital Music News reports that preparations are under way to release the Beatles catalogue via legitimate digital music platforms, which may include iTunes, despite the much previously reported ongoing legal dispute between the company that manages the Beatles recording catalogue, Apple Corp, and Apple Computers.
With a handful of exceptions, Beatles recordings are still unavailable via legitimate download sellers, an obvious omission in the digital catalogue. Digital Music News bases its claims that that omission may soon be rectified on comments made by Apple Corps boss Neil Aspinall at the recent London court case dealing with that Apple v Apple lawsuit.
Aspinall apparently revealed that the Beatles' back catalogue is current being digitally re-mastered, and that once that is complete Apple Corps intend to release the enhanced recordings through both physical and download routes. He is quoted as saying: "I think it would be wrong to offer downloads of the old masters when I am making new masters. It would be better to wait and try to do them both simultaneously so that you then get the publicity of the new masters and the downloading, rather than just doing it ad hoc".
An Apple Corps spokesman wouldn't commit on any timescales when asked by DMN about Aspinall's comments, describing the remastering work and digital plans as "one of many initiatives we are planning".