Invariably, someone will reply to this post by asking why we care so much about The Beatles. If you must know, it’s because of their Liverpudlian accents. They’re just so adorable. How can you not love Ringo Starr, I ask you.
Apple Corps has settled a £30 million royalty suit with EMI (that’s $59 million to us yanks) that may have been one of the obstacles preventing the Fab Four’s catalog (or catalogue, if you prefer) from ending up online. This isn’t the first time that EMI and Apple Corps have had words over royalties; the two engaged in a different royalties lawsuit that was settled out of court in 1989. And, of course, Apple Corps and Apple Inc. settled their long-running trademark battle in February. That’s a whole lot of settling.
I’m forced to wonder what connection, if any, exists between this settlement and the departure of Apple Corps CEO Neil Aspinall earlier this very week. Could Aspinall have opposed the deal? Or perhaps he just decided it was a good time to leave. Either way, perhaps we could see The Beatles catalog on iTunes while at least one member of the band are still alive and kicking (I’ll even count Pete Best if I need to).
Why do you guys... oh wait... you've already answered.... nevermind. ;-)