Despite date, Beatles not coming to iTunes Wednesday - report
While the Sept. 9 date marks major events for both The Beatles and Apple, the timing is just a coincidence and does not foreshadow any announcements set for Wednesday, a new report claims.
Peter Kafka with MediaMemo cited "a source familiar with the band's plans" in a story Tuesday, in which he debunks the ongoing rumors that the world's most famous rock band would see its catalog debut on Apple's iTunes Music Store.
"If you’re trying to convince people to spend $16.99 for a remastered copy of the White Album," Kafka asked, "or as much as $250 to play along with the band’s ghostly avatars, why offer a competing product from Apple at the same time? Nor do I see Steve Jobs expressing much interest in coordinating his marketing announcements with the likes of Viacom."
The entire back catalog of The Beatles is being re-released Wednesday, on compact disc, in a new remastered format. The 9.9.09 date, echoing the song "Revolution 9," also brings the release of the video game, The Beatles: Rock Band.
Sept. 9 is also the date Apple will unveil its new iPod lineup -- a date that is purely a coincidence, if Kafka's sources are correct. Rumors of the band's songs appearing on iTunes have existed for years. Apple and the parent company of The Beatles, Apple Corps, were engaged in a lengthy and bitter trademark dispute for decades, but that issue was resolved in 2007.
Even though those issues were patched up years ago, the legendary band has been reluctant to allow its recordings to be made available in a digital format. Users of The Beatles video game, though, will be able to purchase and download additional songs to play in the game, which only further fueled speculation.
When Apple sent out invitations to its event, they included a reference to a lyric from a different legendary rock band, The Rolling Stones. The invitation read "It's only rock and roll, but we like it," leading some to assume Apple was hinting that the iPod-centric event would focus on music, not Macs or the long-rumored tablet.
If The Beatles' songs do not appear on iTunes Wednesday, it's most likely the Sept. 9 date was chosen because Monday, Sept. 7, was Labor Day, a U.S. holiday. Holding the event on Wednesday, rather than Tuesday (as is often done), allows those attending the San Francisco keynote more time to travel after the holiday.
Peter Kafka with MediaMemo cited "a source familiar with the band's plans" in a story Tuesday, in which he debunks the ongoing rumors that the world's most famous rock band would see its catalog debut on Apple's iTunes Music Store.
"If you’re trying to convince people to spend $16.99 for a remastered copy of the White Album," Kafka asked, "or as much as $250 to play along with the band’s ghostly avatars, why offer a competing product from Apple at the same time? Nor do I see Steve Jobs expressing much interest in coordinating his marketing announcements with the likes of Viacom."
The entire back catalog of The Beatles is being re-released Wednesday, on compact disc, in a new remastered format. The 9.9.09 date, echoing the song "Revolution 9," also brings the release of the video game, The Beatles: Rock Band.
Sept. 9 is also the date Apple will unveil its new iPod lineup -- a date that is purely a coincidence, if Kafka's sources are correct. Rumors of the band's songs appearing on iTunes have existed for years. Apple and the parent company of The Beatles, Apple Corps, were engaged in a lengthy and bitter trademark dispute for decades, but that issue was resolved in 2007.
Even though those issues were patched up years ago, the legendary band has been reluctant to allow its recordings to be made available in a digital format. Users of The Beatles video game, though, will be able to purchase and download additional songs to play in the game, which only further fueled speculation.
When Apple sent out invitations to its event, they included a reference to a lyric from a different legendary rock band, The Rolling Stones. The invitation read "It's only rock and roll, but we like it," leading some to assume Apple was hinting that the iPod-centric event would focus on music, not Macs or the long-rumored tablet.
If The Beatles' songs do not appear on iTunes Wednesday, it's most likely the Sept. 9 date was chosen because Monday, Sept. 7, was Labor Day, a U.S. holiday. Holding the event on Wednesday, rather than Tuesday (as is often done), allows those attending the San Francisco keynote more time to travel after the holiday.
Comments
Based on the CD set being sold, perhaps it could even be one of the first 'Cocktail' collections.
The description of the CD set below includes an interesting reference to 'Quicktime' movies, is this iTunes content?
The Beatles in Stereo (from Amazon):
Including eight years of groundbreaking recordings, the Beatles Stereo Box Set contains the individual albums, as well as a two CD Past Masters collection of non-album tracks. Painstakingly remastered over four years by a team of dedicated studio engineers at the legendary Abbey Road studios, they utilised vintage studio equipment in conjunction with state of the art modern recording technology to bring the catalogue to the highest fidelity it has seen since its original release.
Each of the 13 original albums also include a Quicktime mini-documentary, which feature rare photos and footage, as well as previously unheard conversations from Abbey Road studio sessions, to deliver a further insight into the the Beatles' recording process. All of these documentaries are also featured on a DVD packaged in the box set to provide more versatile viewing. The albums have all been repackaged in limited edition eco-friendly packaging, and contain additional rare photos and illuminating background notes.
This collection also marks the first time the first four Beatles albums have been available in stereo in their entirety on compact disc, making this without doubt the most complete stereo Beatles box set ever made.
Basically I said Apple's event is only on Wednesday instead of today because of Labor Day, like in 2007.
And that Apple has gone to some effort to ween the media and Wall Street off Steve Jobs, they're not going to send him out there for a typical iPod refresh. It'll take more than an iPod with a camera to get Steve on stage.
You don't like them - fine. But it would be silly to ignore their impact and significance. Should Mozart be ignored, forgotten, and dismissed because he's so 18th century?
Holding the event on Wednesday, rather than Tuesday (as is often done), allows those attending the San Francisco keynote more time to travel after the holiday.
I doubt this was intentional, but delaying one day also gave an extra cushion to the touch-and-go Bay Bridge closure over the long weekend.
No flash or zoom on mediocre iPod cameras.
iTunes Blu-Ray support yet no Blu- Ray drives.
No Beatles.
No Fab iTab.
Why bother???
I don't know if I could justify purchasing a new iPod twice a year, but I know people that have no problem updating their iPod almost every time a new one comes out.
It will be interesting to see how much our iPod touch resembles the iPhone after tomorrow.
I have always had this feeling that iPhone on AT&T is only a starting point. I could see them turning the iPod Touch into a VOIP phone (sort of already did) eliminating the need for all phone companies, but maybe Apple will offer it's own service through MobileMe or something.
Apple has to hate seeing other people make money off of their products.
Why bother???
You appear to have 'bothered' 4,073 times, according to your latest posting count.
Perhaps Apple should shut down and return all the money to their stockholders. Then Dell's DJ and that twerpy sales dude might stand a chance.
I wrote up my take on this at Seeking Alpha
Basically I said Apple's event is only on Wednesday instead of today because of Labor Day, like in 2007.
And that Apple has gone to some effort to ween the media and Wall Street off Steve Jobs, they're not going to send him out there for a typical iPod refresh. It'll take more than an iPod with a camera to get Steve on stage.
Thanks for summing up your blog in two sentences, saves from having to click on the link.
I think they're waiting for the primary audience for the Beatles catalog to die off. Half of the band is already gone, and the two survivors are pushing 70.
More like they are waiting for Yoko to die off....
That does not necessarily mean Amazon will get digital downloads of all of the Beatles content, but the audio clips make me wonder.
I can't see Apple letting Amazon scoop them on an exclusive window like that -- even if it's only a couple of months.
I could see them turning the iPod Touch into a VOIP phone (sort of already did) eliminating the need for all phone companies, but maybe Apple will offer it's own service through MobileMe or something.
Unfortunately my MobileMe cellular coverage only works in my mind.
It would be a nice fantasy to eliminate all phone companies, but someone has to, you know, install and maintain those pesky towers and switching offices.
Should Mozart be ignored, forgotten, and dismissed because he's so 18th century?
Depends on what you like. Ask a metalhead about him and they might say yes. Ask Michael Kamen (RIP) and he would have said no.
Thanks for summing up your blog in two sentences, saves from having to click on the link.
Yeah, well. I would have submitted just the two sentences but people don't read too many two sentence articles.
Perhaps Apple should shut down and return all the money to their stockholders. Then Dell's DJ and that twerpy sales dude might stand a chance.
NO- just simply release the new modelswithout all this unneccesary hoopla. Do you think Sony has to have an event when a new model of Blu-ray machine, HDTV, or PS3 comes out?
There simply is no need for an event if all you're doing is sticking a camera in the Touch which iPhones already have.
"If you?re trying to convince people to spend $16.99 for a remastered copy of the White Album," Kafka asked, "or as much as $250 to play along with the band?s ghostly avatars, why offer a competing product from Apple at the same time?"
I don't know Kafka head... maybe to make more money?
Depends on what you like. Ask a metalhead about him and they might say yes. Ask Michael Kamen (RIP) and he would have said no.
That's fine. As someone who enjoys metal and classical it's hard to understand, but to each their own. I'm not trying to convince anyone to like Mozart, the Beatles, or anyone. I do think variety makes life a lot more interesting. And movies would be kind of weird if they all had metal soundtracks...
Beatles? I never understood the fascination with them. They did good for their time, but I'd rather get AC/DC on iTunes.
OMG, you're actually comparing that stuff that AC/DC does to the Beatles?
They will still be playing Beatles music when no one even remembers what AC/DC even was.
Just sayin