Yoko Ono: 'Don't hold your breath' for Beatles on Apple's iTunes

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  • Reply 41 of 125
    It would be nice to have the Beatles catalogue come out digitally. I like Yoko Ono, and John LOVED HER. All Beatles fans should LOVE HER as well. People say that "she broke up the Beatles". Thats preposterous. John was looking and searching for a way to grow psychologically, and he found his woman and he rebelled against his band. He didnt do anything to "us". He was a gifted artist and a struggling person. John realized that he could not be the worlds spiritual leader when we had to do our own work and he had to do his own work as well. He let it (the Beatles) go after taking us to places that most of us couldnt reach on our own. He provided a boost to all of us. Like Dylan and Neil Young and a bunch of other musicians he was a great teacher. Yoko Ono is an optimist. Maybe her voice isnt that great, but that just doesnt matter except if its all about "I, me, me, my". And its really not. I think Yoko just wants to get the appropriate money per song out of EMI per play. I think some of us want her to just give the Beatles catalogue away to Apple Computer and the EMI record company. But the fact is that as a business entity, the Beatles are protected from being torn apart and scavanged by giant corporations that would put "Help!" on a Draino commercial and suck it into oblivion. I think that Yoko is doing exactly what should be done. The Beatles is currently a business, not in a horrible sense, but in the sense that it is a business that remains solidly grounded in the principle of what the music represents. The Beatles never went "commercial" or at least tried to uncommercialize themselves. For some of us the uncommercialized themselves to the point of dissolving their group identity. They never sold out completely, or at least they tried to unsell themselves. There is something to be said for that. If the price we have to pay for what the Beatles created, is the inconvenience of not currently having a digitized archive then its ok.
  • Reply 42 of 125
    coolcatcoolcat Posts: 156member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SkywalkerMac View Post


    all this noise just for some 60 years old songs? come on people!!! it's not that they don't wanna put on itunes some new band or some new cool music. I just don't get it. They (beatles, ono, mccartney ) act like if they were the best in the world and they only have some really old music, good music, but still old, nothing new. Songs that everybody knows and that can listen everywhere. Apple should be the one denying beatles to go on itunes now. I hope steve gets mad about this and tells Ono to go selling apples on a train station.



    bye



    60 years? You need to quit smoking crack dumba$$ So according to your NON MATHEMATICAL skills, you're saying the Beattles formed in 1950....uh...WRONG! Why is it people who don't know sh*t feel they have to post? How old are you anyways? 12?
  • Reply 43 of 125
    zoetmbzoetmb Posts: 2,654member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cggr View Post


    Gawd youre a pest Ono - surely you cant have too much longer on the planet annoying everyone can you..?



    It's not just Yoko. All of the Beatles survivors and families, as well as the record labels have a say in this and anything they do takes forever. Anything involving the Beatles is immensely complicated. That's why it took so long for the original CDs and finally, last year, for the remasters.



    There have been plenty of missed business opportunities for the Beatles because of these complications.



    I don't see what the big deal is. Buy the CDs and burn them. That's usually less expensive anyway, especially if you want the entire album. (Any decent retailer will sell them for $12 with generally 14 tracks). And you get higher audio quality that way. And with the exception of the first few albums, the Beatles should be listened to as albums.
  • Reply 44 of 125
    john.bjohn.b Posts: 2,742member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by mitcheisenstein View Post


    I like Yoko Ono, and John LOVED HER. All Beatles fans should LOVE HER as well.



    Uh, no thanks, I'll pass.



    I can never get beyond her caterwauling that wrecked some of Lennon's albums.



    And, of course, it turns out Macca's instincts about her were 100% correct.
  • Reply 45 of 125
    zoetmbzoetmb Posts: 2,654member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by John.B View Post


    The record company that originally owned the publishing (i.e. record label) rights to hundreds of Beatles songs (as a UK tax dodge) was divested in 1969, and that is what MJ bought in 1985:



    http://www.straightdope.com/columns/...-music-library



    Note that publishing rights are a different beast from songwriting rights. Publishing rights are typically owned by the record companies, ostensibly as compensation for album and artist promotion. Publishing rights don't give the owner control of the catalog, they just give them the ability to continually cash royalty checks.



    More background on the subject at snopes.com: http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/jackson.asp



    That's not quite right. Publishing rights ARE the songwriting rights. Those are owned by the publisher and royalties are generally statutory (at least in the U.S.). Performance rights, sometimes referred to as "needle drop" rights, are owned by the labels.



    When you use a song, the label has to be paid for the performance and the publisher has to be paid for the song. If an artist records a new version of someone else's song, they pay only the publisher.



    Michael Jackson's company owned the publishing rights to most of the Beatles catalog.



    As a side note, one of the reasons why the early Beatles UK releases generally contained 14 tracks and the U.S. releases only contained 12 is because the statutory payments were based on each track in the U.S., but divided among all the tracks in the UK. (Another reason is because American practice was to cut the vinyl masters at much higher levels which required more space.)
  • Reply 46 of 125
    oldmacguyoldmacguy Posts: 151member
    All my Beatles albums are on Vinyl, and I haven't listened to them in 35 years, at least. Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.
  • Reply 47 of 125
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by waldobushman View Post


    I might be just me, (and I'm out of the demographics that buy a lot of music), the lack of Beatles albums on iTunes (or anywhere) has never been more than a yawn to me. (Truth be told, I listened to the Beatles when their music first came out. I'm not much interested in music for nostalgia's sake).



    I might understand the issues between EMI/Beatles and Apple, but I don't care.



    I'm in the same situation. I can remember each album coming out and I had them all and played them to death. I bought some of them again in CD form in the 80's and 90's and played them to death as well, but it's too late now. I'm not remotely interested in listening to the Beatles at this stage and wouldn't buy them if they were available.



    How many people remember in the 70's when we were all nostalgic for 50's rock, or even the big band music from the 40's? A lot of people thought that was reaching too far into the past and "who cares about music from that long ago" when there was "rock and roll." Today, the early Beatles music is roughly 45 years old!



    Listening to old Beatles music today is like some old fogie in the 60's with a penchant for listening to Rudy Vallee or Enrico Caruso from the 20's for cripes sake.



    There is so much fantastic new music out there today you couldn't even listen to it all if you took all day every day to do it. Why anyone cares this much about the Beatles when their music is freely available on CD's everywhere you look I just don't understand. They were great yes, fantastic in fact, but that was a long long time ago. There is nothing about them being on a digital format that will make their music sound any better. It was recorded mostly before stereo even became available and has been processed to death just to make it sound half-decent anyway.



    The only thing I like about this statement today is that it seems to me that Yoko is finally owning up to being the cause of the situation. Up until now everyone suspected her but had no evidence whatsoever. Her personal statement of dislike for the deal is revealing to say the least.
  • Reply 48 of 125
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by s4mb4 View Post


    last time i checked, i could not download original Black Sabbath records either... so why all the hype over the Beatles. Ozzy was just as influential as Lennon.



    This is sacrilege and a complete lie, but of course you knew that and only posted it so someone would respond like this.



    Black Sabbath was a great band but on the musical genius scale Lennon is at least a thousand rungs higher than Ozzy.
  • Reply 49 of 125
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by John.B View Post


    Uh, no thanks, I'll pass.



    I can never get beyond her caterwauling that wrecked some of Lennon's albums.



    And, of course, it turns out Macca's instincts about her were 100% correct.



    "Season of Glass" was a great album, and she wrote half the songs on Double Fantasy which are all great IMO.



    I don't understand why people aren't able to separate Yoko's annoying personality from her music which is actually quite good. I always thought it was plain old racism disguised as something else, but it sure has legs given that these kind of visceral reactions can still be seen to her all this time later. Probably when she dies of old age there will still be some who come to shake their fists over her grave.



    I'm with the other poster. If you loved the Beatles, and loved John Lennon, then you should love music, and see music as art. This is what Yoko's music is all about.



    If you love the Beatles but hated Yoko Ono and her music, then maybe all the Beatles were to you was a bunch of catchy tunes in the early 60's.



    To prevent further distress, switch to adoring the Beach Boys. Their songs are even catchier and you can avoid that kind of "art music" altogether.
  • Reply 50 of 125
    cincyteecincytee Posts: 403member
    Quote:

    "There's just an element that we're not very happy about, as people. We are holding out."



    Odds that "we're not very happy about" how much we'll get paid?
  • Reply 51 of 125
    ronboronbo Posts: 669member
    I'm forever amazed at how much the legacy of The Beatles has been spoiled by the misbehavior of its parasites.
  • Reply 52 of 125
    rot'napplerot'napple Posts: 1,839member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by SendMe View Post


    It is unlikely then, that I will ever buy another Beatles song.



    Buh Bye, Beatles!





    AMEN! I'm with you!



    Beatles are hypocrites!



    "You never give me your money, you only give me your funny papers and in the middle of negotiations you break down"!



    Now, that has been taken to new heights by The Beatles, et al Yoko Ono!



    Also, I see where the "Pet Yokie" needed help from the "Man" in keeping in jail Mark David Chapman, speaking out against his parole but yet, had no trouble speaking out against the "Man" when it came to issues like "Give Peace a Chance" so let's sleep in a bed for a week protesting Vietnam?! Ha!!



    All we are saying is give Mark a chance!



    He's not a criminal, mentally not right, but not a criminal. Another blatant Liberal philosophical oxymoron being demonstrated!



    Oh and don't get me started on 'Sir Paulie'! Hey Paulie, I'm not going to need you and I'm not going to feed you when your sixty-four! In fact, get a physical Paulie, you may have the onset of Dementia because you seem not right in the head lately! You know what's good for the mind Paulie? Exercising the brain Paulie. Go read a book Paulie. When's the last time your sorry ass has been to a library? Huh Paulie?! Oh, and President Bush has a Bachelor of Arts from Yale and the Master of Business Administration from Harvard and while at Harvard graduated with a better GPA then the so called intellect, John F. Kerry! So Paulie, if one were to examine your Biography of your education, what would they find? A novel, a short story or a sticky note? I think it would be the latter! And while I won't take away from your musical genius and God given talent because it is before us, for all the world to see. But when you take away that aspect of your life, what would be left? What other accomplishment? What would your biography be like? Me?! I'm no one special. Then again, I'm not the one who is the buffoon, knocking a highly accomplished individual and former Head of State, and at of all places, a White House sponsored awards ceremony where it was rather crass and ill mannered, but would one expect any less from you Paulie?



    Let us see, President Bush: college educated, BA and Masters, learned how to fly jets, served in the National Guard, Businessman, Governor, President, Humanitarian Spokesman, to mention a few highlights of his life... what might yours look like, Sir Paulie: Great Musician... and... and... any awards, accomplishments and accolades were derived because of being a great musician, that's about it. So think twice Sir Paulie and don't open that uneducated, ignorant hole in your face unless it is to belt out a song because that's about what you're good for!! Okay Paulie!



    BEATLES on iTunes, No Sale Here!!!





    Damn, That Felt Good!



    Now if I can only get that Bastard, 'Sir Paulie', to read it and have the ability in person to say to Paulie's face with regards to my sentiments of him, "NO APOLOGIES HERE, LOSER"!

    !

    !

    !
  • Reply 53 of 125
    icyfogicyfog Posts: 338member
    It's no bother to me. I ripped my entire Beatles collection already.
  • Reply 54 of 125
    ronboronbo Posts: 669member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cincytee View Post


    Odds that "we're not very happy about" how much we'll get paid?



    Wasn't there something awhile back that The Beatles' lawyers were insisting on some unrealistic assurances from Apple about compensation for any music found in the wild that was copied illegally? Or am I dreaming.
  • Reply 55 of 125
    kenaustuskenaustus Posts: 924member
    The lack of their music on iTunes has been the greatest FUBAR that any band has made in this new digital world. Millions throw away because of a lack of an understanding of the sales (and revenue) potential.



    Or is it Yoko who is holding up the arrangements - holding out for a larger percentage?
  • Reply 56 of 125
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by s4mb4 View Post


    last time i checked, i could not download original Black Sabbath records either... so why all the hype over the Beatles. Ozzy was just as influential as Lennon.





    Hmmm, are you !@#$%!$@#@$#!% ???????
  • Reply 57 of 125
    fyngyrzfyngyrz Posts: 61member
    I've a huge music collection, including all the old Beatles music, but I've not even put the Beatles stuff into iTunes. It's old; dated; and musically speaking, not very sophisticated. The Beatles day has long passed, and honestly, I think their catalog is of more interest to historians than your average music listener these days.



    Speaking not just as a listener, but also as a musician, music has moved on. And you know what? I'm glad. I would much rather listen to Joe Satriani than John or George; Stuart Hamm than Paul; and lord knows almost every drummer on the planet is better than poor old Ringo. And the singing... simplistic and again, dated. Plus, there is very little worthwhile (non-pop) output from the individuals post-Beatles; they really were more together than they were apart, all hype aside.



    So while the ongoing feud is interesting to watch, I can't say I have any stake in it, other than to observe that ol' Yoko and the crew are likely to push this so far as to work themselves out of a significant amount of income. Oh well. It's not like they matter. Even the press is just reporting this out of habit now -- I bet most people who buy music from iTunes actually have no idea what is in the Beatles catalog at this point in time, nor are they likely to care once they hear some of it. Simplistic recording, basic harmonies, 60's sentiments... they sound like a garage band.
  • Reply 58 of 125
    goochergoocher Posts: 92member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Curmudgeon View Post


    Is there really anybody on the planet that wants Beatles music that doesn't already own Beatles music? I mean, it's been 40+ years. I can't imagine that sales will really go up much just because it was made available on iTunes.



    My daughter is 14. She "discovered" the Beatles recently. So, there you go.



    There are entire generations that discover "new" music, and fall in love with groups like the Beatles. It'll happen with each generation.



    So, the short answer is:

    Beatles on iTunes = new mountains of money pouring into their respective estates.
  • Reply 59 of 125
    smiles77smiles77 Posts: 668member
    nothing to see here
  • Reply 60 of 125
    kyle76kyle76 Posts: 54member
    No digital catalog for The Beatles? Didn't they release their remasters on an apple-shaped hard drive in FLAC?
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