# The Beatles are on iTunes! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873 "2010-11-16T17:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/21 "2010-11-16T20:34:07Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > FoxNews are all excited about it too: > > [http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/11/15/apple-itunes-gets-rights-beatles/](http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/11/15/apple-itunes-gets-rights-beatles/) > > Manchester? :dubious: Obviously, they got the Beatles mixed up with the Bee Gees. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/22 "2010-11-16T20:45:10Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > If you want to buy it, why wouldnā€™t you just buy the physical media and make your own mp3s? For less money? Thatā€™s probably what Iā€™ll end up doing since I really want the Mono set, and I think iTunes is only offering the stereo versions. I was holding out hope that Google Music (when it finally arrives) would be the first to have The Beatles catalog, but oh wellā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/23 "2010-11-16T21:02:29Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Obviously, they got the Beatles mixed up with the Bee Gees. šŸ˜ƒ Theyā€™ve changed it to ā€œ_Englandā€™s_ favorite mopheadsā€ now. Too redfaced to change it to Liverpool? Also, I donā€™t want to stick the boot in here but isnā€™t the usual term ā€˜moptopā€™? ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/24 "2010-11-16T21:17:46Z")
iTunes exclusive [ā€œinto 2011.ā€](http://www.ipodnn.com/articles/10/11/16/itunes.beatles.deal.an.exclusive.past.january/) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/25 "2010-11-16T21:51:59Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > we finally convinced the Beatlesā€™ trademark holders Copyright, not trademark. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/26 "2010-11-16T22:06:20Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Copyright, not trademark. In the case of the Beatles (and Apple), it really is trademark at issue, I think. The long-existing hostilities between them are the result of trademark disputes over the Apple brand name. The Beatlesā€™ record label was ā€œAppleā€ as well. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/27 "2010-11-16T23:06:59Z")
The circumstances that Munch described amounts to a concern by the party that controls the copyrights. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/28 "2010-11-16T23:14:22Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > Theyā€™ve changed it to ā€œ_Englandā€™s_ favorite mopheadsā€ now. Too redfaced to change it to Liverpool? Also, I donā€™t want to stick the boot in here but isnā€™t the usual term ā€˜moptopā€™? Yes, it is. Although now Iā€™m thinking that I will start calling Fox News a bunch of mopheads. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/29 "2010-11-16T23:18:27Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > Copyright, not trademark. Dammit. I even thought about it for a second. Stupid brainā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/30 "2010-11-16T23:25:33Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Exactly. Tell me when the Bee Geeā€™s catalog is available! Which Bee Gee? Seems to me thereā€™s a whole mess of Gibbs. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/31 "2010-11-16T23:29:15Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > The convenience is nice. I hate going to a store, buying the CD, ripping it to my hard drive and then storing that plastic CD that I will never again touch, or take the time to sell it used somewhere. > > I long for the day when all media is digital. So you waited years for them to be available on iTunes instead of getting the cds used somewhere and ripping them to your computer at the bit rate of your choice? That is convenient? Color me unimpressed. The entire catalog has been available for decades in various forms. 99% of the people that want Beatles mp3s have them by now. Most over rated band ever. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/32 "2010-11-16T23:40:41Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > 99% of the people that want Beatles mp3s have them by now. Perhapsā€¦but I still bet the MP3s sell like hotcakes. I love the Beatles (Iā€™d call them the best pop band ever, although they might not be my favorite band), but donā€™t have most of their shit for one reason or another, and their availability on iTunes certainly makes it more possible that I will buy them. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/33 "2010-11-16T23:43:43Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > So you waited years for them to be available on iTunes instead of getting the cds used somewhere and ripping them to your computer at the bit rate of your choice? That is convenient? > > Color me unimpressed. The entire catalog has been available for decades in various forms. 99% of the people that want Beatles mp3s have them by now. > > Most over rated band ever. Ummmā€¦ did you even read my other posts? I own a lot of their albums already. However, there are albums that I have held off buying because I assume there are only a few tracks on them that Iā€™d like. With this new deal, I can buy the single tracks on those albums that I like. Hence the reason I bought a few off the White album today. BTW: The Beatles were the Greatest Band Ever! ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/34 "2010-11-17T01:18:15Z")
The key word being WERE. Then _The Who_ came along in 1964, and kicked the Beatles asses. I really donā€™t get WHY this is news. Iā€™ve had Beatles songs on my ipod since 2003. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/35 "2010-11-17T02:17:57Z")
In a related note, Iā€™m very disappointed with the whole digital music scene. iTunes is a terrible mp3 player. (No search keyboard search shortcut?) Now I can use my money to buy Beatles songs? It seems like my local supermarket proudly exclaiming that I can now buy eggs. Also, why are the songs so expensive in general? There is no additional expense in selling additional songs. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/36 "2010-11-17T02:30:25Z")
> [@mr.jp](#): > > (No search keyboard search shortcut?) Command-Option-F works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/37 "2010-11-17T02:32:44Z")
Color me ā€œprejudicedā€ as far as The Fabs go, but the iTunes thing left me going ā€œso whatā€ until I realized The Beatles reach across the years, so why not offer their work to iTunes - mp 3 users, no matter what their ages? And yes, **sparky!** , they were and are, AFAIAC.šŸ™‚ My Momā€™s pots and pans took a lot of abuse from this ā€œRingo Wannabeeā€!šŸ˜‰ Quasiā€™s prediction for the next best Beatlesā€™ music presentation? Brain/ear implants making it possible to be as ā€œcloseā€ as one can be! šŸ˜‰ Just press a button on your neck and there ya go! [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uw7phR9ucA) Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/38 "2010-11-17T02:45:58Z")
Ah, the kids have it soooooo easy in this day and age. In my time we had to walk 6 miles in the snowā€“uphill both waysā€“to buy our Beatles records. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/39 "2010-11-17T02:47:59Z")
Haters gonna hate, I suppose. This is a big deal. Like it or not, latter-half 20th century pop music pretty much boils down to maybe 5 acts - Sinatra, Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, and X. Iā€™ll let the dope board argue about who X should be, but the first four are pretty much gold standard. iTunes lacking The Beatles until now was a huge gaping hole in musical breadth. Iā€™m not even a big fan of the time period or the genre but Iā€™ll still probably pick up the box set on iTunes. Thereā€™s just so much good music, and as a fan of other genres itā€™s fun to listen to the Beatles to be able to say - ā€œHuh! Thatā€™s where band Y got that idea!ā€ And yes, I was waiting for the iTunes release. Because ALL my music is either directly from iTunes or ripped to Appleā€™s codec (AAC I think?) Plus all my podcasts. Plus I use an iPod for listening. And for people saying ā€œjust buy CDs and rip them!ā€ - for a long time, I did prefer that route (anyone else remember [r3mix.net](http://r3mix.net)?) However: 1. Record stores are dead, at least in the suburbs. The last good record store I frequented - Tower Records - closed up several years ago. 2. Places that still sell CDs (your Targets, your Best Buys) stock only the bare minimum ā€œTop 40ā€ shit. 3. iTunes actually does give much lesser known artists space. Good space. Thereā€™s dozens of albums Iā€™ve bought on iTunes that I wouldnā€™t have found in any record store within 20 miles of me. Of the last 20 albums Iā€™ve bought, probably 19 were iTunes downloads. Iā€™ve grown comfortable with that, and come to love the ease, speed and convenience. Audio quality is fine, price is pretty cheap, selection is massively wide and deep, downloads are fast. Digital distribution is where Iā€™ve settled. So huzzah for iTunes finally getting the Beatles. Now I can give their library a proper listen. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873/40 "2010-11-17T02:56:12Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > Iā€™ll let the dope board argue about who X should be. I literally thought you were talking about the Los Angeles punk band X in the previous sentence and thinking, wow, thatā€™s kind of out of left field. (Great band, though.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-beatles-are-on-itunes/560873.md?page=3)