His catalogue has made stints on streaming services since at least 2010 despite brief licenses fracas.
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The Beatles, the most beloved rock band in history – and one of the most persistent holdouts in the digital age of music listening – is set to finally arrive on streaming services, according to Billboardsources with knowledge of the negotiations.
Having notoriously kept their music off any and all streaming services, it appears that the tables have turned for the Fab Four. Whilst Apple Records (The Beatles’ label) were apparently in talks of an “exclusive” deal last year, said deal has “fizzled out” and talks were restarted early this year. Reps for Spotify and Rhapsody refused to comment, while Apple, Tidal, Deezer and Slacker didn’t immediately return requests for comment. Just my family? Okay then! That plan never reached the final stages but the site reports that a deal was signed in mid-September.
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The Beatles have always been a little slow on the uptake in terms of embracing newer technology. When they joined iTunes, they sold 2 million songs in their first week. Billboard notes that it took the band six years to debut on iTunes, and 25 years since its breakup to release an Anthology. The Beatles music was released on CD in 1987, but the band didn’t remaster their work until 22 years later.
