Digital Beatles downloads could break records globally

Several sources are saying that the Beatles' recent settlement with Apple Computers earlier this week will lead to multi-millions worth of revenue for the group, now that their music is seemingly free to become available for downloading through Apple's iTunes music service. Although the Beatles' company Apple Corps has denied that a download deal was part of the settlement with Apple Inc., many industry insiders are saying the opposite.

Soundgenerator.com reported that the demand for the Beatles' music online might result in the UK's first digital Number One single generated solely by Internet sales. An unnamed industry source told Britain's Daily Mail that, quote, "No one knows how powerful the sales of downloads may be. But (nearly $1 billion in sales) is not out of the question. If hundreds of thousands of people start downloading entire Beatles albums, the entire Top 40 could be 'Fab Four' songs now that downloads are taken into account."

It should be noted that the Beatles are still embroiled in a royalty lawsuit against their record company EMI Records, and undoubtedly the new problems regarding online royalty rates will figure into any decision about making their catalogue available online. The group faced similar problems with their label prior to first issuing their catalogue on compact disc 20 years ago.

The Beatles' longtime right hand man and Apple's Managing Director Neil Aspinall has said that he wants the group's entire catalogue completely remastered before being released online.
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