∞ Yoko Ono says Beatles not going on iTunes

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If you’ve been waiting for the Beatles catalog to appear on the iTunes Store, you may have a long wait ahead of you.

In an interview with Reuters, John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono put an end to any hopes of having the Beatles music on iTunes anytime soon.

“[Apple CEO] Steve Jobs has his own idea and he’s a brilliant guy,” said Ono, “There’s just an element that we’re not very happy about, as people. We are holding out.

“Don’t hold your breath … for anything,” she said with a laugh.

Ono didn’t elaborate on what “element” she didn’t like about selling the Beatles music on iTunes.


  • http://www.macsales.com Tim Robertson

    Yeah, well, the Beatles already have a ton of money. They won’t miss the hundred million or so they could make by putting their music in the biggest music store in the world.

  • http://www.mauricekessler.com Moeskido

    Their loss. How many hundreds of thousands of potential fans does that write off? I wonder if the “element” had something to do with money or with, say, design approval of iTunes LP pages.

    • Jim Dalrymple

      I know I’d buy more. I have plenty of Beatles on album and CD, but I buy everything from iTunes now.

      • http://www.mauricekessler.com Moeskido

        I can’t understand how so many people would rather spend more money on music they already have. With the exception of significantly improved remastering releases, it seems like a huge hole to throw money into, versus a couple of minutes’ effort to pop in a CD off the shelf.

  • IcyFog

    I think the “element” is the record companies … EMI and Capitol.

  • Cris

    I think at this point, whomever wants the Beatles music on there iPhone/iPad/iPod, already has it. Personally, I have lost intrest for all this old classic rock. I am more in to listening to new talent. There is only so many times one can listen to Stairway to Heaven before it gets way worn. Off course, the Beatles had a lot of music that never was played in the radio much, so this might still hold some appel. But any marketing specialist can tell you that timing is very important, and I think Yoko has misset this boat. At the very least, they will not sell so good today as opposed to the sales that could have been generated 5 years ago.

  • Michael Jones

    It’s sad really, I know they don’t “need” the money they would make by selling on iTunes, but apparently they are willing to throw that away to people who are willing to pirate the music instead. I know it sounds silly, but there are a lot of people out there who will resort to file sharing or torrent sites when the music they want isn’t available from iTunes.

  • http://theuniversalsteve.com SSteve

    I agree with Gruber: who really cares? It would have been a big deal five years ago. Personally, after buying the American vinyl, British vinyl, CDs, and both the mono and stereo remasters I’m pretty much done buying Beatles.

    BTW, the “red album” is the first album I ever bought with my own money. It was 1973 and I bought it with money I got for my tenth birthday.

    • Cris

      Me and you, we are the same age!

  • Private Pepper

    @ Yucko Ono: America expects you to keep your promise. We’ve had enough of the Beatles. It’s 2010 not 1968. Lock it all up and NEVER let us hear about them (or you) again. Deal?!?

  • http://Www.MacTheMag.com Matthew JC.Powell

    The ex-Beatles and their estates have always been very particular about maintaining the integrity of the original releases. When the Red and Blue albums were released on CD, for instance, they wouldn’t let EMI make them single discs or add extra tracks — they’re identical to the vinyl releases even though that makes them very poor value for money. At a guess Jobs wants either to sell albums as individual tracks (how many people will buy “What Goes On” or “Revolution 9″?) or add extra tracks to the albums — neither of which would be palatable to the Fabs. It’s not about money for them — how could it be? — it’s about legacy. They don’t want to be remembered for the couple of dozen songs that would sell as individual tracks.

  • http://debono.com.au Joe Debono

    I already have the boxed set ripped and resident on my iPhone.

    Thanks for nothing Mrs. Lennon.

  • http://www.manomio.com Stuart Carnie

    Most likely because The Beatles music is never sold piecemeal. You buy the entire album.

  • http://www.atautocar.com.com sunnylove6