No Apple/Beatles today, say McCartney and EMI catalog chief
Buried somewhere across the Atlantic on a Financial Times blog is solid reportage from two major UK newspapers that refutes the rumors that Apple’s super-secret product launch on Wednesday will debut the Beatles’ music in Apple’s iTunes music store. EMI, Paul McCartney told a reporter, worries about being sued silly should the iTunes copies get widely pirated:
[Apple's] San Francisco event will come the same day as the release of the remastered Beatles catalog, although that… Continue Reading
A hard day’s night: Norwegian Beatles podcast yanked
The rumors are true, the Beatles have fled Norway. NRK, the Norwegian public broadcasting company, had to pull all 212 episodes of its podcast “Our Daily Beatles” last night. The free podcasts, which we discovered on Monday, included anecdotes behind the songs and offered the original Beatles tunes in their entirety.
NRK’s agreement with Norwegian composer rights holder TONO, which deals with composers, permits NRK to publish TV and radio programs that aired a long time… Continue Reading
DRM close to extinction on iTunes?
One of my key predictions for 2009 was that Apple’s iTunes store would go DRM-free. There are always a lot of Apple rumors out there, but I was so confident in this one that I actually made the prediction twice. It turns out that may have been a good call, as Apple and the major music labels have come to terms on a deal, reports CNET’s Greg Sandoval.
Sandoval’s source is very specific on the details… Continue Reading
The long and winding road to get The Beatles on iTunes continues…
Earlier this year, former Beatle Paul McCartney made statements indicating that The Beatles’ catalog of music should be available on popular online music services by the end of this year. That won’t be happening.
A disagreement between Apple Corps Ltd., The Beatles’ holding company (not be be confused with Apple, the iPod maker), and EMI, the music label that owns the rights to The Beatles’ recordings, is preventing any negotiations with online music stores from going… Continue Reading
You say you want a revolution? How about The Beatles in video games?
When you think about the 21st century digital lifestyle, The Beatles aren’t exactly the name that first jumps out at you. After all, the group still doesn’t have its music catalog for sale in any digital format.
But now, the biggest rock band of all time is apparently ready to embrace technology as the parties in control of The Beatles’ master recordings are in talks with video game makers, according to The Financial Times.
When you think… Continue Reading
MySpace Music days away from an assault on iTunes
Social networking site MySpace and music have worked well together in the past. New bands got recognition, popular bands gained new fans. Now MySpace is looking to extend that relationship by launching a full-scale music store. This launch will be happening sometime within the next 5 days, according to Reuters.
The service will be appropriately titled “MySpace Music”, and is said to have the support of at least 3 of the major labels. Sony BMG Music… Continue Reading
Holiday Roundup: Apple devices for store purchases? Digg, and more
The VentureBeat team is mostly taking a much-needed holiday break this week. In the meantime, here’s some of the latest news:
1. Apple devices to offer payment service?
2. Digg tells BusinessWeek that “no acquisitions are in the works” but we’re sticking by our story
3. Amazon Music Store to sell Warner Bros. music
4. Apple’s iTunes to rent Fox Studios movies
5. Web analytics service Compete examines Kayak-Sidestep travel site merger
Apple devices to offer payment service? — The company… Continue Reading
Amazon surges to #3 music store – and four online music stores could be roadkill
Amazon’s music store has only been in business for a month, and rumors are flying that it’s already the #3 online music seller.
It’s still far behind Apple iTunes, but that might change. One rumor even pegs Amazon passing the second largest download site, eMusic, in revenue by the end of this year.
That leaves companies that don’t have a large online presence in a difficult position. Napster, Wal-Mart, Rhapsody and eMusic are all looking vulnerable and… Continue Reading
Universal to remove anti-piracy technology
The Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music label, plans to sell a significant portion of its catalog without copy protection software for at least the next few months, according to the New York Times.
It’s one more sign that the industry’s united stance behind digital-rights management anti-piracy technology may be falling apart.
Universal will offer the rights-free music through retail services like RealNetworks, Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, Google, and other sites, the Times said, but won’t be offered… Continue Reading
iPhone sucks oxygen out of room
Updated
Today the arrival of the iPhone will leave time for little else.
Here’s a smattering of companies already exploiting the iPhone’s launch for a little publicity of their own:
Zoho offers iPhone version — The Pleasanton, Calif. online web application company is offering its Zoho office applications for the iPhone, called the iZoho. This allows users to view documents (and edit docs), spreadsheets and presentations. Zoho says it has simplified its interface especially for the iPhone.
Visto Mobile… Continue Reading
Roundup: Apple breaks DRM, DoubleClick bids, IDG scuffle, Photobucket and more
The latest action
Apple to release EMI music without anti-piracy technology — In agreement with music label EMI, Apple is making EMI songs available without digital rights management (DRM) through its iTunes music store. The music will be higher quality, and tracks will cost $1.29, or 30 cents more than the standard 99 cents. This means you can take those songs and put it on any device you want to, a significant development.
Google allegedly joins Microsoft in… Continue Reading