.jpg)
The Beatles Stereo USB Drive will have 16GB of space (Apple Corps
Ltd./EMI Music)
The Beatles made an unexpected move Tuesday in the ongoing saga of To iTunes or to Not iTunes. The surprise announcement of a USB drive, which we reported here is a clear indication that at least one of the parties got tired of the situation.
So much for waiting for an agreement with Apple (the Steve Jobs one).
This isn't the first time someone associated with the Beatles has used the USB option. Ringo Starr did it with his "Liverpool 8" album. It certainly makes more sense here than it does there.
And there were indications recently that the Beatles might go there own route. On Sept. 8, the day before the remasters were released, we noted this quote from Paul McCartney:
"We've kind of bypassed that [download problems] because now you can do it in 'Rock Band'. I always liked that, when you're told you can't do something and suddenly there's a little route round the back."
With the USB drive, the Beatles have certainly found another "route 'round the back."
The question, of course, will be the pricing. How much will it cost? The announcement of the move didn't have a price, but with 16GB of space on the drive and given the price of the recent box sets, it probably won't be cheap. (Update: The Beatles Official Store lists the USB drive for $279.99.)
But finally, the Beatles are going digital. For real.
Take that, iTunes.
For further reading:
- Beatles Stereo USB Drive now available for $239
- Beatles go digital for real: Apple Corps and EMI announce limited edition stereo USB drive
- Beatles remastered CD update: One before 909 #2: Beatles still want iTunes, videos, magazine alert
Comments
US store says $279.00
Great reporting Steve, what about that other site that has recently started selling Beatle tracks ?? Is Apple Corps going to try to shut that one down.
Where do you see it in a US store? Is there a link?
How is this any more "going digital" than a CD? This has nothing to do with iTunes, or more importantly, the Beatles songs being legally available from online music download services. It isn't a "back door" to anything except ripping CDs onto your computer.
All the Beatles releases this year were classy...until now.
Stacia: Because all the tracks are in a digital format and you don't have to download them to get them. And yes, it is a "back door," because why would you download them from iTunes if you buy them this way.
Isn't the major advantage iTunes has over CDs that people can just buy a few songs they like without the whole album? I can see this as a 'back door' only if they at least release them for separate albums and make them cheaper.
Agreed - I think the main attraction to iTunes is the fact that (in most cases) you can buy what you want from an artist and leave out the tracks you don't want. I can see the USB solution being a "route 'round the back" so to speak for the Beatles to bypass the conflict with Apple/iTunes, but I don't see how this does the non-fanatical fan any good. Yes, the Beatles are going digital, but they're limiting their potential audience. I don't know, between this announcement and the vinyl story yesterday (don't get me started), I've got my doubts on who's mindin' the store...
Yeah, I agree they are forgetting the casual fans. The ones that only know and want a few songs.
What the hell is wrong with the vinyl announcement? Some of you people have a pretty screwy attitude towards vinyl; it is still plenty popular and has more than enough of an audience to release The Beatles remastered albums on it. Not to mention that's where The Beatles started, that's how a ton of their current fans listen to them, etc. The vinyl announcement isn't even a surprise, it was expected.
As for the digital apple usb thing, I get why they would do it but I don't really understand why anyone would buy it. What does this get you that buying a CD in the store and transferring it to a PC doesn't? The main point of a thing like iTunes is to buy whatever you want, whether it's a full album or individual songs. This is digital distribution that's forcing you to buy every single Beatles song. This drive will not even be comparable to the revenue they will get by going on iTunes.
Steve said: "Stacia: Because all the tracks are in a digital format and you don't have to download them to get them. And yes, it is a "back door," because why would you download them from iTunes if you buy them this way."
Conversely, why would you buy the tracks from iTunes or any other online music store if you bought the CDs? A USB stick isn't a substitute for making the tracks readily available from online music stores.
A USB stick is barely different from a CD. CDs are just as digital as the files on the USB. Yes, the photos and liner notes are now digital, but there's nothing more digital in the music format. You still have to copy the music files from the stick to your computer, just like you rip a CD to your computer. Both a USB stick's and a CD's contents are composed of 1s and 0s...unlike with vinyl or cassette.
What will make the plunge to iTunes or another service important is that you could buy a single song, not just a whole album. You don't get that with the USB
People keep using the term "back door" in reference to the upcoming Apple USB. I think that's were Apple/Beatles keep sticking it to the real Beatle fans, the back door! Take a good thing (the remasters) and take it too far! Move on to something new/different that real fans have been begging for for years! The list of "wants" is endless and accessible (Shea Stadium DVD, Let It Be DVD, promo films on DVD, remastered MMT DVD, etc... They could even do an "Anthology Revisited" with more alternates. They need to pull some real gems out of the can instead of sticking more schlock in the fans cans!
I could care less about the Beatles songs being on iTunes. Not sure why that's even related to a discussion of this new Beatles USB; the iTunes thing is a totally separate issue. The point is, this little apple is just an alternate way of selling the remasters. People who didn't want to buy the CD box sets because they view the CD as a dinosaur now have an option. And people who are Beatles fanatics can purchase this as a collector's item. This is clearly not for the "casual" Beatles fan. This is for serious audiophiles and serious Beatles fans. If you don't see any value in the purchase for yourself, then don't buy it.
I'm not sure yet if will. Technically it's VERY high quality. Plus that little apple is just cute as heck. Also, I just saw that Amazon is now offering this USB for $240 -- about $40 less than Beatles.com.
One other point. I wish people would stop harping on Apple/Beatles for not releasing "Let it Be" on DVD. It's been said over and over: George Harrison did not want it released. We don't know the internal debate over this, but that has to be a key sticking point.
There is more than one way to skin an apple.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!