Baby, you can buy my drive: With surprise announcement, Beatles go their own way digitally

November 3, 1:12 PMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

Previous Next

14 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Beatles Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

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