After long, protracted negotiations, Apple have finally confirmed the entire Beatles back catalogue has been made available to download from iTunes from today.
The band’s untouchable body of work, including their thirteen studio albums and seminal compilations, are now all featured on iTunes, and Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs echoed one of the band’s famous tracks by calling the process ‘a long and winding road’.
“It has been a long and winding road to get here,” he said. “Thanks to The Beatles and EMI, we are now realising a dream we’ve had since we launched iTunes 10 years ago.”
The two surviving Beatles have both praised the deal, with Paul McCartney declaring: “It’s fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around.”
While Ringo Starr spoke of his relief at the agreement finally being reached. “I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when The Beatles are coming to iTunes,” he joked. “At last, if you want it, you can get it now – The Beatles from Liverpool to now!”
In addition Yoko Ono, who has played a significant part in the negotiations, also gave her thoughts on the announcement, saying it is “so appropriate that we are doing this on John’s 70th birthday year.”
Songs are individually priced at 99p, with the full back catalogue available to fans for £125.