Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, Tidal and Amazon Prime Music began streaming 224 Beatles tracks on December 24. Other services that have secured the band's catalogue include Deezer, Microsoft Groove, Napster and Slacker Radio. The Beatles as a corporate entity have been notoriously slow in adapting to new technology. They waited five years to issue their albums on CD, and didn't talk about the download Revolution until 2010 - seven years after the iTunes store launched.
The Beatles announcement comes as a number of high-profile artists - including Neil Young, Prince, and Radiohead's Thom Yorke - have questioned the value of streaming services.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 27 2015, @06:05PM
The Beatles sold all rights to their repertoire long ago. Michael Jacksons estate and Sony Corp own them. As far as EFs comment that their music is crap... Music would not be what it is today if not for the Beatles, so give some appreciation to them for culturing the music you've heard for the last 50+ years.
(Score: 2) by DNied on Sunday December 27 2015, @11:21PM
Not exactly. The Beatles' royalties were auctioned, and Paul McCartney lost them to Michael Jackson. Author's rights - on the other hand - cannot be sold. Typically, they are a bigger slice of the pie (of course, "typical" might not apply in this case).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 27 2015, @11:44PM
I thought I read that the Beatles music couldn't be used commercially without MJs permission. Rights or royalties, or both? MJ sucks donkey wang for outbidding his (then friend) Paul.