A recent settlement between the two Apples - computer and music varieties - has paved the way for the imminent release of the Beatles’ back catalogue into online stores. This follows hot on the heels of the recent changes to the UK singles chart rules which allows digital only singles to count at all times.
Reports suggest that 13 Beatles albums are being digitally re-mastered in preparation for release into a number of stores, with the catalogue likely to hit several different online services simultaneously. Could this mean a return to the heady days of the 1960s when the Beatles occupied a number of the top slots at the same time?
The indications are that it does. The singles chart has already begun to show fairly radical signs of change. During the first week of February there were no new entries into the Top 20. Tracks held on to their position in the chart, thanks in part to staggered physical and digital releasing which help to maintain interest in the release.
publishers will be interested in the
reemergence of catalogue
But it’s the reemergence of older catalogue - from artists such as Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and of course, the Beatles - which is likely to be one of the most significant impacts of the changes, and of most interest to publishers.
As soon as the new changes came in this year, tracks like Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy and Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars came straight back into the chart.
The recent release of another Rocky film was enough to propel Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger to the outer reaches of the Top 40.
It seems inevitable therefore that the Beatles will shortly be dominating the top of the charts again.