Idolator
Sony honchos in charge of the Fab Four's publishing first voiced their enthusiasm for a Beatles-specific Guitar Hero game back in March, and now Apple Corps and EMI are meeting with both Activision (makers of Guitar Hero) and MTV Games (makers of Rock Band). Since the death of unofficial CEO Neil Aspinall, Apple has lost some of its usual promotional hesitancy, finally giving American Idol the opportunity to perform Lennon-McCartney songs. If plans for the game come to fruition, it may only be a matter of time before the band invades the digital marketplace in a big way. Surely the other Apple would be happy to see them warm up to it.
Apple Corps has become more active in recent months since Jeff Jones took over as chief executive.
The company, whose board includes Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono Lennon, has allowed Beatles compositions to be used on American Idol and in a Las Vegas show.
Martin Bandier, chief executive of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which controls more than 200 Beatles copyrights, said the exposure on American Idol had yielded a number of inquiries, including from mobile phone carriers.
"To my view, it's only a matter of time before we see Beatles songs that are the original recordings in motion pictures, in television work, and yes, maybe even one day in a commercial."
It wouldn't be the first time, dude. Have we already forgotten Michael Jackson's reign as the King Of Beatles Copyrights?
While Guitar Hero has been a stronger seller, I think Rock Band is the more logical platform for the Beatles to sign up with. Though honestly, I really just want to do those slow Ringo drum rolls.
Beatles Seek To Join Videogame Revolution [Financial Times]
Nike Beatles Revolution Ad [YouTube]
Comments
We need Beatles on both platforms. It might be the only way my nephew actualy hears Beatles music.
[blog.newsok.com]
No, Beatles, don't do it! I'm still trying to forget your songs being sung on American Idol. And don't get me started on the Pixies' foray into the Guitar Hero waters.
I hope they make a "Red" and "Blue" verisons of the games...I would only want to play anything from "Revolver" to "Abbey Road"
Neil Aspinall was the Chairman of Apple not 'unofficial CEO'. Neil's death has nothing to do with the 'loss of usual promotional hesitancy'. 'Idol' played Beatles songs years ago- and it was quite unpleasant. Apple were approached by Guitar Hero people among many others long ago and has long been under consideration. Like many things if Apple wanted to do something, it would be on their terms. Aspinall's 'promotional hesitancy' on Apple's behalf meant good deals were done, bad ones avoided, and band-wagon jumping was never considered. He made sure that everything that bore 'The Beatles' name was fresh, worth making and worth buying, and didn't cheapen the Beatles name. It's easy to make money by selling deals to use the name and the back catalogue; it's quite another to keep a band current, well-packaged, desirable, and exculsive AND make money for 30 year after breaking up.
Comment on this post
Reply by EmailLogin with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?