Idolator
This morning, we got a press release from EMI teasing an "exciting new digital offering" from the beleaguered record label, one that would be announced at a press conference at its London headquarters tomorrow. The guests at the press conference: EMI CEO Eric Nicoli, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and an unnamed guest who will provide a "special live performance." Nicoli's been giving Apple props lately, so Jobs' attendance at this event got our interest piqued—and the fact that the EMI press rep who sent out the release attempted to recall it shortly thereafter, a trick that pretty much never works, only fueled our speculative flames. Could this be the long-awaited announcement that the Beatles catalog will be going online? Or did EMI's PR department get a little too slap-happy with the prospect of pulling a big April Fool's joke on everyone?
The full release after the jump.
UPDATE: Reuters is reporting that "a source familiar with the situation" is saying that tomorrow's press conference will not include a Beatles-related announcement. We'll be watching live at 8 a.m. ET, and you can tune in as well.
UPDATE 2: Holy crap!
Subject: 2 April Event (testing)
PLEASE JOIN EMI GROUP CEO ERIC NICOLI
AT EMI'S HEADQUARTERS
ON MONDAY 2 APRIL AT 1PM LONDON / 8AM NEW YORK TIME
TO HEAR ABOUT AN EXCITING NEW DIGITAL OFFERING.
WITH SPECIAL GUEST, APPLE CEO STEVE JOBS
AND A SPECIAL LIVE PERFORMANCE
FROM 12.15PM - ARRIVE AT EMI - REFRESHMENTS SERVED
1 -1.40PM - MEDIA BRIEFING
FROM 1.15PM - PHOTOGRAPHERS ARRIVE
1.45PM - PHOTOCALL
EMI
27 WRIGHTS LANE
LONDON
W8 5SW
If you wish to attend in person, please register by emailing your name and contact details to [redacted]
Earlier: Beatles' Digital Catalog Coming To Many Digital-Music Services Near You
Comments
I'd heard about this too from other sources in London and wild speculation is afoot. Guess we'll see...
"come together"
very good.
Wow, this is hueg news! And to have it come out on a Sunday? Are our Idolators getting overtime? What next, a stipend for posting comments? As people really intently listen for obvious outlandish lore, someone desires attention, yeah? ;)
What else could it be? Man, it's about time.
Prediction: Beatles-branded iPod (maybe in Apple Corps. green) will be annoiunced too.
Oh, and P.S. - Assuming that the Beatles' availability on iTunes means all songs are 99ยข as usual, this is diabolically brilliant timing on Jobs's part: April is the month in which he has to negotiate renewals with all of the major labels for song-pricing on iTunes.
Getting the biggest band of all time on there with all songs at the good ol' price gives iTunes great PR going into the negotiation, and gives Jobs one more arrow in the quiver when he goes up against Doug "the Thug."
Found this on a Beatles History Site:
2 APR 1970
PHIL SPECTOR COMPLETES REMIX OF LET IT BE LP
With this event, the musical history of The Beatles comes to the end.
Just some a thought...
Isn't EMI looking or was looking to be bought?
what if tomorrow Apple was to buy EMI and announce that they were forming the first DRM free music distribution system?
Found this on a beatles Records Site:
2 APR 1970 PHIL SPECTOR COMPLETES REMIX OF LET IT BE LP
With this event, the musical history of The Beatles comes to the end.
Given that Apple, Inc. now owns the complete trademark to a company - Apple Corps - which existed PRIOR to it (go steve!), I'd be surprised if they buried the hatchet so quickly.
I hope this is an April Fools entry. Please let it be.
@dennisobell: or submarine yellow?
@Kelemor: I thought of this. And actually, there's a DRM-free music distribution system out there already, and the rumors of its sale have been running rampant...
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