News

Activision and MTV Games are reportedly in negotiations with Apple Corps. about licensing portions of The Beatles catalog for Guitar Hero or Rock Band. According to a Rollingstone.com story, such a deal would be worth millions and require the approval of EMI and the band's reps. The American Idol/Across the Universe/Love deals set in motion by Apple Corps.' chief exec, Jeff Jones, suggest such a thing might happen sooner rather than later.

"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," Sony/ATV chief executive Martin Bandier—who holds more than 200 Beatles copyrights—told Rollingstone. A source close to The Beatles game talks added that a deal "could be reached in a matter of weeks."

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
06.23.08