Dhani Harrison Suggests Standalone Beatles Download Site
By Morelli
George Harrison’s son, Dhani Harrison, believes that starting a standalone website for digitally distributing The Beatles’ music is a practical option. Selling the Beatles back catalogue through iTunes isn’t satisfactory, and an online store could be revealed in the future. Harrison explains:
“We’re losing money every day. So what do you do? You have to have your own delivery system, or you have to do a good deal with Steve Jobs. But he says that a download is worth 99 cents, and we disagree.”
Ironically, the Beatles’ songs are on the verge of being made available to gamers before iPod users in Rock Band: Beatles, due September 9. Harrison claims it was he who “took the project to Apple [Records] and sort of convinced everybody to have a presentation.” The game will even have “never been released” tracks, he said.
One dollar a song isn’t enough it seems, for a Beatles song. So, what is the proper sum? The delay for online Beatles availability has drawn out for a ridiculously long time, and many labels are already comfortably self-distributing. This much quibbling over a few cents only loses them money every second the music continues to be unavailable to fans.
What should be the price on music these days, and how much are you willing to pay?
Photo via mtvpress.com
Source: NME
Thursday, March 19, 2009 9:48AM
I agree with Dhani. They should try a new way of digital distributing. Or better than that, be the only major artist who don't sell songs online. Cool!
Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:34AM
How is a digital song not worth .99? The Beatles "White Album" is $25 new with 30 songs. Sgt. Peppers is $11 with 13 songs. Seems to me they are being foolish and stingy, because after paying Apple I believe it would come out to the same as record sales now and maybe even more because you wouldn't paying for packaging, distro, etc.
Also let's not forget they started charging $40 for brand new Beatles vinyl… this is insane. You can buy mint condition OG pressings of Sgt. Peppers for $25-$50…. I think their family members are just cashing in even more.
Friday, March 20, 2009 6:22PM
It's possible he meant lower, not higher. It is unclear and could go either way. He may be saying a Beatles track is worth 50 cents in mp3 format. I'm actually curious for clarification…
Thursday, April 2, 2009 6:37PM
[...] Tuesday April 7, Verizon will offer several different prices for mp3s purchased online, 69 cents for most classic catalog releases, 99 cents for most major contemporary releases and $1.29 for new releases and best-selling releases. Very similar to iTunes’ tiered pricing. [...]