Paul McCartney Blames EMI For Beatle-less iTunes

You woke up this morning, checked the iTunes store and still no Beatles for sale (and how great would it be to actually purchase the album Beatles for Sale on iTunes?!). It’s quite ridiculous that we cannot download a Beatles song on iTunes, but just know that Sir Paul McCartney hears our collective weeping. The music legend has chimed in by pointing his finger at record label EMI for the prevention of Beatles’ music on iTunes.

Spinner points us to a BBC Newsbeat chat with McCartney, who placed the blame on EMI for the slowdown in getting a deal signed to deliver the Fab Four’s songs onto the digital music store.

“To tell you the truth I don’t actually understand how it’s got so crazy,” Sir Paul told Newsbeat. “I know iTunes would like to do it, so one day it’s going to happen.”

According to BBC, McCartney has always wanted to make the Beatles’ music available to download. But the catalog, that oh-so precious back catalog of classic tunes, remains unavailable to buy online.

“It’s been business hassles,” McCartney said. “Not with us, or iTunes. It’s the people in the middle, the record label. There have been all sorts of reasons why they don’t want to do it.”

And with that, McCartney has another reason to throw dirt on the embattled EMI, who are saying they’re working to rectify the situation. But seriously, how long can it possibly take the put this baby to bed and debut a kick-ass Beatles store on iTunes?

In a statement, EMI said:

“Discussions are ongoing. We would love to see The Beatles’ music available for sale digitally.”

Discussions? I thought EMI was having money problems. Is there no money to be had in an iTunes deal for some of the greatest music ever? I’m not sure what the labels’ priority list looks like these days, but if I’m top brass I would have the Beatles-to-iTunes issue easily in my top five.

I understand there are numerous parties needed to lock hands to get this baby signed, but I cannot see how EMI isn’t pushing this hard to get done. Time to pop the cork and let the music be free to download.

Regardless of all the wheeling and dealing surrounding the Beatles and iTunes, McCartney doesn’t seem too worried about a younger demo missing out on the Beatles’ music. If anything, he’s perfectly content to just let the legacy of the iconic band carry the day – iTunes or no iTunes.

“We get so played and noticed and tributed as The Beatles that I’m not complaining.”

But I’m complaining. I own all the Beatles albums, but it’s the principle of it all; just knowing the Beatles catalog is unavailable on iTunes is irritating. Same goes for the Bob Seger catalog, but that’s another story for another time.