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12/23/2015

Beatles shift stance on streaming

By Scott Cunningham //

Entirety of Beatles catalog to become available for streaming at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 24 across all major providers.

The Beatles have announced that their entire catalog of 14 albums and four compilations will be available for streaming beginning at 12:01 a.m. Dec. 24 on all the major streaming providers.

Material from the band has been available for purchase through iTunes since 2010, but has until now otherwise been unavailable in digital format except on Pandora, which does not provide on-demand plays.

The move is in part a nod to the growing revenue found in streaming. For the first time in history, streaming revenue at Warner Music Group exceeded downloads.

Not many artists have had the influence to keep their music off of streaming sites, Taylor Swift being among the most notable. Several major class rock bands, including AC/DC and Pink Floyd, also resisted streaming until the past few years.

A press release for the Beatles announcement simply said, "Happy Crimble, with love from us to you."

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