Beatles coming to iTunes, Powerbook G5 on the way

Ugh.  We’re as sick as anyone else about hearing "the Beatles are coming to iTunes!"  It seems like at least once a month the rumor pops up.  This month is no different.  Reportedly, there is a $800 million dollar deal in the works (this isn’t how iTunes works is it?)  The London-based Telegraph (a great source of information) is this month’s source saying,

Sir Paul McCartney is expected to release the Beatles back catalogue for download on the internet in a deal which could be worth up to £300 million.

Former hits from albums such as Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the White Album and Help will be available on the popular iTunes website and are expected to top the download charts for several months on release.

Although the exact value of the records are not known, some estimates have placed it at £300 million and Sir Paul, Ringo Starr and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison would all receive large sums of money as part of the contract.

Sir Paul, 65, is currently involved in a divorce settlement with his estranged wife Lady McCartney and the final hearing, expected in 10 days time, could see him paying her up to £30 million in a cash settlement.

A spokesman for Apple Corps, the Beatles record label, would not confirm when the records would be available online and said: "The date has not yet been set."

Release of the Beatles’ songs over the internet has earlier been prevented as the surviving band members were involved in legal disputes with their record label EMI and Apple Corps and the American company Apple Computers, who own iTunes. (more)

Beatles music appeals to new music lovers every day, but we have to believe that if you are a Beatles fan and a iPod lover, you’ve already ripped your Beatles music from CD (or otherwise). 

For those of you too young to remember, the G5 Powerbook was a similar monthy rumor a few years back that obviously never came to fruition.  We’ll see how this one does.