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The Beatles' Apple Label Begins Releasing Downloads

8:25 a.m. · July 7, 2010 · by Nick Neyland

We’re slowly edging toward the full Beatles catalog being released as downloads for the first time, although anxious Fab Four fans still face an agonizing wait. In the meantime, the band has announced that it is releasing other albums from its Apple stable in digital formats.

Fifteen Apple records have been digitally remastered for release in new CD formats and as downloads, including Badfinger’s No Dice and Mary Hopkin’s Post Card. Sadly, there are no plans yet to release The Beatles albums in this way, but why it’s taking so long remains a mystery.

Paul McCartney did shed some light on the process earlier this year, saying: "To tell you the truth, I don't actually understand how it's got so crazy. I know iTunes would like to do it, so one day it's going to happen." The sticking point has apparently been EMI, about whom McCartney says: "There have been all sorts of reasons why they don't want to do it."

[via BBC]