The Long and Winding Download
Looks like the music download business might get another big boost. A little band called the Beatles–one of the last major bands holding out from licensing their music for digital distribution–is finally cashing in it seems. According to Reuters, the group is kibitzing with a variety of services about making their valuable catalog available online. What took them so long?
Then again, they’re not the only fogies holding out. The Rolling Stones only recently went online, and Madonna still hasn’t jumped in this game. Why the wait? I’m sure they’re all trying to get the best deals possible. One word about the Beatles is that they might open their own e-store, where their songs will be exclusively available. This plan, instead of licensing their songs to iTunes, Rhapsody, or even Microsoft’s upcoming digital download service. I’d think they’d be better off going non-exclusive with a variety of services, but they’re the Beatles, after all: they can do whatever they want.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build
“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”
ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it
The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.
Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives
The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.
Learning to code isn’t enough
Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.