Beatles on iTunes Still Hung Up on 'Business Hassles'

It's the rumor that undoubtedly won't die until it comes true, but the BBC takes another look at the prospect of The Beatles coming to Apple's iTunes Store, a topic that has been raised on a regular basis going back to the launch of the iTunes Music Store. According to Paul McCartney, the continued holdup is due to record label EMI.

"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."

Sir Paul has claimed the delay is down to record company EMI.

"It's been business hassles", he 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."

For its part, EMI has continued to remain essentially quiet on the subject, again sharing its oft-repeated claim that "discussions are ongoing" and noting that it would "love to see The Beatles' music available for sale digitally.

Considering their status as one of the biggest selling, if not the biggest selling, music acts in history, The Beatles have been one of the highest-profile omissions from the iTunes Store since its inception.