May 11, 2007 17:31

Beatles download deal 'virtually settled'

Fab Four and iTunes close to settlement

Photo Gallery: The Beatles
Photo: Pa Photos

In a move that brings Paul McCartney up to date with modern bands such as Klaxons, The Beatles legend has exclusively revealed to Billboard magazine that a deal to make their back catalogue available for sale online is "virtually settled".

Meanwhile, Paul McCartney's new album Memory Almost Full will be his first solo release for the new Starbucks Hear Music label, available for download and streaming on PCs and mobile phones.

As part of its digital marketing strategy, Starbucks plans to give the record prime positioning in its Hear Music area in the Apple iTunes Store.

The digital distribution deal for McCartney is believed to belong solely to the new album and not his back catalogue.

Efforts to clear the music of The Beatles for digital distribution have been previously held up by a long-running feud between iTunes owner Apple Inc and The Beatles label, Apple Corps.

Both sides finally settled the dispute in February, paving the way for distribution via iTunes and other digital retailers.