September 9, 2009 14:06

Beatles songs not coming to iTunes, say EMI

Label issues denial following Apple-related rumours

Photo Gallery: The Beatles
Photo: Pa Photos

The Beatles' back catalogue is not set to be made available on iTunes, the legends' record label EMI has said – despite rumours circulating that the songs were about to be released onto the download service.

It had been rumoured that Apple were about to announce that the Fab Four's music was set to be made available to officially download for the first time. However EMI senior executive Ernesto Schmitt has quashed the claims.

"Conversations between Apple and EMI are ongoing and we look forward to the day when we can make music available digitally," he told the Financial Times. "But it's not tomorrow."

The Beatles' Paul McCartney recently told NME.COM that he'd like to see the band's music available to download but blamed EMI for the songs' absence. For the full interview get the new issue of NME, out now.

The issue features 13 different covers, one for each of the band's albums. Each cover will be available to collect from the usual outlets except that of 'Magical Mystery Tour', which was originally released as a double EP in the UK. That cover is only available from the NME Store.

You can also order any of the other covers at NME.COM/store now.

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Photo Gallery – view all 13 NME Beatles collectors' covers