The Beatles could hit free streaming services for the first time THIS WEEK

The Beatles could finally hit streaming services, from this week

 

THE BEATLES – one of the most beloved and critically referred bands in history – could be set to make their streaming debut on services including Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer.

 

Christmas might come early for Beatles fans.

The Beatles is on the verge of hitting popular music streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Tidal, according to sources speaking to Billboard.

Sources have told the US website that 'Hey Jude' will hit the on-demand services as early as December 24th, Christmas Eve.

"Most, if not all" of the current streaming services will then gain access to the band's back catalogue over the coming weeks.

 

 

According to one source, plans for the six month "exclusive" deal with one well-known streaming service were kicked around Apple Records in 2014 before "fizzling out".

The Beatles have traditionally been late to embrace new forms of music distribution. 

Although the Fab Four's back catalogue was released on CD in 1987, a remastered version did not appear until some 22 years later.

 

The Fab Four's back catalogue arrived late to the iTunes Store, some seven years after its launch

 

And The Beatles' albums did not hit the Apple iTunes Store until November 2010 – after years of negotiations.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who first launched the iTunes Store in April 2003, said it had "been a long and winding road to get here".

Available exclusively on the hugely popular digital music store, The Beatles sold more than two million songs in the first week on iTunes.

 

Whether the best-selling rock band will replicate the same success on streaming sites, remains to be seen.

Spotify "would not comment" on the rumours of the upcoming Beatles release.

Rhapsody in the US also refused to comment and other services have yet to respond to Billboard's questioning, according to the US music source.