•Five Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1964 - 2005
$1 in 1964 is worth $6.29 in 2005 using the Consumer Price Index
$1 in 1964 is worth $5.09 in 2005 using the GDP deflator
$1 in 1964 is worth $7.00 in 2005 using the unskilled wage
$1 in 1964 is worth $12.12 in 2005 using the nominal GDP per capita
$1 in 1964 is worth $18.77 in 2005 using the relative share of GDP
http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

•Beatles Bill Due (Fox news)
Monday, January 12, 2004
By Roger Friedman

As the 27 members of Michael Jackson's inner circle meet today at the Beverly Hills Hotel, one thing will be on the mind of many of them: A major payment is due on Feb. 15 on a Bank of America loan connected to Jackson's ownership of the Beatles song catalog.

Some in the group insist that the bill is just a "technicality" and has nothing to do with the Beatles. Others, however, tell me it's a much more dire situation. Whatever the case, without the cooperation of players who Jackson has lately scorned and dismissed, big trouble could be brewing financially for the beleaguered pop star.

Jackson borrowed $200 million from Bank of America some years ago against the value of his investment in Sony/ATV Music. ATV, which Jackson bought in 1984, contains hundreds of song titles, including 251 songs by the Beatles. When he borrowed the money from Bank of America, Jackson secured it by giving Sony Music a half interest in the catalog.

The battle for the other half of the merged Sony/ATV Music Publishing has since become as ferocious as Gollum's quest to be Lord of the Ring. When Jackson bought the Beatles catalog it was estimated at $40 million. It has since grown by more than 10 times that, with $500 million thought to be its worth by now.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,108095,00.html

•Beatles Sue EMI in Royalties Row (Fox news)
The Beatles made a global impact on the pop music market
The surviving Beatles and relatives of the band's late members have begun legal action against record company EMI to get royalties allegedly worth £30m.
Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and relations of George Harrison and John Lennon claim EMI owes record royalties to their company Apple Corps. The band have issued legal proceedings in the High Court in London and the Supreme Court in New York. EMI said it welcomed "full financial transparency" with its artists.

Settlement

The band allege EMI owes more than £30m in record royalties to Apple, which was allegedly uncovered during an audit of Apple accounts. Legal proceedings were issued on Thursday in the High Court in London and the Supreme Court in New York. Apple Corp chief Neil Aspinall said: "We have tried to reach a settlement through good faith negotiations and regret that our efforts have been in vain. "Despite very clear provisions in our contracts, EMI persist in ignoring their obligations and duty to account fairly and with transparency. "Apple and the Beatles are, once again, left with no choice but to sue EMI."

Resolved

The Beatles' last legal battle with EMI was in 1991, when Apple won a High Court ruling preventing the firm releasing a box set of two albums. The current negotiations over the alleged unpaid royalties have been under way for more than two years, an Apple spokeswoman said. An EMI spokeswoman said it was not unusual for artists to request an audit of their record label accounts. "We have no problem with it as we like to have full financial transparency with our artists," she added. "Sometimes there are differences of opinion, not least when record contracts are complex. "Sometimes artists resort to the courts or mediation, and 99 times out of 100 the problems are resolved amicably for a small proportion of the claim. "EMI has offered to go to mediation but, sadly, Apple rejected that offer." The spokeswoman added the company had no comment to make about the ongoing litigation.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,108095,00.html

•Spotlight put on Jackson's financial troubles
Sunday, May 08, 2005 - By Niall Stanage
O'Bryan's evidence also focused on the scale of the singer's expenses. He estimated that, even before incurring the costs of the current case, Jackson was spending $5 million a year on lawyers and professional services, $5 million on his Neverland Mansion and had personal expenses of about $7.5 million. Jackson's total liabilities, O'Bryan said, totaled about $415 million. Jackson has for years financed his lifestyle through massive bank loans that have been secured by his ownership of the copyright on his own recordings and on almost all the Beatles' songs. He outbid Paul McCartney for the publishing rights to the Beatles' catalogue in 1985, paying $47.5 million. The current value of those rights is thought to be about $400 million. One of Jackson's loans, supplied by Bank of America, is said to be for $200 million and is due for repayment in December. If the singer defaults, he could lose control of the Beatles' catalogue. The picture has been complicated by the fact that Bank of America has recently sold the loan to a private hedge fund, Fortress Investment. Whereas Bank of America is said to have had a reasonably harmonious relationship with Jackson, it is thought that Fortress would be more likely to swoop on the songs in the event of the singer failing to make prompt repayments.
archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2005/05/08/story4605.asp

•Apple War Pits Beatles Label Against Computer Maker
LONDON (Reuters) — Apple Computer and the Beatles' record company Apple Corps went to court in Britain on Wednesday over who gets to use the fruity name now that the computer company has entered the music business on the Internet.
The two companies reached a deal in 1991 after a fight over the trademark, signing an agreement that set out who could use the name and logo, and when.

But the British record company says the American computer company broke the deal by using the Apple name to market its new iTunes Internet music service.In a preliminary skirmish on Wednesday, Apple Computer asked the court to rule that the full legal battle should be dealt with by California courts, not courts in England.

The computer company's lawyer said that the 1991 agreement allows Apple Computer to use the name for data transmission services, even if the data included material such as music, which was within the record label's "field of use".(Related story: Beatles label sues Apple iTunes in trademark suit)

The hearing, which is scheduled to last three days, coincides with news from across the Atlantic that rap superstar Eminem is suing Apple Computer on the grounds it used one of his hit songs in a TV advertisement without his permission.
http://www.macdailynews.com/.../comments/beatles_apple_ vs_jobs_apple_1991_agreement_allows_mac_maker_data_transmissi/ - 72k

•Will the Beatles Finally Let It Be Online? (TechNews.com)
By Cynthia L. Webb
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 9, 2004; 9:25 AM
Leave it to the Beatles to start a revolution in the online music business: Representatives for the Fab Four reportedly are in talks with several companies to sell their music on the Internet. If a deal comes to fruition, it could fuel lagging music sales and add appeal to paid online music services that people often criticize for lacking tunes by some of the world's most legendary musicians. Chief among those missing stars are the Beatles, whose surviving members have long resisted uploading their catalog to the Internet.
www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/articles/A27658-2004Jun9.html

•The Beatles Sue EMI Over Disputed Royalties
Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:02 AM ET By Adam Pasick
LONDON (Reuters) - Echoing their song "You Never Give Me Your Money," The Beatles have sued record company EMI Group (EMI.L: Quote, Profile, Research), claiming that they are owed 30 million pounds ($53.1 million) in royalties after negotiations broke down. Apple, the company owned by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and the families of John Lennon and George Harrison, said on Friday that an audit determined that EMI had not been fulfilling the terms of its contract. Shares in EMI, which owns the copyright to The Beatles recordings in perpetuity, had fallen 2 percent to 237 pence by 1624 GMT.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=54748+19-Dec-2005+RTRS&srch=beatles+emi

•Paul McCartney sues EMI
Mail on Sunday 25 July 2004
SIR PAUL McCartney is suing the Beatles' recording label, EMI, for allegedly stealing his music.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=319234&in_page_id=2

•Fidelity and McCartney: Mutually Invested
by Renee Alexander 14--Nov--05
The world's largest mutual fund company announced it was teaming up with the 63-year-old former Beatle and rock 'n' roll icon in September.
http://www.brandchannel.com/features_effect.asp?pf_id=289#more

•Claim: Michael Jackson owns the rights to the Beatles' songs.
Status: Mostly true.
Origins: This is one of those items which is primarily true, but the answer needs to be heavily qualified in order to avoid being misleading.
http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/jackson.htm

•Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce " Michael Jackson Sells Music Catalog for 95 Million to Sony "
by John Horn 11/08/95
Singer Michael Jackson, whose personal wealth has suffered along with his record sales, on Tuesday sold the music publishing rights to some 250 Beatles songs to Sony Corp. for about $95 million. The new publishing enterprise will combine Sony's music publishing division with Jackson's ATV Music catalog to create a unit valued at $500 million.
http://www.djc.com/data/news/19951108/10003006.htm

•Dear Yahoo!
Wednesday December 10, 2003
Does Michael Jackson still own the publishing rights to the Beatles song catalog?
Prudence. Strawberry Fields.
http://ask.yahoo.com/20031210.html

•Paul McCartney? Is That You? What he's doing in that Fidelity ad?
By Seth Stevenson
...No doubt Paul is pleased to be paid for his endorsement. While Fidelity won't release any figures, they surely offered millions for the ad. Still, Paul has a net worth of $1.5 billion; can money really have been his core motivation?...
Posted Monday, Sept. 19, 2005, at 4:23 PM ET
http://www.slate.com/id/2126568/

•Music Publishing: An Overview
Alan Korn Law Office
This article is designed to give an overview of music publishing. Although the details can be less than fascinating, music publishing remains one of the most financially lucrative areas in the music business, and one of the few areas where artists can generate real money. As a result, it is particularly crucial for recording artists and songwriters to protect their publishing rights. The best way to start is to learn the basics of the music publishing business.
http://www.alankorn.com/articles/publishing_1.html

•FAQ Frequently Asked Questions About Publishing
Many articles on the music publishing business from taxi.com
http://www.taxi.com/faq/publishing/

•Where Does the Money Go From Music Licensing Fees?
When one ponders the mysteries of the universe, "Where does my music licensing fee go?" doesn't even make the top ten. Ask the owners of businesses using copyrighted music, however, and the question may earn an honorable mention.
http://www.bmi.com/news/200408/20040804a.asp

•Frequently asked questions about licensing from ASCAP
http://www.ascap.com/licensing/licensingfaq.html

•What is Publishing?
Music Law Offices
Michael P. McCready. Attorney at Law.
http://www.music-law.com/publishing.html

•Beatles Court Case
Attempts to explain the complicated court case that ensued after the Beatles split. Anyone who loves the Beatles as much as the web author of beatles-discography.com is advised to skip this section - it isn't very pretty! (Excellent source for Beatle info of all types)

•The My Sweet Lord/He's So Fine Plagiarism Suit
by Joseph C. Self. The story starts in 1962, when "He's So Fine" was recorded. It was composed by Ronald Mack, recorded by the Chiffons, and was owned by Bright Tunes Music Corp. in 1971... (Excellent article from an excellent website).
http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/mysweet.htm

•A complete CD cost breakdown example
To work out a CD price for direct sales we’ll assume:
-- The cost for writing and publishing is 6.5% before VAT (whether through MCPS or not).
--The artist deal is the same as Sting, about 20% of gross.
http://www.bemuso.com/musicdiy/cdcosts.html

•The Ballad Of The Mid-Level Artist by Danny Goldberg
Great article from a great site.
http://www.rapcoalition.org/label_exec_$$_breakdown.htm

•Cost of a CD from the RIAA
A typical music fan who buys a CD might use that CD at home, take that CD in the car, make a tape of that CD, – or using it as part of a compilation, play that CD with friends and for friends, and keep that CD for many years. That’s probably why most consumers, when asked, describe CDs as a good value.
http://www.riaa.com/news/marketingdata/cost.asp

•How Recording Contracts Work by Marshall Brain
Royalty Alternatives: Another Formula
In some cases (more common outside the U.S. or with indie labels), the record company and artists split the net profits of an album 50/50 (or along some other percentage in the range of 50/50). To calculate the net profits...
http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/recording-contract3.htm

•Paul vs. John, George and Ringo. A legal analysis of Paul McCartney’s 1970 lawsuit against John, George and Ringo
by Joseph C. Self as presented from an excellent website: Abbeyrd's Beatles Page.
Much has been written over the years regarding the circumstances that caused Paul McCartney to sue his former bandmates on the last day of December, 1970. His action began...
http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/paullawsuit.html

•Beatles cinema comeback (BBC Online Network)
The title "A Hard Day's Night" was coined by Ringo Starr. The Beatles' first film A Hard Day's Night is to be re-released next year to celebrate its 35th anniversary.
The film was an instant success when it was first screened at the height of Beatlemania in 1964. The pictures and sound have been carefully restored and the 1999 version will include footage not previously seen. The new scenes were initially shot by a second cameraman hired to gather material for publicity purposes. The film was a humourous documentary-style "day In the life" of The Beatles shot in black and white featuring many of their famous songs but without a great deal of plot. In the opening scene, the people chasing The Beatles onto the train were real fans and a young Phil Collins features in a TV studio audience.

Ringo's phrase: The title song was actually written after the film was made and it was named at the end of a long recording session. Ringo said: "It's been a hard day's ...". He then realised it was already night so he ended the statement, "night". The phrase caught on and became the title for the film. Los Angeles-based producer Walter Shenson said: "There's a whole generation of young people who never saw it. This is a good time to put the picture out." He said the black and white negatives had been restored and the sound recorded digitally to improve the quality. "It really is a wonderful film to look at." The film will be rereleased by Miramax Films in March. It cost about £300,000 to make and the writing and the directing received Oscar nominations. Rights to the film, for which the surviving Beatles still receive royalties, reverted to Shenson in 1979. "The Beatles and I share the income - not that they need it," Mr Shenson said.

•What is intellectual property?
An artist called Peter Balke designed the cover of the Beatles’ album, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. He sold the entire rights for £200. Had Peter Blake kept the image rights associated with the album cover, which is now world famous, he would have earned royalties every time the album is sold. Bill and Ben, two famous children’s characters first seen on television in the 1960s and recently resurrected on TV, were originated by Hilda Brabban for her younger brothers. She gave the rights to the BBC free of charge and has not received any money from the £2 million revenue earned from videos and spin-offs.
http://www.ideas21.co.uk/292

•Sir Paul McCartney Not Interested in Beatles Songs Rights
Sir Paul McCartney has recently revealed he doesn't want to buy back the rights to Beatles's songs from Michael Jackson.

Jackson, who bought them in 1985, being rumored that he had earned a lot of money, especially after the Live 8 concerts, is reportedly trying to sell them, because of his huge debts.

However, McCartney declared he doesn't want to purchase the rights for now, because, in a few years, they will revert back to him automatically.

"Bono rang me and said, 'Did you hear? He's selling the songs. You should buy them!' Everyone else thinks I should too.
But the thing is, I do get some cash from the publishing already. And in a few years more of the rights will be automatically be reverting to me," Contactmusic.com quoted McCartney as saying.

"The only annoying thing is, when I tour America I have to pay to play some of my own songs. But I don't think about that. Because if I did, it would be just too annoying.", the former Beatles member confessed.

•Beatles Beaten By A Moron In A Hurry from Techdirt.com (techdirt is a fantastic site for all kinds of info)
The long running Apple vs. Apple trademark battle has come to a close, with Apple computer prevailing over the Beatles' record label, Apple Corp. The judge in the case ruled that Apple's logo does not resemble that of Apple Corp., and that iTunes isn't technically a music store, but rather a data transmission service. A 1991 agreement between the two companies specifically allowed for data transmission and the judge deserves credit for understanding what iTunes truly is. Hopefully more people will recognize that laws regulating specific kinds of media are outmoded in an era when it can all be broken down into indistinguishable streams of data. The ruling is also a victory for the "moron in a hurry" defense, which should be applied to more trademark cases, when plaintiffs claim the possibility of confusion.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20060508/1015255.shtml

•Beatles End Trademark Dispute With Apple
By Richard Waters in San Francisco and Nikki Tait and Emiko Terazono in London
Updated: 10:12 p.m. ET Feb 5, 2007
The Beatles on Monday buried their latest trademark dispute with US technology company Apple, removing one of the obstacles to a potential deal that could bring the Fab Four's songs to the iTunes music store.
The two sides did not comment on whether a digital music deal, which has been widely anticipated, would follow.

•Paul McCartney First Artist Signed to New Hear Music Label
Wednesday March 21, 4:09 pm ET
Newly Formed Record Label from Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group to Release Paul McCartney's First New Studio Album in Nearly Two Years Featuring All New Songs from the Legendary Artist

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX - News) and Concord Music Group proudly announced today that Hear Music's inaugural CD release will be from none other than music legend Paul McCartney. The album is slated for release early this summer and will be available at all traditional music retail outlets and Starbucks locations internationally. The announcement was made at the Starbucks Annual Meeting of Shareholders in Seattle where McCartney made a surprise appearance via satellite.
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"For me the great thing is the commitment and the passion and the love of music, which as an artist is good to see," said McCartney. "It's a new world now and people are thinking of new ways to reach the people and for me that's always been my aim."

"Having the honor of releasing an album by Paul McCartney as our first project under the Hear Music label is, in a word, remarkable," said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment. "This demonstrates how Hear Music can present even the most successful recording artists of all time with unique opportunities to reach existing fans, as well as a new audience of listeners."

"It is such a privilege to be able to present this amazing new album to the world," said Glen Barros, president and CEO of the Concord Music Group. "I believe that McCartney fans, like myself, will find that this album connects them to everything that they've always loved about Paul, yet also delivers a new personal dimension that shows his continued evolution as an artist. It is a truly profound recording."

With their recent creation of the Hear Music label and the newest offering from McCartney, Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group have taken big first steps in the evolution of their partnership. Hear Music grew from the two companies' mutual quest for music that demonstrates quality, authenticity, relevance and passion. Hear Music seeks to provide a new platform for reaching music fans and introducing them to both emerging and established artists with inspired vision and a keen sense of purpose. This will result in compelling music selections for consumers.

Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group's past collaborations include Ray Charles' "Genius Loves Company," which to date has sold 5.5 million copies worldwide and won an unsurpassed eight GRAMMY® Awards, including Album of the Year. In addition, Sergio Mendes' "Timeless" won a Latin GRAMMY® for Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album of the Year and to date has sold close to a million copies worldwide.

About Concord Music Group

The Concord Music Group is one of the largest independent record and music publishing companies in the world and owner of a rich and, in many cases, historically significant catalog of recordings. Concord Music Group's legendary family of labels includes Concord Records, Concord Jazz, Fantasy, Stax, Milestone, Riverside, Specialty, Telarc, Peak, Heads Up, Pablo, and Prestige, to name a few. They include titles from some of the most admired and enduring names in music, including Ray Brown, Rosemary Clooney, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Tito Puente, George Shearing and Mel Torme. The group's current roster of world-class artists includes: Karrin Allyson, George Benson, Chick Corea, Kurt Elling, John Fogerty, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Sergio Mendes, Jane Monheit, Ozomatli, John Pizzarelli, Poncho Sanchez, Spyro Gyra, Curtis Stigers, Angie Stone and Tierney Sutton.