On Christmas Eve, The Beatles will end their multi-year boycott on streaming music. With just two days before the big launch, Re/Code has shared more details on which platforms will be offering the band’s catalog. Spoiler: It’s everyone.
The Fab Four have not signed an exclusive deal with any particular streaming service, according to Re/Code, instead opting to make their music available for streaming everywhere: Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, TIDAL, even Amazon Prime Music. The band was already available on the Internet radio platform Pandora, which does not currently offer on-demand streaming.
What’s more, the music won’t be behind a paywall. Freemium subscribers of Spotify will also be able to stream The Beatles’ catalog in full.
Update – Wednesday, December 23rd at 8:25 a.m. CT: The Beatles’ official website has confirmed the news, adding that the catalog will also be available on more obscure services such as Deezer, Rhapsody, Microsoft Groove, and Slacker beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone notes that in addition to the Beatles’ U.K. LPs, the streaming deal includes the two volumes of The Past Masters, Yellow Submarine, and a trio of greatest hits compilations, The Beatles 1962 – 1966, The Beatles 1967 – 1970 and 1, totaling 224 songs.
While The Beatles have embraced streaming, there still remain a few notable acts only available to hear (legally) by actually purchasing their music. Among them: Tool, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Def Leppard, and Joanna Newsom, to name a few.
