Beatles To Showcase New Format At Apple Event?

For many years now, The Beatles have been arguably the highest profile holdouts from iTunes. Their (technically their rights holders) have shown through agreements like the one with Rock Band, that they are willing to bring the Beatles song catalog into the digital realm.

Couple that with the fact that we've been hearing for some time that Apple is working on a new, more immersive format for iTunes albums, moving beyond simple liner notes. Also keep in mind that the Beatles catalog is in the process of being remastered for a September 9 release, the same date as the next Apple event.

Coincidence? We doubt it.

Apple's "Cocktail" project is rumored to bring together music, behind the scenes video, and interactive liner content. Would there be any better way to pry money from the hands of Beatles fans who already own every piece of Beatles music than with extras that have never been available before. It will also allow Apple to get a huge amount of publicity for the new format.

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week...a little Beasties

When I heard the news late last month that Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys found a cancerous lump in his throat, I was floored.  

I was intent to research the latest news on the Beasties, including info about their forthcoming album.  Due to his surgery, Adam and Adam and Mike will understandably be taking a break from the album.  In the meantime, I took a walk down memory lane and listened to some of my favorite albums.  I checked out iTunes hoping to discover a gem that I hadn't already tracked down and bought ages ago- but alas, the iTunes library of the Beasties is woefully thin. 

I did find that the have the music video for Brass Monkey.  And, I couldn't resist buying it.

Ahh, to be 12...and sent to my room for going to see three Jewish white boys rap, while a huge inflatable penis bops on stage...again...

Stephen Fry's Thoughts on Digital Piracy

At the iTunes festival in the UK last month, author/actor/comedian Stephen Fry took the stage. While many in the audience were probably prepared to be amused, instead Fry spoke passionately about the conflict and the questionable tactics of organizations like the RIAA to vilify individuals who download songs illegally. In short, Fry calls for common sense to prevail, painting a picture of the history of shared communication/information as the basis for the belief that piracy today does not negatively affect sales to the extent record companies would have you believe, and that alienating the biggest fans of music isn't good business.

It seems to me, a subscription service, or free ad-supported service is the only long-term solution to satisfy the studios and our appetite for music. Yet subscription services just aren't catching on...

You can listen below. (Caution, occasional NSFW language.)

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week: Teen Angst via 1984

Ahh, 1984 (the actual year that is, not the book...)

With the passing this week of John Hughes, I wanted to give homage to one of his best- and my personal favorite- movie.  His first big release, Sixteen Candles, truly captured the emotions and behaviors of teens in high school.  The geeky guys were honest and realisticly portrayed, the popular kids were shown with the right mix of obnoxious, and just being kids.  It was with this movie that my lifelong crushes on both Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall began. (well not so much the later, beefed up Hall...)

Anyone who could turn to a boy at a dance and dub him Farmer Ted would have been a friend of mine.

In honor of Hughes and his portrails of adolescence, pull out your old VHS of The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles, or even Pretty in Pink.  And if you've long since lost it in a split with an ex, buy it on iTunes, and get ready to rock to the Psychedelic Furs.

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Peter Bjorn & John

On tour now, openers for the comeback of 2009, Depeche Mode, we have Peter Bjorn and John.  The trio are also to be seen at the XPoNential Music Festival, here in Philly this July 24-26.  I am very fond of the breakout hit in the US "Young Folks", probably my favorite song of the year in 2007. 

There are great gems on their new album, Living Thing, including the addicitve "Nothing to Worry About", which I can't get out of my head, nor would I want to.  So give this Swedish group a listen.  They are modern, fun, and have great lyrics to boot.

Check it out on iTunes: