• Financial Times , Monday, June 23, 2008 10:30 AM

In a move that could pave the way for a broader licensing of the Beatles' closely guarded catalogue, representatives of the band are in talks with both Activision and MTV Games to create a Beatles-themed video game. A final deal would have to win the blessing of both Apple Corps, the company established by the band to oversee its business interests, and EMI, the UK music group that owns the Beatles master recordings. Both declined to comment.

The surviving Beatles and their heirs have been cautious about exploiting their material on new platforms, but Apple Corps has become more active in recent months since Jeff Jones took over as CEO. The company -- whose board includes Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Olivia Harrison and Yoko Ono Lennon -- has allowed Beatles compositions to be used on "American Idol" and in a Las Vegas show.

"To my view, it's only a matter of time before we see Beatles songs that are the original recordings in motion pictures, in television work, and yes, maybe even one day in a commercial," says Martin Bandier, CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

Read the whole story at Financial Times »