The Beatles set to release rarities LP in copyright protection bid

A new Beatles LP featuring 59 rare and unheard recordings will be released this week in a bid to renew copyright on the works.

A spokesperson from the band’s Apple Records confirmed the release of the material to the BBC at the end of last week, although the digital compilations (which includes BBC sessions and alternate takes of famous songs) has not been officially announced.

The move comes as a result of EU law, which protects songs for 70 years after they are recorded but only if they get an official release. If not, copyright only lasts for 50 years.

With The Beatles’ debut album Please Please Me having been released in 1963, it is protected until 2033 but its unreleased session tapes are not.

The new digital collection of rarities is expected to land on Tuesday (December 16).

Last year, Sony Music released an 86 unreleased Bob Dylan tracks dating back 50 years in a bid to extend its own copyright. The EU’s copyright extension to 70 years was only rubber stamped this year, while a new ‘use it or lose it’ provision meant that copyright protection could be taken away if recordings haven’t been used in the first 50 years.

While Universal had to shed Parlophone in order to push its acquisition of EMI Music past EU regulators last year, it was able to hold on to The Beatles as a group and as individuals.

Source: Music week