Beatles Sue EMI for Millions

The Beatles -- Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison -- are suing EMI Group, claiming that they are owed more than $53 million in royalties. The Beatles' Apple Records announced today that an audit proved that EMI, which owns the copyright to the Beatles recordings, was not fulfilling its contract.

"Despite very clear provisions in our contract, EMI persists in ignoring their obligations and duty to account fairly and with transparency," Apple Records said in a statement. "Apple and the Beatles are once again left with no choice but to sue EMI." Lawsuits were filed against EMI in London and its Capitol Records subsidiary in New York on Thursday.

Apple and EMI previously battled for ten years over contract disputes, ending in an out-of-court settlement in 1989. The Beatles had claimed that EMI sold or gave away millions of records without their knowledge.

Last year, Apple Records dragged Apple Computers into court over the launch of the iTunes online music store, claiming that the use of the Apple trademark for music-related business violated a 1991 agreement.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

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