Rumors about Beatles’ music catalogue becoming available in digital format have been circulating for about two years now, but without confirmation. Yet the British press recently reported a $400 million deal between Paul McCartney and Apple, which means we could see the Beatles discography on iTunes sometime in the near future.

The news haven’t been confirmed, but as it seems, the songs will become available exclusively on iTunes, but that doesn’t exclude the possibility for the music catalogue to be made available to other digital retailers as well.

None of the future beneficiaries of such a deal confirmed the rumors, qualifying them as simple speculations. Well, real or not, McCartney himself agreed not too long ago that the availability of the Beatles discography in digital format is practically inevitable.

If the deal proves to be true and actually materialize, the money will split up between McCartney, Ringo Starr, the families of the other two Beatles members, John Lennon and George Harrison, Michael Jackson, who also owns some rights, and EMI.

There is no doubt about the impact The Beatles have made on music across continents, but at the same time, everyone is curios to see what the impact of such a deal would, both in terms of sales and targeted customers.

The Beatles created a worldwide phenomenon when they appeared on the music scene, both loved and criticized at the same time. They started in Liverpool, England, but ended up being a sensation in the United States as well. According to their record company’s estimations, they managed to sell 1 billion records in 25 years after they first started.

Although reluctant in the beginning, America soon started loving them, as Beatlemania crossed borders, and why not, oceans. Thirty years after announcing their split, The Beatles still remain one of the biggest names in music up to date.