Source: Britannica

Universal Music Takes Global Control of The Beatles' Merchandise Business

Universal Music Group reached an exclusive long-term agreement with Apple Corps Ltd. covering global merchandise, licensing and e-commerce for The Beatles.

UMG's Bravado division had already managed the band's merchandise business in North America. The new agreement expands that relationship worldwide and gives Universal a larger role in developing The Beatles as a global consumer brand.

Why It Matters

Record companies increasingly want to generate revenue beyond streams and album sales.

Merchandise, licensing, experiences and direct-to-consumer commerce allow music companies to monetize major artist brands in completely different ways.

The Beatles represent one of the strongest examples imaginable: decades after the band's original run, their brand continues generating commercial opportunities across generations.

Industry Impact

Major labels may increasingly behave more like entertainment and intellectual-property companies rather than businesses focused solely on releasing music.

Successful catalogs can generate revenue through merchandise, movies, exhibitions, licensing, collectibles and direct-to-consumer products.

That makes ownership and management of iconic artist brands potentially just as important as ownership of their recordings.