The Beatles songs publishing is currently owned by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, but US law gives the option to living artists to apply to regain copyright 56 years after initial publication, meaning the Lennon-McCartney catalogue will become available in 2018.

According to Billboard magazine Paul McCartney began the process to take control of his half of the Beatles publishing on the 15th December 2015. Under the US copyright act of 1976, a songwriter must file a claim with the copyright office two to 10 years before the 56 years elapse. Paul McCartney filed a termination notice for 32 songs at the end of last year. However, John Lennon’s half of the publishing – all Beatles songs were credited to Lennon-McCartney, regardless of who wrote them – will remain with Sony/ATV who previously agreed a deal with John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono.

The Beatles lost control of their publishing rights over 50 years ago. The company Northern Songs was founded by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, their manager Brian Epstein and publisher Dick James in 1963. Dick James sold his stake to the UK firm Associated Television (ATV) in 1969, and Lennon and McCartney failed in an attempt to regain their rights. Another attempt by the music manager Allen Klein to set up a deal for the Beatles’ Apple Corps to buy out ATV also failed.

Michael Jackson bought ATV Music for $47.5m in 1985, but then merged it with Sony Music in 1985 leading to the formation of Sony/ATV. In 2006, in financial trouble, Michael Jackson struck a further deal with Sony, giving the former the right to buy his half of Sony/ATV.

It was finally announced last week that the Michael Jackson estate was prepared to sell its 50% stake to Sony for $750million.

Putting the cynical world of politics and business aside, let’s simply celebrate the brilliance of the music of the Beatles  with this top 20 best Beatles songs –

Top 20 Best Beatles Songs

1)  A Day In The Life

2)  Eleanor Rigby

3)  Norwegian Wood

4)  She’s Leaving Home

5)  Help

6)  Helter Skelter

7)  Let It Be

8)  I am the Walrus

9)  Something

10)  Girl

11)  Yesterday

12)  She Loves You

13)  Strawberry Fields Forever

14)  Come Together

15)  Ballad of John & Yoko

16)  Penny Lane

17)  Nowhere Man

18)  Revolution

19)  Hey Jude

20)  Don’t Let Me Down

Which are your favourite Beatles songs and why? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

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