Yoko Ono Allegedly Starts Rumor About Beatles' iTunes Plans

The Beatles' entire catalog could be available on iTunes soon according to a bombshell Yoko Ono allegedly dropped on Sky News earlier this week. Although the news page was pulled and Sky News employees were supposedly told not to comment, parts of the report were visible for a time on Google's cache and included in a Twitter post that said, "Beatles Tracks to Debut on iTunes."

"The whole of the Beatles back catalog will be made available to buy on iTunes, Yoko Ono has told Sky News," read the lede. While Sky has yet to issue a retraction, EMI told the Financial Times late Tuesday that the tracks will not be available today. Apple is holding a music-themed press conference today that fueled speculation by fans.

The timing would make sense, considering that 'The Beatles: Rock Band' and remastered CD's of group's entire catalog were released Wednesday. Meanwhile, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and Ono -- John Lennon's widow -- seem anxious for the band's music to be available through the digital retailer.

Apple's online music store has never sold Beatles tracks. It had a three-year legal battle with the Beatles' company, Apple Corps over copyright issues, which it settled back in 2007. As music fans wait for the Fab Four to step into the digital age, many have turned to pirated digital versions of the group's freshly reissued discs, which have already found their way onto the illegal file sharing world.