Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Universal Music Group Wins Exclusive Global Beatles Merch and Licensing Deal

The pact gives UMG control of The Beatles’ worldwide merchandise, licensing, e-commerce to help roll out planned fan and film projects.

Overview

  • Apple Corps and Universal Music Group announced the exclusive, long-term partnership on Wednesday that transfers worldwide physical and digital merchandise, licensing, and e-commerce responsibilities to UMG.
  • The companies tied the deal to two major projects: the official fan experience at 3 Savile Row set to open in 2027 and Sam Mendes’s authorized four‑film Beatles biopic event scheduled for 2028.
  • The announcement did not disclose financial or other commercial terms and said only that the arrangement builds on UMG’s existing stewardship of the Beatles catalogue.
  • UMG already manages the band’s recorded catalogue and led the 2015 move of Beatles recordings onto streaming services, a track record Apple Corps cited in explaining why it chose the partner.
  • The deal comes with coordinated promotional materials, including a rarely seen 1968 photo, and is meant to centralize how official Beatles products and experiences reach fans worldwide.