Rumor: Beatles to Strike iTunes-only Music Deal

Fortune's Tim Arango has a theory. His theory is that Apple is about to get an exclusive deal to add the Beatles' back catalog -- hitherto only available illegally online -- to the iTunes store.

It seems faintly ludicrous, as Apple would seem the last port of call for the Beatles, whose Apple Corps. label recently lost a court case over Apple Computer's use of the Apple trademark in the music business.

According to a music industry executive apprised of the talks, the parties were discussing how lengthy a window of exclusivity iTunes might get and how many tens of millions of dollars Jobs - who is said to be personally involved in the discussions - will commit to an advance for the band and marketing costs.

This is indeed one of those "could fall apart at any moment" deals, I'll wager. That said, it's surely only a matter of time before Apple Corps caves to someone.

Beatles: only on iPod? [CNN Money]