Beatles' Most Profitable Year, Thanks to Video Game

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 8th 2009 07:42AM

The greatest rock band of all time is 40 years past its heyday - and down 50% of its members - but the Beatles might have their most profitable year in 2009, thanks to a video game. Between a slew of re-released records and the debut of 'Beatles: Rock Band,' the surviving members of the Fab Four are looking at a $1.6 billion pay day. Check out the trailer:

Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, approved the use of the band's music for the game, which allows players to act as members of a virtual Beatles. Brand expert Jonathan Gabay tells Scottish paper the Daily Record: "In one masterstroke, they address failing sales of CDs as well as grab a new generation of Beatlemaniacs."

This year also marks the first time that Beatles' tunes will be available for sale online. A legal dispute between Apple computers and Beatles firm Apple Corps prevented the songs from legal download vendors, but digital tracks will soon be available through iTunes.

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Fab Fotos

In this photo made Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, a promotional display for "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game is seen at a Game Stop store in Los Angeles. "The Beatles: Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero 5" are among the first of the slate of big game franchises _ combined with console price cuts_ that game makers hope will re-ignite industry sales in time for the usually lucrative holiday season. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Anything Beatles

Irish singer Finbar Furey signs a guitar after taking part in a charity recording of a Children in Need album at Abbey Road studios in west London on September 7, 2009. The group including Sir Terry Wogan, former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, Pink Floyd drummer, singer Midge Ure and many others will be recording a version of the Beatles' classic "All You Need Is Love" for the forthcoming "Bandaged Together" album. AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason takes part in a charity recording of a Children in Need album at Abbey Road studios in west London on September 7, 2009. The group including Sir Terry Wogan, former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, singer Midge Ure and many others will be recording a version of the Beatles' classic "All You Need Is Love" for the forthcoming "Bandaged Together" album. AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason (L) and former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman take part in a charity recording of a Children in Need album at Abbey Road studios in west London on September 7, 2009. The group including Sir Terry Wogan, singer Midge Ure and many others will be recording a version of the Beatles' classic "All You Need Is Love" for the forthcoming "Bandaged Together" album. AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason poses for photos before taking part in a charity recording of a Children in Need album at Abbey Road studios in west London on September 7, 2009. The group including Sir Terry Wogan, former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, singer Midge Ure and many others will be recording a version of the Beatles' classic "All You Need Is Love" for the forthcoming "Bandaged Together" album. AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman takes part in a charity recording of a Children in Need album at Abbey Road studios in west London on September 7, 2009. The group including Sir Terry Wogan, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, singer Midge Ure and many others will be recording a version of the Beatles' classic "All You Need Is Love" for the forthcoming "Bandaged Together" album. AFP PHOTO/Leon Neal (Photo credit should read Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

HAMPTON, GA - SEPTEMBER 05: Joey Logano, driver of the #20 GameStop/The Beatles Rockband Toyota pits during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Degree V12 300 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 5, 2009 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joey Logano

Getty Images

(FILES) A handout image obtained on April 17, 2009 from ITV shows Scottish charity worker Susan Boyle appearing on Britain's Got Talent (BGT) television show during the BGT auditions in Glasgow. The album won't be released until November 24 but Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer discovered on "Britain's Got Talent" who went on to become a YouTube sensation, is already number one on Amazon.com on September 4, 2009. Boyle's upcoming CD, "I Dreamed a Dream," has claimed the top spot on Amazon.com's list of bestselling CDs, beating out Whitney Houston's "I Look to You" and a remastered release of the Beatles' "Abbey Road." AFP PHOTO/FILES/ITV/HANDOUT NO SALES/RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE/GETTY OUT (Photo credit should read -/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

In this video game image released by MTV Games, a scene is shown from "The Beatles: Rock Band." (AP Photo/MTV Games)