The Beatles' music has become available for streaming after being released worldwide from midnight on Dec. 24, the group's official website announced Wednesday.
December 24 at 12:01am local time, The Beatles’ music is available for streaming worldwide: https://t.co/99cigizLza
The iconic group's music will be available on nine subscription streaming music services including Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Google Play, Microsoft Groove, Amazon Prime, Rhapsody, Slacker, and Tidal.
The greatest band. The entire catalogue. Tonight at midnight. #BeatlesOnSpotify
The services have the rights to stream 224 songs from the original 13 studio albums, as well as "essential" collections including Past Masters, the BBC reported.
The deal doesn't involve exclusive rights to any one service. The Beatles' catalogue will be available on both the free and premium versions of subscription services, which means nonpaying users will also have access to their music.
The Beatles, the biggest-selling group of all time, waited more than seven years before coming to iTunes in 2010. Until now, the group was one of most high-profile artists not available to stream, The Guardian reported.
Some contemporary artists, like Taylor Swift, have chosen not to make their music available on free versions of subscription services such as Spotify, while Adele decided against putting her latest album, 25, on any streaming service.
Ringo Starr, one of two surviving members of the band, tweeted the group was coming to fans "from out of the blue."
Are you ready Christmas Eve 12:01 AM we are coming to you from out of the blue peace and love peace love. 😎✌️🌟💖👽😄🎂🌺
Starr also tweeted, "I am excited. I hope you are too. Peace and love. Strawberry fields forever."
Sir Paul McCartney did not make a statement, but retweeted the group's announcement.
