Partnership to launch new generation of Beatlemania

The Beatles are preparing for a new chapter that will extend far beyond their recorded catalog.

Apple Corps Ltd and Universal Music Group have announced an exclusive, long-term global partnership that will see UMG handle the band's worldwide physical and digital merchandise, licensing and e-commerce, expanding a relationship that already includes stewardship of The Beatles' music catalog.

The agreement comes as Apple Corps prepares a series of major projects to bring the legendary band's music and story to new generations.

The world's first official Beatles fan experience, The Beatles at 3 Savile Row, is scheduled to open in London in 2027. Spanning seven floors, the venue will draw on Apple Corps' extensive archives, featuring previously unseen material, rotating exhibitions and a fan shop. Visitors will also be able to enter a re-creation of the studio where Let It Be was recorded and revisit the site of The Beatles' famous rooftop concert, held on Jan 30, 1969.

The plans also include The Beatles — A Four Film Cinematic Event, an unprecedented series of four biographical films directed by Sam Mendes, to be released in 2028, telling the story of each band member — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.

The project marks the first time Apple Corps and The Beatles have granted full life-story and music rights for a scripted film.

The new merchandising and licensing deal is intended to support the broader expansion of The Beatles' cultural presence, placing UMG in charge of developing products and experiences for fans worldwide.

"There has never been a more exciting time to work on The Beatles," Tom Greene, CEO of Apple Corps Ltd, said in a statement, pointing to the upcoming Savile Row experience and the four-film project.

The announcement also follows Apple Corps' official recognition this year of June 25 as Global Beatles Day, a fan-led initiative established in 2009 around the band's message, "All You Need Is Love."

For UMG, the agreement deepens a relationship with one of the most influential acts in popular music. The company is already the steward of The Beatles' catalog, including landmark albums such as Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and has a long-standing connection with the band through Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded the vast majority of their songs.

Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of UMG, said the partnership would focus on protecting and expanding The Beatles' legacy through new fan experiences.

"The Beatles embody music's power to change the world," he said. "We're grateful for Apple Corps' trust as we deepen our global partnership, while protecting and growing The Beatles' legacy through authentic fan experiences worthy of their artistry."

More than six decades after Beatlemania first swept across the world, the band is once again preparing to meet its audience in new forms — through archives, immersive experiences, merchandise, and soon, the cinema.