First of all, I just have to say...OH.MY.GOD. No wait, make that oh.my.effing.god! Can this be true? The Beatles are finally gonna have their songs on iTunes store after the whole Apple vs. Apple fiasco?

And not only that, Apple (as in the computer company) is allegedly in negotiation with Britain's EMI group. Apple wants to gain them rights to come out with a Beatles edition iPod, much like the U2-inspired edition that Apple currently has.

As we told you guys in an earlier article, The Beatles remains as one of the very few bands that haven't taken a bite of Steve Jobs' apple. Bob Seger and Metallica have already given in, and so has the Red Hot Chili Peppers. To date, iPod users have resorted to downloading their fave Beatles tunes off Limewire or other download services. Is all that about to change now?

Being a Beatlemaniac myself, I couldn't be more psyched about this but then again, these are all still mere speculation. And when Apple was contacted regarding the matter, the company's spokesman merely said that the company does not comment on "rumor and speculation."

But the latest buzz is that Apple is "close" to reaching an agreement with EMI to become The Beatles' exclusive online music store for a limited window of time. Oh, and that's not all, Apple is also said to be wooing EMI to let them use a a Beatles song for a company ad. Trivia: Nike was the only company to ever have used a Beatles song for an ad - "Revolution" - back in 1987, for which the company was sued by the Fab Four.

During that whole controversy, the Beatles was reported to have commented that they "don't sing jingles to peddle sneakers, beer, pantyhose, or anything else." Perhaps mp3 players then? Hahaha. I dunno 'bout the rest of you guys, but if Apple does come out with a Beatles-edition iPod, not even George and John's rise from the grave will stop me from getting one.

Holdout artists, come out, come out, wherever you are...

In this iPod day and age where CD sales are continually dropping and more and more people flock to the Internet to download and buy songs, analysts say that bands and artists (or what we call 'holdouts') would inevitably have to give in to Apple and allow their songs to be purchased on the company's download site if they don't want to be left behind in the industry.

Andrews, manager for Bob Seger and Kid Rock, is amazed at the popularity of Apple's iTunes in the music industry (about 70 percent of the legal downloading market) having sold over a million songs in the last three years. Bob Seger has decided to release his classic 1976 album "Night Moves" but is still in negotiation to have his entire album downloadable and not just some of his select songs.

Metallica, who ironically was one of the bands who petitioned for Napster to be shut down, has also given in to iTunes and released their songs for sale late last month. The Red Hot Chili Peppers did the same thing in April with "Stadium Arcadium," their first album in three years. The band, along with Bob Dylan, has also used the site to sell concert tickets.

Holdouts such as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Garth Brooks, Radiohead and Kid Rock still avoid iTunes because of piracy and artistic integrity concerns (with their songs being sold for just 99 cents each). Also, online distribution leaves them with a very small profit.  Andrews similarly revealed that artists are now earning less than a dime for each song sold, as compared to the 30 cents that they used to get.

Other record labels won't release statements (just yet) about allowing their artists' songs to be downloadable in iTunes but admit they're working with their artists and bands to keep their options open about their music and album sales, especially online distribution.