Radiohead songs finally on iTunes

By Ian Youngs Entertainment reporter, BBC News

Radiohead previously wanted fans to download only full albums

Radiohead's back catalogue has appeared on iTunes, making them one of the last high-profile bands to put their body of work on Apple's leading download store.

The band's first six studio albums are now available alongside their latest, In Rainbows, which appeared in January.

Radiohead's former record company EMI has made the works available to buy as complete albums or single tracks.

The Beatles are now the only remaining major British band whose music is not on the service.

Solo work by all of the Fab Four is available, though, and a deal is thought to be only a matter of time.

Radiohead had held out because they wanted fans to buy their albums whole, whereas Apple insists artists allow fans to buy individual tracks.

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But the band changed their minds when they moved labels and released In Rainbows on XL.

Garth Brooks, who is second to The Beatles in all-time US record sales - ahead of Elvis Presley - has also refused to join the iTunes revolution.

He wants fans to download only full albums because he says each album is a complete work and the songs are designed to be heard together

"We do albums, we have always done albums," he told the BBC News website.

Referring to songs from his 1990 album No Fences, he continued: "Friends in Low Places is not Friends in Low Places without Wolves or Wild Horses.

"And if people try to make it a money issue, I can get the full album to the consumer for much less than they can get it at 99 cents a song.

"There are a number of issues that need to be addressed in the digital downloading world before we introduce our music to it."

AC/DC have also stopped their material from appearing on iTunes, choosing instead to sign an exclusive deal for full album downloads with US mobile phone operator Verizon.

And Def Leppard's latest album is on there, while the rest of their catalogue is not.

But the vast majority of other acts have now signed up to iTunes.

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