Yoko Ono's iTunes blunder over Beatles release

Yoko Ono has dropped a Beatles bombshell on Sky News in the UK - saying that the entire Beatles back catalogue will be made available on iTunes.

But the story was shortlived on the pay TV network's website - pulled down almost immediately after it was posted.

Ono's comments pre-empted a mysterious Apple press conference tomorrow US time - the same day that the remastered Beatles' catalogue and the long-awaited The Beatles: Rock Band game was to be released.

It is unclear whether the story was taken down due to an Apple complaint.

Apple news site 9to5Mac is saying a Sky News staffer "told us they were told to cut the story out immediately and not to comment. Directive came "from the very top".

The Financial Times knocked back Ono's comments, quoting EMI global catalogue boss Ernesto Schmitt saying: "Conversations between Apple and EMI are ongoing and we look forward to the day when we can make the music available digitally. But it's not tomorrow."

The blogosphere has been humming with theories on the content of the music-themed conference - which was promoted with a line from a Rolling Stone's song in the press release.

The most likely scenario, it would seem, is that the iPod line is getting refreshed, but many believe the Ono info is correct.

Others are picking that Apple's much-rumoured tablet PC - like a giant iPhone - will be announced.

Google's cache of the original story can be found here.

All will be revealed when the Apple event takes place tomorrow morning, New Zealand time.

- NZ HERALD STAFF