The Beatles Shopping Catalog to "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero"

After their song catalog's two-week run on American Idol was well-received by the show's young audience (seen in a rise in CD sales and downloads), representatives from the band are discussing the possibility of the release of a Rock Band or Guitar Hero game based specifically on Beatles songs.

If the deal were to happen, it would put millions into the pockets of The Beatles, but would also be extremely successful for the company producing the video game (either Activision or MTV Games). But in order for the deal to happen, it must get the approval of both Apple Corps and EMI.

This figures to be easier than it would have been only a few years ago, because Apple Corps has released its tight stranglehold on the band's catalog (as seen with the songs being featured on American Idol and in other projects).

"To my view, it's only a matter of time before we see Beatles songs that are the original recordings in motion pictures, in television work, and yes, maybe even one day in a commercial," said Sony/ATV chief executive Martin Bandier, who owns over 200 Beatles song copyrights.