Rumors of the Beatles appearing on iTunes have been circulating for a few years now. Both Steve Jobs and Paul McCartney had 2008 in mind for the iTunes release. Despite all this, Steve's guys have recently dismissed rumors that iTunes users will be able to download the entire Beatles' back catalog, following yesterday's reports of McCartney recently signing a $400 million deal with Apple for the distribution of the Beatles' back catalog via iTunes.

A recent UPI report says that Paul McCartney has recently signed a $400 million deal with Apple for the distribution of the Beatles' back catalog via iTunes. The deal is said not only to acquit the former Beatles legend, but former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr (drummer) and the families of late Beatles stars George Harrison and John Lennon as well. Sadly for McCartney, the list doesn't stop here.

According to the report, Michael Jackson, along with the EMI and Sony recording groups, who each own certain Beatles recording or publishing rights, will also be getting their cut. While McCartney is still the main figure here, cashing in the big check, the former Beatles star will, however, (probably) have to hand some of that money over to Heather Mills, according to the aforementioned report, on behalf of whom he is facing a costly and bitter divorce.

As dreadful as it may sound, UPI, quoting The Daily Mail, says that the former model may want to "increase her settlement request to include a portion of the singer's newfound fortune."

As mentioned above though, Apple has officially denied reports that Paul McCartney has closed a $400 million deal with iTunes for the distribution of the Beatles' back catalog, saying: "This is not news nor is it a scoop." The brief statement comes from an Apple Inc. spokesman according to billboard.com. The spokesperson declined further comments on the issue.