*** is up with the beatles fanboyism in here? No one is really attempting to defend the Beatles other than saying "THEY WERE AMAZING GENIUSES." Start backing up your claims... stop automatically dismissing us when we argue otherwise. As a music student who almost never plays rock, I see nothing of interest in their music. This discussion will go nowhere unless you guys start substantiating your claims.
OK, let me see what I can do for you. Here are just a few little musical accomplishments of this little band that does nothing to impress you, music student. Now, Lord knows it's been established on this forum that the last thing any of us would ever want to do is be successful- it's all about pure art, and being selling albums is a sure sign that any artist is totally weak. Yes, I know, it was all a PR sham, marketing, doesn't have the musical integrity of the Sunday Jazz Brunch you aspire to someday play, but for what it's worth...
The Beatles are the best-selling musical group of all time in any genre, estimated by EMI to have over one billion discs and tapes sold worldwide.
The Beatles have notched up the most multi-platinum selling albums for any artist or musical group (thirteen in the U.S. alone).
The Beatles have a record six diamond-selling albums (10 million copies)- more than any other artist in any genre.
The Beatles have had more number one albums than any other group in the world.
The Beatles spent the highest number of weeks at number one in the albums chart.
The most successful first week of sales for a double album (The Beatles Anthology Volume 1, which sold 855,473 copies in the U.S. from 21 November to 28 November 1995)- 25 years after the band broke up.
The Beatles have the fastest selling CD of all time with 1. It sold over 13 million copies in four weeks.
The Beatles have had more number one singles than any other musical group in the world.
In terms of charting positions, Lennon and McCartney are the most successful songwriters in history.
Lennon/McCartney songs have been covered by more artists than any other composer or songwriter in history.
Paul McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history.
During the week of 4 April 1964, The Beatles held twelve positions on Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, including the top five positions, which has never been accomplished by any other artist.
The Beatles' "Yesterday" is the most covered song in history, appearing in the Guinness Book of Records with over three thousand recorded versions. It is also the most played song in the history of international radio.
The Beatles had the fastest selling single of all time with "I Want to Hold Your Hand"
The Beatles broke television ratings records in the U.S. with their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show with over 73 million people viewing