How John Lennon and Donovan dreamt up digital distribution...In the 1960s
Digital distribution may have only reached its true potential relatively recently, but the concept of artists reaching music fans directly and instantly was actually being banded around by pioneering songwriter Donovan and his friends The Beatles half a century ago.
Speaking to Music Week, Donovan revealed that, way back in the 1960s, he and The Beatles discussed the concept of a communication network by which they could distribute music digitally and connect with anyone in the world, whenever they wanted - much like the internet as we know it today.
“The internet is what we spoke about, me and The Beatles, sitting around at Apple, but we didn’t know it was called the internet. We didn’t know that the military establishment were working on it and it was going to come,” he said.
“John Lennon and I would sit around when we became pals and the other guys were there too. John said, Wouldn’t it be great if we had our own satellite? We could do exactly what we wanted, couldn’t we? We wouldn’t have to deal with what’s going on. We could be direct to everybody.
“Of course, that conversation was interesting, but communicating with anyone at the same time didn’t really pan out, because you need a signal from the satellite and down on the earth there needs to be those who are connected to that signal.
By: Murray Stassen
Source: Music Week
