Chapter 24: Revolution 9: Lessons in Leadership Provided by The Beatles

In a world in which the popular music market has diversified in both genre and media, The Beatles continue to generate staggering revenue and sales. According to Forbes, in 2013 alone The Beatles earned a combined $71 million in the form of individual earnings, cash from ongoing album sales, and other revenue streams, such as DVD sales of The Beatles’ films. They have sold more than 177 million albums in the United States alone and hold the title for most number one-hit records in the Billboard Hot 100’s history (a total of 20; Angulo, 2014). Over 30 years after their original release, even the vinyl versions of Abbey Road (1969a) and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967a) were in the top 10 album sales of 2014 (Nelson, 2015). And in the digital age, The Beatles sold 2 million songs within a week of being available on iTunes (Billboard, 2010).