At 50, has Madonna surpassed the Beatles?

Madonna's music was just what you said: Pop. It has little social impact on society, and comes and goes as quickly as this news story. The Beatles (I can't even believe I'm putting them both in the same breath) impacted, continued to impact, and impact today, all music. Musicians marvel at what they did with the structure of songs, the feel of songs, the evolutionary nature of each album, and on and on. It is a silly argument to think that Madonna has any real influence over time. Yeah, she still appeals to under 18 listeners. I even enjoyed her at one time, and probably would enjoy her performances now. But, lasting impact? Not even a discussion, folks.

Is this story a joke?

Here's the most important question:

Who can actually remember the lyrics -- let alone a title -- to a Madonna song?

Twat

Let's see if radio stations hold Madonnathons 40 years after she quits. My children (ages 4 and 6) already know more Beatles tunes and sing along than they do Madonna tunes - and BOTH are played in our home. The Beatles music appears timeless. I listen to some of their stuff today and think how much more fresh it sounds than even some stuff from the '90s. Sorry, this is one article that has no place to go but down.

Not to get into semantics, but the author's contention depends at least somewhat on ones definition of "pop music". Trying to assert Madonna's greater influence on pop music in Britain, for example, would elicit cackles from just about anyone. Britpop Mks. I & II were and have been influenced more by the Beatles than anyone, hands down. In the States, it's perhaps a different story, but it's debatable. Sure, the boy bands and teen pop stars owe a lot to Madonna, but what's her influence on any other genre of popular music in America? Rap, Country, "Alternative" (and by the way, the Beatles' influence remains pervasive to this day in that, if you will, genre)-- it's negligible. The Beatles, are the BEATLES, man! They are the alpha of mass pop hysteria in this country and around the world. Everybody else just followed in their considerable wake.

Over 200,000 in the Ukraine and 200,000 in Quebec, Canada went to hear Paul McCartney in June of 2008, alone. In addition, he played for 200,000 or so in the UK and, of course, was the surprise at Billy Joel's closing of Shea Stadium - in the same month. He will play Israel later this year, at the invitation of the government, issued with an apology for refusing the Beatles a visa in the 60s.

Monuments in places as diverse as Mongolia and Prague, Iceland and Berlin, Japan and Cuba - far away from New York and Liverpool testify to some meaning that reaches different ages and different cultures. Better still, spend five minutes on www.abbeyroad.co.uk/visit and watch people walk the zebra crossing.

Check out the sociology and musicology graduate classes available in Madonna studies; you won't find them, but you can get a Ph.D. in Beatle composition or write a dissertation on the Beatles' impact on half a dozen different -ologies.

Anyone had a Madonna tune played at their graduation? Wedding? Birthday? A memorial service?
In My Life, I Will, Birthday, When I'm 64, and Let It continue to be played at those milestone events 40 years after their release. Ever rocked a fretrul baby to sleep with a Madonna song? Try Rocky Raccoon or Goodnight or... well, you get the point.

Nice try that anyone bothers to make a comparison, but why is it always against the Beatles, if someone else has so obviously overtaken them? Possibly because, no one else has.

I never (and I mean never) post comments to news stories, but I could not let this one slip by. The author of this article is ignorant of all things music (I truly mean no disrespect, but it must be said). Take this quote -

"While the Beatles influenced scads of artists in their time, after their breakup, their sound became yesterday's news."

...um... this is 100% wrong. Not even an opinion. FACT. The Beatles invented modern rock. Plain and simple. All modern rock bands - U2, Coldplay, Panic at the Disco ... everyone - has been influenced largely by this one group. Even completely unrelated genres of music have been very greatly influenced. Modern chord progressions and structures, the idea of the music "album" as a whole work of art rather than a collection of songs, the music video, lyrics included in the liner notes, modern production techniques... all of these things were pioneered by the Fab Four.

Madonna... she was semi-influential in the 80's. But more recent releases? She did not pioneer anything. She followed the trends that were already set and solidified by the market. Bah.

The Beatles: 1962-1970
""While the Beatles influenced scads of artists in their time, after their breakup, their sound became yesterday's news." (???)
Since their breakup, the most covered song in the world are the songs of The Beatles.
(Madonna was a sexy girl)

The Beatles: 1962-1970
""While the Beatles influenced scads of artists in their time, after their breakup, their sound became yesterday's news." (???)
Since their breakup, the most covered song in the world are the songs of The Beatles.
(Madonna was a sexy girl)

Stupid question:
Madonna has no influence on the music.
She's not a musician.

I think creating a dichotomous arguement disrespects the very unique contributions that each have made. No one can deny that both have "influenced" culture. Their impacts are very different. It's very true that the Beatles spawned a new genre of rock and roll and it's true that Madonna spawned a new genre of pop music. Why the fuss? I appreciate both artists. I don't believe that Madonna has the musical chops that Lennon and McCartney had, but when I want a good workout tune, I don't put Rubber Sole on my iPod. It's unfair to guess how the Beatles may have progressed and stayed relevant into the future had John Lennon not been brutally murdered in 1980. I can say that indepentant of the Beatles, McCartney wrote some pretty bad stuff. Let's let both have their respective acclaim - there is room enough for both.

This is an idiotic question for so many reasons that it's laughable. "Madonna" vs. THE BEATLES! HA HA HA 40 years have gone by and The Beatles are still the best known, most loved, most influential musicians of all time.

Every once in a while there is a rogue music critic who comes out and says something negative about the Beatles. The fact they are the ones who everyone else is compared to proves the point... in another 25 years, will the critics be comparing artists(much like this writer has done) to Madonna or the Beatles? The latter, of course.

P.S.- about 25 years younger than baby boomers.

Success?
Despite a short career - 1962/1970 -The Beatles have exploded much more worldwide records that anyone during the twentieth century.
How much?
I don't know, but look this document, my friend
30 years after their breakup, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, on December 31, 1999, thirty years after their dissolution, the group held still more records than anyone ...
On this thread, all this worldwide records were still valid on December 31, 1999.
And nobody could compete

Very importantly: All this worldwide records are still valid today, August 13, 2008
And nobody could compete.
You can verify.
I am not a liar.
Otherwise, banissez me.
(Since last year, a new French Beatles' fan)
The Beatles: An absolute unreal group.

The next time, ask this question:
Mozart or Eminem?

Madonna's influence outshining the Beatles? Are you f*&^%$g kidding me? Let's talk in 200 years about who was more influential.

The Beatles wasn't only a Rock Group.(don't read tabloids)
In reality the Beatles was simply a musical group:
"Baby's in black" was a waltz: the first "Pop waltz" in the history. (1964)
"Love you to" was the first "World music composition" in the history.(1966)

"The late rock critic Lester Bangs observed in 1975 the Beatles' jangly sound and somewhat naive worldview was unable to transcend its 1960s origins. Bangs never gave the band enough credit for their songs, but he was right that some of their continuing appeal was fueled by hippie era nostalgia"
???????????????????????
What is the fastest selling disk in the world?
A simply compilation posthumously released in 2000:
"One" The Beatles
3.7 million copies in 1 week.
13.5 million copies in 1 month.
19.5 million exempalires to 2 months.
Today?
40 million copies around the world.
30 years after the breakup of the Beatles!!

Nobody seems to be "reading" this article. Of coarse, the Beatles are about 1000 times better than Madonna. That aint the point. But, Madonna did change what we hear on the pop charts. The idea of the "rock band" o the pop charts no longer exists. It's all the terrible stuff Madonna paved the way for. (Britney etc) As for the post Beatles, let's face it. The Beatles were great but none of the ex beatles ever had an album a The Beatles Revolver. It's true Lennon had a huge impact on society etc and "music" but the Beatles did not totally change what we heard on the pop charts. I love John Lennon and he had some great songs(when John was great, he was the best) but the Beatles really needed each other to capture the magic. This is why Lennons first record(the plastic ono band) barely sold. I hate to break it to everybody but Working Class hero is hard to listen too and even "cracked" Dylan up. And, when John had Yoko in the mix he ruined any potential for a great record. And, most of Paul's solo stuff is "popcorn". Wings? Comeon guys. Having said all that, THE BEATLES were the best band of the century and influenced music and pop culture like no one else. But, Madonna's influence(like it or not) made the "band"(as we knew it" nearly vacant on the pop charts. And, would you belive I have every Beatles and Lennon record.

Didn't anyone look at this piece before it was run? Everyone has a right to their own opinions but at least leave some room for common sense. It seems that the main point of comparison boils down to career longevity and not much else.

The Beatles were the Beatles. Their work together (I won't even consider their individual careers) as a group speaks for itself. Madonna's legacy is one of publicity-inducing controversy. Thank God that John and Paul didn't have to makeout on television to try and sell a few albums.

I guess Madonna must still have some true fans left but this article is truly a sad joke.

I love The Beatles but you are forgetting John possed nude with Yoko on album cover. People back than said he was just trying to sell records. The Beatles always did things to push the envelope (like the original Yesteray and Today) album cover. Artists like Zappa made fun of this stuff too.

I believe that all the good points have been raised. If Madonna is more influential than the Beatles, where are her supporters on this forum? Please - give me a break! We may just be more vocal, but I doubt it. When you attend a McCartney concert and see everyone in attendance, from the seniors to the young ones under 10, and they ALL KNOW THE WORDS to the Beatle songs being performed, how can it even be doubted that the Beatles have had, and will continue to have, far and away more influence? Talk to me in even 10 years about Madonna's influence. She is a performer who still makes news at times, and I'm sure she has her supporters, but I can only think of a few songs of hers that even stick in my mind, and they were all from 20 years ago. The Beatles are the Mozarts, Bachs and Beethovens of their generation, and their music transcends the short period of their existence as a band.

This writer is welcome to his opinion, but the facts (and the emotions) expressed in these posts don't bear out his conclusions. The Beatles continue to have an impact and relevance today, and will in the future.

Success?
Despite a short career - 1962/1970 -The Beatles have exploded much more worldwide records that anyone during the twentieth century.
How much?
I don't know, but look this document, my friend
30 years after their breakup, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, on December 31, 1999, thirty years after their dissolution, the group held still more records than anyone ...
On this thread, all this worldwide records were still valid on December 31, 1999.
And nobody could compete

Very importantly: All this worldwide records are still valid today, August 13, 2008
And nobody could compete.
You can verify.
I am not a liar.
Otherwise, banissez me.
(Since last year, a new French Beatles' fan)
The Beatles: An absolute unreal group.
Wikipedia:
The Beatles record sales:
* 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 band or artist to date. The songs were "Can't Buy Me Love" (Capitol Records), "Twist and Shout" (Tollie Records), "She Loves You" (Swan Records), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (Capitol), and "Please Please Me" (Vee-Jay).[1] In addition, seven other singles occupied lower places on the chart: "I Saw Her Standing There" (Capitol), "You Can't Do That" (Capitol), "All My Loving" (Capitol of Canada), "Roll Over Beethoven" (Capitol of Canada), "From Me To You" (Vee-Jay), "Do You Want To Know A Secret" (Vee-Jay) and "Thank You Girl" (Vee-Jay).[1] Furthermore, two Beatles tribute records appeared on the chart: "We Love You Beatles" by The Carefrees (at #42), and "A Letter to the Beatles" by The Four Preps (#85).[1]

* In 1964, the Beatles had the never-matched total of 15 American million-selling records (9 singles and 6 LPs), representing US sales of over 25 million in 1964 alone.

* "I Want To Hold Your Hand" sold nearly 5 million records in the US by 1968, making it the best selling single of the 1960s (from a Capitol Records Press release, September 9, 1968).

* When "Can't Buy Me Love" was released in the US on March 16, 1964, it sold 940,225 copies on the first day, shattering all previous sales records. The single went on to sell over 3 million by the end of the year (Spizer, Bruce, 2000: The Beatles' Story on Capitol Records, Part One: Beatlemania & The Singles, p. 36).

* The motion picture soundtrack "A Hard Day's Night" sold 1 million copies in the first four days of its US release making it one of the fastest selling LPs of the 1960s (Billboard article, July 11, 1964).

* By August 1964, the Beatles had sold approximately 80 million records globally (Variety 235, August 12, 1964).

* By February 1965, their global sales had moved beyond 100 million records (Variety 237, February 3, 1965).

* Rubber Soul sold 1.2 million copies in the US during the first 9 days of its release (Billboard article, January 1, 1966).

* By August 1966, the Beatles had sold 150 million records worldwide (Variety 243, August 3, 1966).

* By May 1967, the Beatles' global gross stood at $98 million, equivalent to over $616.6 million in 2007 (Variety 246, May 19, 1967).

* The "Hey Jude" single had sold over 3 million copies in America in its first 2 months of release, and 3.7 million by mid-January 1969. It eventually sold over 4 million copies and was the fourth best-selling single of the 1960s (Spizer, Bruce, 2003: The Beatles on Apple Records, p. 32).

* Although it carried a list price of $11.79 (a single album was selling for $3.98), their double album The Beatles sold 1.1 million units during its first two weeks on sale; a record for any double album up to that point in time (Spizer, Bruce, 2003: The Beatles on Apple Records, p. 102).

* "Abbey Road" sold over 3 million copies in the US in a little over a month, making it one of the best-selling LPs of the 1960s despite having been on sale for only the last three months of the decade (Spizer, Bruce, 2003: The Beatles on Apple Records, p. 164).

* According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Beatles had topped worldwide sales of 300 million units by 1969.

* The "Let It Be" LP reportedly shipped 3.2 million copies in 13 days representing a gross retail value of nearly $26 million (Billboard article, June 6, 1970).

* By October 1972, the Beatles' worldwide sales total stood at 545 million units.

Britain

* Most no. 1 albums in the British albums charts (15 no. 1s).
o Please Please Me (1963, 30 weeks), With the Beatles (1963, 21 weeks), A Hard Day's Night (1964, 21 weeks), Beatles for Sale (1964, 10 weeks), Help! (1965, 9 weeks), Rubber Soul (1965, 9 weeks), Revolver (1966, 7 weeks), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967, 27 weeks), The Beatles (The White Album) (1968, 8 weeks), Abbey Road (1969, 17 weeks), Let It Be (1970, 3 weeks), The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl (1977, 1 week), Live at the BBC (1994, 1 week), Anthology 2 (1996, 1 week), 1 (2000, 9 weeks)
* Group with most no. 1 hits in the British singles chart (17 no. 1 hits).
o "From Me to You" (1963, 7 weeks), "She Loves You" (1963, 6 weeks), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1963, 5 weeks), "Can't Buy Me Love" (1964, 3 weeks), "A Hard Day's Night" (1964, 3 weeks), "I Feel Fine" (1964, 5 weeks), "Ticket to Ride" (1965, 3 weeks), "Help!" (1965, 3 weeks), "We Can Work It Out"/"Day Tripper" (1965, 5 weeks), "Paperback Writer" (1966, 2 weeks), "Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby" (1966, 4 weeks), "All You Need Is Love" (1967, 3 weeks), "Hello, Goodbye" (1967, 7 weeks), "Lady Madonna" (1968, 2 weeks), "Hey Jude" (1968, 2 weeks), "Get Back" (1969, 6 weeks), "The Ballad of John and Yoko" (1969, 3 weeks)
* Group with most weeks in the British singles chart (456 weeks).
* Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the British singles chart (69 weeks).
* Group with most top 10 hits in the British singles chart (28 top 10 hits).
o "Please Please Me" (1963, #2), "Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967, #2), Magical Mystery Tour EP (1967, #2), "Something"/"Come Together" (1969, #4), "Let It Be" (1970, #2), "Yesterday" (1976, #8), "The Beatles Movie Medley" (1982, #10), "Love Me Do" [re-entry] (1982, #4), "Baby It's You" (1995, #7), "Free as a Bird" (1995, #2), "Real Love" (1996, #4)
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the British albums chart (174 weeks at no. 1).
* Most consecutive weeks spent at no. 1 in the UK albums chart (51 weeks from May 11, 1963 to May 2, 1964 – this excludes soundtrack albums).
* Most consecutive no. 1 hits in the British singles chart (11 consecutive no. 1 hits, excludes re-issues of old singles).
* Most consecutive top 5 hits in the British singles chart (22 consecutive top 5 hits from 1963 to 1970).
* Most complete ever domination of the British charts by occupying the first two positions in the singles chart and the albums chart as well as the top 3 positions in the EP chart (Extended Play) from December 12 to December 26, 1963.
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the British albums chart within a calendar year (40 weeks at no. 1, 1964).
* Most no. 1 albums in the British albums chart within a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums, 1965).
* Most simultaneous weeks at no. 1 in the British singles and albums chart (45 weeks).
* First act to replace itself at the no. 1 position in the British singles charts (December 12, 1963).
* First act to replace itself at the no. 1 position in the British albums chart (December 7, 1963).
* The Beatles' Please Please Me album spent more weeks at no. 1 in the British album charts than any other album by a group (30 weeks at no. 1, this excludes albums by duos and soundtracks).
* Most debuts at no. 1 in the British albums chart (8 no. 1 debuts, record shared with David Bowie)
* Group with the most consecutive weeks inside the British singles chart (105 consecutive weeks, from October 11, 1962 to October 15, 1964).
* Group with most single hits charted in the British singles chart simultaneously (6 hits on April 17, 1976).
* Biggest ever jump within the British albums chart (94 positions jumped by Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band from no. 97 to no. 3 in 1987).
* Most consecutive weeks inside the top 10 of the British albums chart (171 consecutive weeks from 1963 to 1966).

America

* Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 charts (20 no.1s).
o "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1964, 7 weeks), "She Loves You" (1964, 2 weeks), "Can't Buy Me Love" (1964, 5 weeks), "Love Me Do" (1964, 1 week), "A Hard Day's Night" (1964, 2 weeks), "I Feel Fine" (1964, 3 weeks), "Eight Days a Week" (1965, 2 weeks), "Ticket to Ride" (1965, 1 week), "Help!" (1965, 3 weeks), "Yesterday" (1965, 4 weeks), "We Can Work It Out" (1965, 3 weeks), "Paperback Writer" (1966, 2 weeks), "Penny Lane" (1967, 1 week), "All You Need Is Love" (1967, 1 week), "Hello, Goodbye" (1967, 3 weeks), "Hey Jude" (1968, 9 weeks), "Get Back" (1969, 5 weeks), "Come Together"/"Something" (1969, 1 week), "Let It Be" (1970, 2 weeks), "The Long and Winding Road" (1970, 2 weeks)
* Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard Top 200 albums charts (19 no.1 albums).
o Meet the Beatles! (1964, 11 weeks), The Beatles' Second Album (1964, 5 weeks), A Hard Day's Night (1964, 14 weeks), Beatles '65 (1965, 9 weeks), Beatles VI (1965, 6 weeks), Help! (1965, 9 weeks), Rubber Soul (1965, 6 weeks), Yesterday...and Today (1966, 5 weeks), Revolver (1966, 6 weeks), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967, 15 weeks), Magical Mystery Tour (1967, 8 weeks), The Beatles (The White Album) (1969, 9 weeks), Abbey Road (1969, 11 weeks), Let It Be (1970, 4 weeks), 1967-1970 (The Blue Album) (1973, 1 week), Anthology 1 (1995, 3 weeks), Anthology 2 (1996, 1 week), Anthology 3 (1996, 1 week), 1 (2000, 8 weeks)
* Most 2-sided charted singles in the Billboard Hot 100 charts (26 singles, including two double-sided #1 hits, although "For You Blue" (B-side of "The Long And Winding Road") accompanied its A-side and did not chart on its own)
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard albums chart (132 weeks at no. 1).
* Group with most weeks in the Billboard albums chart (2,184 weeks, second only to Frank Sinatra with 2,211 weeks).
* Group with most weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (609 weeks).
* Group with most weeks at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (59 weeks at no. 1).
* Most songs inside the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time (14 songs on April 11, 1964).
* Most songs inside the Billboard Top 40 at the same time (7 songs on April 11 and 25, 1964).
* Most songs in the Billboard Top 10 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
* Most songs in the Billboard Top 5 at the same time (5 songs on April 4, 1964).
* Most chart entries in the Billboard Hot 100 within a calendar year (30 charted songs in 1964)
* The only group to replace themselves at no. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 twice (March 21 and April 4, 1964). It would be forty years later when Usher would tie the record.
* Most complete ever domination of the Billboard Hot 100 singles and albums chart by occupying the first 5 positions in the Hot 100 as well as the first two in the albums chart simultaneously (April 4, 1964).
* Most consecutive no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (8 consecutive no. 1 albums from 1965 to 1968).
* Most consecutive top 5 albums in the Billboard albums chart (16 consecutive top 5 albums from 1965 to 1977).
* Group with the longest span of no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart (36 years and 51 weeks, 1964 to 2001).
* Group with most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 (6 consecutive no. 1 hits, record shared with the Bee Gees).
* Most no. 1 albums in the Billboard albums chart in a calendar year (3 no. 1 albums in 1964, repeated in 1965 and 1966).
* Most no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100 in a calendar year (6 no. 1 singles in 1964)
* The only act to have held the no. 1 and no. 2 position in the Billboard albums chart for 9 straight weeks on two separate occasions (March 2 to April 27 and August 29 to October 24, 1964).
* Most top 3 albums in the Billboard albums chart (27 top 3 albums).
* Most transatlantic no. 1 hit singles (13 songs reached no. 1 in both the U.S. and Britain).
o "She Loves You," "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "Can't Buy Me Love," "A Hard Day's Night," "I Feel Fine," "Ticket to Ride," "Help!," "We Can Work It Out," "Paperback Writer," "All You Need Is Love," "Hello, Goodbye," "Hey Jude," "Get Back"
* Group with most consecutive top 5 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (17 consecutive top 5 hits from 1964 to 1969).
* Group with most consecutive top 10 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (24 consecutive top 10 hits from 1964 to 1976).
* Group with most consecutive top 20 hits in the Billboard Hot 100 chart (27 consecutive top 20 hits from 1964 to 1976).
* On April 4, 1964, the Beatles occupied the first 5 positions in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the top 2 in the Billboard albums chart, the no. 1 position in the British singles chart, the first two positions in the British albums chart and the no. 1 position in the British EP chart, making this the most complete ever domination of the British and American charts in history.
* Most no. 1 singles in the Cash Box Top 100 charts (22 no.1s).
* Most no. 1 albums in the Cash Box albums charts (15 no.1 albums).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Cash Box albums chart (127 weeks at no. 1).
* Longest span of Top Ten singles in "Cash Box" history ("I Want To Hold Your Hand" - January 25, 1964 to "Real Love" - March 30, 1996 - 32 years, 2 months, 5 days.)
* Group with most weeks in the Cash Box albums chart (722 weeks up to 1974).
* Group with most weeks in the Cash Box singles chart (601 weeks up to 1986).
* Group with most weeks in the Record World albums chart (849 weeks up to 1982).
* Group with most weeks in the Record World singles chart (520 weeks up to 1980).
* Most no. 1 singles in the Record World Top 100 charts (23 no.1s).
* Most no. 1 albums in the Record World albums charts (17 no.1 albums).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Record World albums chart (123 weeks at no. 1).

Other countries

* Most no. 1 hits in the German singles chart (12 no. 1s).
o "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1964), "Paperback Writer" (1966), "Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby" (1966), "Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967), "All You Need Is Love" (1967), "Hello, Goodbye" (1967), "Hey Jude" (1968), "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (1969), "Get Back" (1969), "The Ballad of John and Yoko" (1969), "Something"/"Come Together" (1969), "Let It Be" (1970)
* Most no. 1 hits in the Australian singles chart (23 no. 1s).
o "I Want to Hold Your Hand" (1963), "I Saw Her Standing There" (1964), All My Loving EP (1964), "Can't Buy Me Love" (1964), "A Hard Day's Night" (1964), "I Should Have Known Better" (1964), "I Feel Fine" (1964), "Rock and Roll Music" (1965), "Ticket to Ride" (1965), "Help!" (1965), "Day Tripper"/"We Can Work It Out" (1965), "Nowhere Man" (1966), "Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby" (1966), "Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967), "All You Need Is Love" (1967), "Hello, Goodbye" (1967), "Lady Madonna" (1968), "Hey Jude" (1968), "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" (1969), "Get Back" (1969), "The Ballad of John and Yoko" (1969), "Something"/"Come Together" (1969), "Let It Be" (1970) [5]
* Most no. 1 hits in the Dutch singles chart (21 no. 1s).
o "I Want to Hold Your Hand' (1964), "Can't Buy Me Love" (1964), Long Tall Sally EP (1964), "A Hard Day's Night" (1964), "I Should Have Known Better" (1964), "I Feel Fine" (1964), "Rock and Roll Music" (1965), "Ticket to Ride" (1965), "Help!" (1965), "Yesterday" (1965), "We Can Work It Out/Day Tripper" (1965), "Michelle" (1966), "Paperback Writer" (1966), "Yellow Submarine"/"Eleanor Rigby" (1966), "Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields Forever" (1967), "All You Need Is Love" (1967), "Hello, Goodbye" (1967), "Hey Jude" (1968), "Get Back" (1969), "The Ballad of John and Yoko" (1969), "Let It Be" (1970)
* Most no. 1 hits in the Swedish singles chart (18 no. 1s).
* Most no. 1 hits in the Canadian singles chart (22 no. 1s, CHUM chart).
* Most no. 1 hits in the Norwegian singles chart (21 no. 1s).
* Most hits in the German singles chart within a calendar year (16 hits, 1964).
* Most consecutive top 10 hits in the German singles chart (17, from 1965 to 1970).
* Most no. 1 hits in the German singles chart within a calendar year (4 no. 1 hits in 1969, record shared with ABBA).
* Group with most top 10 hits in the German singles chart (29 top 10 hits).
* Group with most weeks in the German singles chart (589 weeks).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the German albums chart (113 weeks at no. 1).
* Group with most weeks in the German albums chart (1,180 weeks up to 2000).
* Group with most no. 1 albums in the German albums chart (11 no. 1 albums).
* The double album The Beatles/1962-1966 spent more weeks in the German album charts top 10 than any other artist album (124 weeks, only beaten by soundtracks My Fair Lady and West Side Story).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the German albums chart within a calendar year (36 weeks at no. 1 in 1964, excludes soundtracks).
* Group with most albums in the German albums chart within a calendar year (6 albums in 1964).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Dutch singles chart (67 weeks at no. 1).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Dutch singles chart within a calendar year (29 weeks, 1965).
* Most top 10 hits in the Dutch singles chart (35 top 10 hits).
* Most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Dutch singles chart (6 consecutive no. 1 hits).
* Group with most weeks in the Dutch singles chart (523 weeks).
* Only act to debut at no. 1 in the Dutch singles chart (3 times).
* Most no. 1 albums in the Norwegian albums chart (12 no. 1 albums).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian singles chart (97 weeks at no. 1).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian albums chart (182 weeks at no. 1).
* With The Beatles spent more weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian albums chart than any other artist album (31 weeks at no. 1, second only to soundtrack The Sound of Music).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian singles chart within a calendar year (25 weeks at no. 1 in 1966).
* Most weeks at no. 1 in the Norwegian albums chart within a calendar year (48 weeks at no. 1 in 1964).
* Most consecutive no. 1 singles in the Norwegian singles chart (8 consecutive no. 1 singles from 1965 to 1967).
* Most hit singles within a calendar year in the Norwegian singles chart (10 hit singles in 1964).
* Most no. 1 hit singles within a calendar year in the Norwegian singles chart (6 no. 1 hits in 1964).
* Most consecutive no. 1 hits in the Swiss singles chart (5 consecutive no. 1 hits from 1968 to 1970, chart only started in 1968).
* Group with most weeks in the Australian singles chart (604 weeks).
* Group with most weeks in the Finnish singles chart (437 weeks).
* Group with most top 10 hits in the Austrian singles chart (25 top 10 hits).
* Group with most top 10 hits in the Danish singles chart (33 top 10 hits).
* 26 no. 1 hits in Australia (130 weeks at no. 1). (David Kent)
* 23 no. 1 hits in Australia (101 weeks at no. 1). (Top 40 Research)
* 22 no. 1 hits in Canada (74 weeks at no. 1). (Chum)
* 22 no. 1 hits in Sweden (95 weeks at no. 1). (Kvallstoppen)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Sweden (69 weeks at no. 1). (Tio i Topp)
* 21 no. 1 hits in The Netherlands (95 weeks at no. 1).
* 21 no. 1 hits in Norway (97 weeks at no. 1). (VG)
* 20 no. 1 hits in America (59 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Denmark (104 weeks at no. 1). (Billboard & Musikmarkt & NME)
* 18 no. 1 hits in Germany (88 weeks at no. 1). (Bravo)
* 12 no. 1 hits in Germany (40 weeks at no. 1). (Hit Bilanz)
* 12 no. 1 hits in Germany (43 weeks at no. 1). (Amtage & Muller)
* 17 no. 1 hits in Britain (69 weeks at no. 1). (Record Retailer
* 16 no. 1 hits in Hong Kong (67 weeks at no 1). (Billboard)
* 15 no. 1 hits in New Zealand (35 weeks at no. 1). (The Listener 1966 onwards)
* 13 no. 1 hits in Ireland (47 weeks at no. 1).
* 13 no. 1 hits in Malaysia. (Billboard)
* 9 no. 1 hits in Spain (17 weeks at no. 1).
* 8 no. 1 hits in Zimbabwe (29 weeks at no. 1).
* 8 no. 1 hits in Switzerland (37 weeks at no. 1).
* 6 no. 1 hits in Austria (38 weeks at no. 1).
* 6 no. 1 hits in Belgium (22 weeks at no. 1).
* 5 no. 1 hits in Finland.
* 4 no. 1 hits in Italy (18 weeks at no. 1).
* 2 no. 1 hits in Ethiopia (98 weeks at no. 1)