In 1998 viewers of Britain's Channel 4 television voted for the Beatles as the ultimate music of the millennium. They are perhaps the most obvious example of music having achieved international appeal, providing an enduring symbol of global culture.

In the early 1960s the Beatles became the first rock band to achieve global appeal and the first to make their place of origin a key part of that appeal.

Others have sought explanations for the social and cultural impact of the Beatles, including their impact on Western popular culture. The band's films, for instance, revived film musicals, and their songs helped popular music of the 1960s to become the soundtrack for political, social and cultural upheaval, particularly in the US.

In the case of US sales for the 1960s, the Beatles were the top artist, ahead of Presley, in both singles and albums. Between February 1964 and July 1970, the band maintained the number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 for a total of 59 weeks and topped Billboard's LPs chart for 116 weeks. In other words, they had the top-selling single one out of every six weeks, and the top-selling album one out of every three weeks.

Wide variety of themes

Perspective on the human condition

"All You Need Is Love"

"Eleanor Rigby"

Played a major role in the way people think
200 songs

Lennon/McCartney

Revolutionized the art of recording in the studio