Magazine and Television Coverage of the Beatles

One of the greatest media explosions in the past century happened because of four longhaired boys from Liverpool, England. The four boys, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison, better known as The Beatles, started something in the lives of Britons and Americans alike. Their music changed the way that music was viewed in the 60's and how it is produced and written today. Starting as a small band playing at strip clubs in Germany, The Beatles soon became a popular group throughout England. Within a couple years of touring their homeland, the group decided to conquer the United States. Their attempt to share their music overseas suffered at first with many failed attempts. Everyone who had an opportunity to write about the group did, even if the reporter had no prior background with music or the group. In result, The Beatles were often portrayed negatively in the United States in print media, especially magazines. Everything that could be written about the group was, even if it wasn't true or if it hurt their reputation. In the United States, print media seemed to try to generate negative news and gossip, while televised media seemed to spread their fame.

When The Beatles first hit US soil on February 7, 1964, it appeared that the group had already won over the hearts of all Americans. Prior to their departure in England, The Beatles had tried to sell their music to American fans. Their manager, Brian Epstein, had sent various singles to record companies in the US hoping that one would pick up the song and play it on American radio stations. After several failed attempts, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" worked and soon the British group was everywhere in America. The day their plane landed at JFK International Airport in New York, thousands of fans, TV crews, reporters, and police officers met the group at the terminal (Beatles Anthology).