Commercializing The Beatles

It is disheartening to know that Michael Jackson, having acquired the publishing rights to the Beatles' music, has decided to cash in on it by making it available for corporate commercialization ((SHOW BUSINESS, May 18)). The specter of Jackson's developing a list of "only 40 ((songs)) you'll ever possibly see in an ad" is an insult to rock music.

Nirmal Goswami

Arlington, Texas

Rock fans are complaining because a Beatles "classic" will be used to advertise Nike sneakers. But nobody complained when Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite was used in a commercial for cat food or the Brandenburg Concertos advertised German cars and French mustard. My heart bleeds for the Beatles fans who take the commercialization of their heroes' songs so seriously.

Ronald W. Angel

Oak Harbor, Wash.

I have returned my Nikes to the company with this message: "Take back your shoes. Give back John Lennon's music."

Paul Pomerantz

New York City