The Beatles were a pop and rock group of musicians from Liverpool, England, whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music. In the United Kingdom, The Beatles released more than 40 different singles, albums, and EPs that reached number 1. This success was repeated in many other countries and their record company, EMI, estimated that by 1985 they had sold over 1 billion discs and tapes worldwide.

The Beatles are the bestselling musical act of all time in the United States, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked The Beatles #1 on its list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. According to that same magazine, their innovative music and cultural impact helped define the 1960s, and their influence on pop culture is still evident today.