My Ticket To Ride

Why The Beatles Are Perhaps The Most Impactful Musicians In History

by Rick Margin

Paul McCartney…Ringo Starr… John Lennon…George Harrison

The Beatles wait backstage on February 16, 1964, before their second of three-consecutive Sunday night appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. They would soon be performing live in front of another all-time, record-setting audience. Photo Credit: Joe Allen

Introduction

The Beatles were good musicians, performers and songwriters. I am not claiming that the Beatles were the best musicians — they weren’t. But, I believe their impact on music is unparalleled and a worthy and potentially provable claim.

So, how do I define and/or measure impact? My use of the word has multiple meanings including: to influence or have profound effect on and/or forceful contact of one thing striking another (re: traditional music industry and culture). Additionally, I am using three music-specific qualifying criteria including the longevity of their impact, the breadth of their impact and the depth of their impact. At the end of this essay you will find a document that provides over 45 specific sub-criteria tied to those three just mentioned qualifiers, many of which are quantifiable.

The earliest music would likely have been inspired by the endless, melodic sounds of nature — from birdcalls to the whistling wind. So maybe Mother Nature should be the defining artist to get the credit as having the most impact on the creation of music. However, my focus is on people, rather…