Neil Aspinall, CEO of Apple Corps, left the company Tuesday, calling it quits after more than 45 years with The Beatles, and some 38 years as head of Apple Corps. Mr. Aspinall has long been seen as the major roadblock to licensing The Beatles' catalog to download services like Apple Inc.'s iTunes Store and others.

While some may look at his departure as a sign that such a roadblock would be lifted, Reuters reported without citing sources that this move has been planned, is amicable, and that unnamed "people close to the situation" say it is not likely to change the digital download picture for The Beatles. As with any change in leadership, however, a new CEO at the helm could mean a change in any direction on this issue.

"He was there since the inception of the band in Liverpool and has meant so much to the Beatles' family for all these years and still does. However, he has decided to move on." Apple Corps said in a statement.

Mr. Aspinall is being replaced by Jeff Jones, the executive vice president of Sony BMG Music Entertainment's Legacy Recordings division.

"[It's a] dream come true," Mr. Jones said in a statement. "The multiple opportunities to reach music lovers, both new and old, with the Beatles' spectacular body of work makes this position incredibly challenging and exciting."

Mr. Aspinall has long been seen as a zealous protector of The Beatles' legacy and the Fab Four's rights. He was the key force behind delaying The Beatles move to CDs, something that didn't happen until 1987, several years into the CD age. That delay, however, resulted in The Beatles making a big splash when Sgt. Peppers was released on CD in 1987, and when each of the subsequent albums followed.

Mr. Aspinall was also the prime mover behind One, The Beatles #1 selling greatest hits collection, and Anthology, a comprehensive collection of outtakes, demos, and alternate mixes of Beatles material.

The Beatles remain the biggest holdout, and perhaps the only holdout that still matters, in the digital download market. Apple Inc. has been courting the band's catalog for some time, and recently settled a lawsuit brought by Apple Corps over a trademark dispute involving digital downloads and the iTunes Store. Many had hoped that the settlement would include a deal for The Beatles catalog, but no such announcement has yet been made.

Additional speculation was again raised when EMI, the major label through which Apple Corps distributes its music, announced a DRM-free deal with Apple at iTunes, but again, no such deal was announced. In response to a reporter's question about when The Beatles were coming to iTunes, Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs said simply that he'd like to know, too.