Decca Records famously rejected The Beatles on January 1, 1962, in what's now considered one of the biggest mistakes in music industry history. The band had traveled from Liverpool to London for an audition at Decca's studios, where they recorded 15 songs. Despite their potential, Decca's executive Dick Rowe turned them down, reportedly telling Brian Epstein, their manager, that "guitar groups are on their way out."

This wasn't the only rejection The Beatles faced. Before Decca, the band was also turned down by Columbia, Pye, and HMV. However, the Decca rejection stands out as the most significant because of the company's prominence in the industry at that time.

The audition tape included performances of songs like "Money," "Till There Was You," and "Like Dreamers Do." The band members present were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best, who was later replaced by Ringo Starr. Instead of signing The Beatles, Decca chose to sign Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, believing a London-based band would be more convenient to work with than one from Liverpool.

This rejection ultimately worked in The Beatles' favor. Shortly after, they signed with EMI's Parlophone label, where producer George Martin helped shape their sound and launch their career. Under Martin's guidance, The Beatles went on to become the best-selling music act of all time, with estimated sales of over 600 million records worldwide.

Interestingly, Dick Rowe later redeemed himself by signing The Rolling Stones on George Harrison's recommendation. The Beatles' Decca rejection tape was eventually released, allowing fans to hear what the record executives dismissed that day. Today, these recordings serve as a reminder that even the most successful artists can face rejection on their path to greatness.

To add perspective to this historic misstep, Decca's rejection led Brian Epstein to work harder in promoting the band, ultimately securing their deal with EMI, which proved to be the perfect match for The Beatles' artistic vision and commercial success.

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