Apple has sent out invitations to select members of the media inviting them to a special event on September 9th. Featuring a large iPod silhouette graphic at the top sporting the phrase “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” the invite states that the event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, CA, and that it will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Pacific Time. Apple is widely expected to announce its fall 2009 iPod lineup at the event, and iLounge will be there to cover it live.
Notable is the “only rock and roll” reference, which appears to be a simultaneous dismissal of rumors that the event might be focused on more than just Apple’s “music” business—iPods—and a reference to the Rolling Stones, who traditionally were seen as rivals to The Beatles. The September 9 date of the event coincides with the release of The Beatles’ entire backcatalog in remastered CD format, as well as a widely publicized tie-up for a special Beatles version of the game Rock Band; these events, combined with Apple’s longstanding interest in offering The Beatles’ catalog in digital format on iTunes, have led many to speculate that the event would include such an announcement.