(Monday, January 26, 1976) — The Beatles’ nine-year recording contract with EMI expired today — Paul McCartney remained with EMI, Ringo Starr would sign with Atlantic (in the U.S.) and Polydor (everywhere else), and George Harrison would go with his own label, Dark Horse, which was distributed by A&M. John Lennon does not sign a new contract.

EMI’s Bob Mercer later recalled John’s reaction when he was trying to persuade him to renew his record contract with EMI: “He just said that his own feelings were that he didn’t want to have his signature on any pieces of paper. He’d had enough of contracts and so forth.”