They did re-shape the music industry. And gave western music a shot in the arm it sorely needed (they were for example the first people in europe to use the Dorian scale since the 14 century).
And its not like science/technology where if its there to be found it will be by someone. Creative endevours dont work like that. They depend on the people involved and nothing more.
Totally agree with this (except the Dorian bit, I have no feckin' clue about that).
It's impossible to know one way or the other, of course, but I don't believe we'd
have a music industry anything like the one we've had for the last 40-odd years without the Beatles. Their success, influence and impact on popular culture was totally unprecedented, and nothing like it will ever happen again because nowadays the industry is so much bigger and more fragmented. And it's become
part of the establishment.
(There was Elvis, of course, but by the time the Beatles came along he'd already lost all his early edginess and was making bland music and boring family-friendly movies)
I'm not the biggest Beatles fan and I think most of McCartney's solo output is nothing more than sugary bilge. But I wouldn't for a second question his iconic status or his right to it.
And while we're on the subject, why the hell hasn't
Ringo got a knighthood?