PRESS ASSOCIATION -- The Beatles have backed a campaign to encourage people to appreciate the value of music and discourage illegal downloads.

They have allowed their music to be used as the soundtrack for a new animated film for the Music Matters campaign aimed at showing the importance to everyday lives.

The Fab Four follow acts such as Elbow and Kate Bush who have featured in previous films.

The Beatles have been notoriously protective of their music for many years and not allowing it to be used for ads. They only allowed it to be available to download last year.

Tracks such as Hey Jude, Something and Strawberry Fields Forever are featured in the film which illustrates how the band's music has accompanied milestones in the lives of many people. It aims to hammer home how listening to music is a shared experience and brings people together.

The video will be on the website for the campaign - backed by artists, major labels and other parts of the music industry - at www.whymusicmatters.org.

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