Their musical innovations and commercial success inspired musicians worldwide . Many artists have acknowledged the Beatles ' influence and enjoyed chart success with covers of their songs . On radio , their arrival marked the beginning of a new era ; in 1968 the programme director of New York 's WABC radio station forbade his DJs from playing any " pre-Beatles " music , marking the defining line of what would be considered oldies on American radio . They helped to redefine the album as something more than just a few hits padded out with " filler " , and they were primary innovators of the modern music video . The Shea Stadium show with which they opened their 1965 North American tour attracted an estimated 55,600 people , then the largest audience in concert history ; Spitz describes the event as a " major breakthrough ... a giant step toward reshaping the concert business " . Emulation of their clothing and especially their hairstyles , which became a mark of rebellion , had a global impact on fashion
1965 North American tour
The Beatles' 1965 US tour
The Beatles