Without question, the Beatles had an enormous impact on modern music. But if we butterfly them out of history, some very large gaps will open. The radio airtime, record store space, concert hall time and fans' resources would go somewhere, to other artists. Some may be OTL bands, some may be bands that made it on their own instead of covering the works of others.
In 1963, American rock music had lost much of its cutting edge, except for soul music, and soul did not yet have the critical mass to join the mainstream leaders. But in Britain, the music scene had progressed to a new style that was ready to explode into the worldwide market.
Without the Beatles, the sixties music revolution that started with the British Invasion and ended with the classic rock of the last years of the decade, would have sounded very different. Today's music would be different as well, but rapid changes would still have characterized the period, 1964-1969.
The Beatles led that style in Britain in 1963, the music scene had progressed to a new style that was ready to explode into the worldwide market which in turned into the British Invasion. They replaced Elvis in Britain 1963 and then America in 1964 and became the biggest influence in Music.
See we will never know if rapid changes would still have occured between 1964-1969. Rock and Roll turned into Rock music during the years of the Beatles and British Invasion.
The year before the Beatles and the British Invasion.
Top 100 Hits of 1963/Top 100 Songs of 1963
1. Surfin' U.S.A., Beach Boys
2. Sugar Shack, Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs
3. The End Of The World, Skeeter Davis
4. Rhythm Of The Rain, Cascades
5. Hey Paula, Paul and Paula
6. Blue Velvet, Bobby Vinton
7. He's So Fine, Chiffons
8. Fingertips II, Little Stevie Wonder
9. Washington Square, Village Stompers
10. So Much In Love, Tymes
11. Can't Get Used To Losing You, Andy Williams
12. My Boyfriend's Back, Angels
13. Sukiyaki, Kyu Sakamoto
14. She's A Fool, Lesley Gore
15. It's All Right, Impressions
16. Puff (The Magic Dragon), Peter, Paul and Mary
17. Blowin' In The Wind, Peter, Paul and Mary
18. Wipe Out, The Surfaris
19. Deep Purple, Nino Tempo and April Stevens
20. I'm Leaving It Up To You, Dale and Grace
21. I Love You Because, Al Martino
22. Wild Weekend, Rebels
23. You're The Reason I'm Living, Bobby Darin
24. Walk Like A Man, Four Seasons
25. Mockingbird, Inez Foxx
26. I Will Follow Him, Little Peggy March
27. Pipeline, Chantays
28. Surf City, Jan and Dean
29. It's My Party, Lesley Gore
30. Blame It On The Bossa Nova, Eydie Gorme
31. You Can't Sit Down, Dlovells
32. Heat Wave, Martha and The Vandellas
33. Denise, Randy and The Rainbows
34. Walk Right In, Rooftop Singers
35. If You Wanna Be Happy, Jimmy Soul
36. Surfer Girl, Beach Boys
37. If I Had A Hammer, Trini Lopez
38. Everybody, Tommy Roe
39. Easier Said Than Done, Essex
40. Ruby Baby, Dion
41. Maria Elena, Los Indios Tabajaras
42. Our Day Will Come, Ruby and The Romantics
43. I Can't Stay Mad At You, Skeeter Davis
44. Hello, Stranger, Barbara Lewis
45. Be My Baby, Ronettes
46. Mean Woman Blues, Roy Orbison
47. South Street, Orlons
48. Days Of Wine And Roses, Henry Mancini
49. The Monkey Time, Major Lance
50. Candy Girl, Four Seasons