Michael Jackson’s PR profile shines as Sony pays $600 million for his music catalogue
Michael Jackson still has plenty of public relations and marketing glitter. Sony Music is acquiring his music catalogue from the late singer’s estate for at least $600 million. It’s the largest such deal ever.
The agreement may also include songs from other artists that are part of the Mijac publishing catalog, the music industry publication reported, citing sources it didn’t identify
The assets include ownership of master recordings and publishing for Jackson’s share of his songs, as well as the Mijac catalog. Jackson’s estate had earlier sold its half interest in Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a joint venture that included the Beatles songs.
According to Billboard, a new biographical movie on the singer, titled Michael, is scheduled for release next year.
Sony and its predecessor CBS were the sole home for Jackson’s recorded music catalog for his entire solo career and the latter years of his career with the Jackson 5.
The singer died in 2009 at the age of 50; the formidable entertainment interests of his estate have been handled with a firm hand by Branca, his longtime attorney, and co-executor John McClain.
Jackson’s estate is worth hundreds of millions of dollars but large debts are also still being owed.
Jackson’s recorded-music catalog is one of most lucrative in history — his 1982 “Thriller” album alone is one of the two biggest sellers of all time and was the first album to be certified 30-times platinum, although such figures have become muddled in the streaming age.
