Sony Group is acquiring a 50% stake in the music catalog of the late pop star Michael Jackson for at least $600 million.
The sale will be the largest-ever deal for a single music artist’s assets, according to Billboard.
The outlet reported the King of Pop’s publishing and recorded masters were valued at around $1.2 billion.
Last year, Billboard estimated that Jackson’s estate earns about $75 million annually from master recordings, publishing for Jackson’s share of his songs, his Mijac publishing catalog and revenue from merchandise and royalties.
His 1982 Thriller album, in particular, is one of the top two best-selling albums of all time and achieved the milestone of being the first album to be certified 30-times platinum.
Sony Group is acquiring a 50% stake in the music catalog of the late pop star Michael Jackson for at least $600 million; pictured 1988
The transaction will be the largest-ever deal for a single music artist’s assets, according to Billboard
The Sony/Jackson deal, finalized late last year, holds a higher valuation than the $1.2 billion currently sought by Queen.
The estate of Jackson had previously sold its 50% stake in the joint venture Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which comprised songs by the Beatles.
The deal was finalized for $750 million in 2016.
Sony has been active in acquisitions recently. Last year, it was reported to be acquiring a significant minority stake in the Latin label Rimas Entertainment, launching Bad Bunny’s career, with an expected valuation of around $300 million.
In May 2023, Sony acquired the RECORDS catalog from Barry Weiss, Ron Perry, and Matt Pincus in a deal aiming for a $100 million valuation.
Following that, a 50/50 deal with Weiss was established, allowing him to retain control of the label’s recent catalog.
The recent acquisition by Sony Group excludes royalties from the MJ Broadway musical and other theatrical productions showcasing the musician’s music.
The estate of Michael Jackson is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Las Vegas tribute act MJ Live after the show accused the late pop star’s lawyers of sending cease and desist letters.
The outlet reported the King of Pop’s publishing and recorded masters were valued at around $1.2 billion; pictured 1992
His 1982 Thriller album, in particular, is one of the top two best-selling albums of all time
The suit, filed by MJ Live in January in Nevada federal court, claims that the Jackson estate had unfairly issued legal threats regarding the show’s use of the late pop star’s likeness, per TMZ.
The King of Pop tribute act, which first hit the Vegas strip over a decade ago, asserts its legal right to continue its performances.
According to the lawsuit, the Jackson estate has recently initiated the sending of cease-and-desist letters to venues hosting the show, demanding the cancellation of upcoming tour dates.
A source told the outlet that the estate has only taken legal action against venue locations outside of Nevada – such as California and New York – because it views the tribute show as ‘low class’.
Thriller achieved the milestone of being the first album to be certified 30-times platinum; pictured with Jane Fonda in 1982
MJ Live’s suit refers to the the cease-and-desist letters as ‘intentional and wrongful interference’ that was ‘intended to harm Plaintiff,’ per The Hollywood Reporter.
But the group takes it a step further, claiming that it’s the Jackson estate that’s messing with their intellectual property.
After using the MJ Live name for over a decade, MJ Live’s legal squad argues they’ve earned their own trademark rights to that name.
They claim the estate’s recent use of ‘MJ The Musical’ on Broadway is stepping on those rights.
‘Over the past eleven and one-half years…Plaintiff has spent millions of dollars advertising and promoting its MJ Live show,’ the suit claims, according to THR.
The arrangement might also include songs from additional artists within the Mijac publishing catalog; Quincy Jones, Jackson, Steven Spielberg at work on the ET storybook soundtrack album, 1982
The estate of Jackson had previously sold its 50% stake in the joint venture Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Martin Bashir and Jackson in 2003
‘Plaintiff estimates that over 2,500,000 audience members, clapping and singing in their seats, jumping to their feet, and dancing in the aisles, have experienced the joy, excitement and thrill of MJ Live.’
In their complaint, MJ Live’s legal team argues the group hasn’t stepped on any trademarks owned by the estate and hasn’t violated any likeness rights by doing their MJ impersonations.
The show features a Michael Jackson impersonator who leads fans through the late pop star’s greatest hits.
The suit cites Nevada’s ‘likeness laws’ which allows for the use of a celebrity’s likeness by ‘impersonators in live performances,’ per the outlet.
‘This lawsuit – including the claim that this impersonator show somehow owns a ‘trademark’ in ‘MJ,’ a trademark owned by Michael Jackson’s Estate and long associated with Michael and his Estate – is beyond frivolous,’ Jackson estate attorney Jonathan Steinsapir said in a statement.
After using the MJ Live name for over a decade, MJ Live’s legal squad argues they’ve earned their own trademark rights to that name; Jackson in 2005
The estate of Michael Jackson is embroiled in a lawsuit with tribute act MJ Live after the show accused the late pop star’s lawyers of sending cease and desist letters; Jackson in 2005
‘The Estate, as always, will vigorously defend all intellectual property rights of Michael Jackson.’
Jackson died on June 25, 2009, due to acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, leaving behind an estate valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars but also substantial debts to be addressed.
The beloved King of Pop died at his home in Los Angeles and his personal physician at the time, Dr Conrad Murray, was jailed for involuntary manslaughter.
Dr Murray administered Jackson various drugs to help him sleep on the night of his death, at his rented home in Holmy Hills, Los Angeles.
The heart surgeon was released from prison in 2013 having served half of his four-year sentence.
Murray (pictured) was sentenced to four years in jail for involuntary manslaughter
The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which stars the King Of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, 27, as the music superstar, has been given a release date of April 18, 2025
An upcoming biographical film about the singer, titled Michael, is slated for release by Lionsgate on April 18, 2025.
The film began production late last month and Nia Long and Colman Domingo were scene on set on Friday playing Jackson’s parents, Katherine and Joe.
‘I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon,’ Domingo said in a press release.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua with a screenplay written by John Logan, the biographical musical drama stars Michael’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop.
The singer and songwriter, who has been singing and dancing since age 12, is the son of former Jackson 5 member and solo act Jermaine Jackson, 69.
