Entertainment attorney John Branca represents legendary artists

 John Branca              (AP Photo/courtesy of John Branca)

John G. Branca is an entertainment lawyer who specializes in representing legendary rock and roll acts, celebrities, music publishing catalogs, and independent music labels.

Branca has represented several acts in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana, Aerosmith, The Beach Boys, ZZ Top, Fleetwood Mac, Bee Gees and The Doors, which is believed to be more than any other entertainment attorney.

Branca helped in the production and release of Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video.

In the Thriller video, Jackson turns into a werewolf. At the time, Jackson was a Jehovah's Witness, and church elders berated him for promoting demonology. Jackson ordered Branca, who had the sole copy, to destroy it.

Branca told Jackson that Bela Lugosi, whom Jackson adored, and who played Dracula in the movies, was also religious and had put a disclaimer at the beginning of Dracula stating that he didn't endorse vampirism. This anecdote persuaded Jackson to put a similar disclaimer on Thriller and allow it to be released.

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A lot of times I watch TV and I watch film and there's so many things I'd love to talk about that I feel don't get the opportunity to be shown. Sometimes things become very stereotypical and one-sided, and I feel like it's such a colorful world." Alicia Keys (one of Branca's clients)

Branca arranged for Jackson to purchase The Beatles' and Little Richard's publishing catalog in 1985 for $47,000,000. Within a few years the catalog was worth more than $400,000,000. Branca was also instrumental in facilitating the merger of ATV (Jackson's company which held the Beatles song copyrights) with Sony, creating one of the world's largest independent music publishers.

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I don't really count myself as a very sophisticated businessperson. I'm a creative artist. All I know from business I've picked up along the way."  Mick Jagger (client)

Jackson and Branca parted ways in 1990, but Jackson re-hired Branca three years later, and Jackson appointed Branca as one of his representatives on the Board of Sony/ATV. In 2006, Branca resigned as Jackson's lawyer and sold back his equity interest in Sony/ATV.

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The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infinity of forms and phenomena that exist in all of creation."  Michael Jackson (client)

Approximately three weeks before he died, Jackson rehired Branca.  He was the attorney who produced Michael Jackson's final will which designated Branca as executor. ~ Related stories on one of Branca's clients, Michael Jackson: medical reports conflict, MJ's last rehearsal, moonwalk, accident, secret son, death ruled homicide, DEA, doctor speaks out...