In this undated file photo, the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson,
front right, Marlon Jackson, front left, Tito Jackson, back left,
Jackie Jackson and Jermaine, back right, are shown in Los
Angeles. (AP Photo, file)
Certainly, one of the questions that will be floated in the wake of Michael Jackson's death is what will happen to the Beatles catalog.
In an incident that raised the ire of Beatles fans all over the world, Jackson in 1984 managed to buy the Beatles catalog in spite of efforts of others, including Paul McCartney, to buy it. He then gained the rights to most of the Beatles catalog.
In years since, because of financial troubles, Jackson has lost full ownership of the catalog.
In January, Spinner.com had reported a UK Daily Mirror tabloid report that Michael Jackson had reportedly left the Beatles catalog to Paul McCartney in his will. Of course, like most tabloid headlines, this story is as solid as sawdust.
In actuality, probably nothing may happen, since the catalog is not solely owned by Jackson anymore, but was the property of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, of which he only owned 50 per cent interest.
But even if Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono or any of the Beatles brain trust is able to get the catalog back under their control, this Jackson maneuver will never be forgotten.
- Update: Could Paul McCartney get back the Beatles catalog from Michael Jackson? Maybe, if and if ...
The Recording Academy issued this statement about the death of Michael Jackson:
Recording Academy Statement
Michael Jackson
June 25, 2009
"Rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent, and vision as Michael Jackson. He was a true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim. A 13-time GRAMMY recipient, Michael’s career transcends musical and cultural genres and his contributions will always keep him in our hearts and memories. We are deeply saddened by this tragic news and our hearts go out to his family and to music lovers around the globe who mourn this great loss."
Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy®
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Comments
What a sad end to a tragic life, but brillant career.
I can already see the vultures circling...I hope he had his affairs in order.
God bless his kids.
Its alittle early to start worrying about this. stuff.
Hopefully a trust was setup for his kids.
Michael Jackson sold bonds that financed his ownership of the Beatles catalogue. Barclay's bank owns them.
I think it's a bit insensitive to be talking about things like at such a tragic time, whatever people thought of him he still deserves respect, RIP MJ
I feel for his family and fans,I'm sure they are feeling the same way my dad felt on August 1977, and myself on November 2001.
Though I was never a fan,he did have some good songs,I still say "The Man" should have been a single after "Say,say,say".
I hope Paul releases a kind statement,because one of the coolest things about Paul is that he never publicly denounces people,he could have could have said bad things about Jackson and Mills, but he's a true gentleman.
When Elvis died the fans lost everything and now Jackson fans have lost everything too,we as Beatle fans still have Paul and Ringo.
Peace.
I would think that would be part of his estate, Didn’t Paul want to buy the Beatles catalog back from Michael? I would hope that the catalog would be returned to its rightful owner. This is a very sad day. I hope his family finds peace in the thought that millions of people around the world thoughts are with the family. Michael will be missed but his music will live on.
I'm a bit surprised and disappointed that apparently your first thought on the death of this icon, father and humanitarian was 'What about the Beatles rights?'
Unfortunately there is going to be alot of great acclaim made to MJ now.. I personally don't think he ever deserved any..not now ..not before.. He was great as a child star and that's really all it was.He was popular though.So was Pee Wee Herman.
the ny times article on him says that Bank of America held the songs as collateral to loans.
Michael Jackson was a child molester. I am glad he is gone, now I have one less a**hole to worry about raping kids.
michael jackson raped kids. theres nothing to miss there
I am surprised about the negativity in this blog. Michael Jackson as an artist was one of the greatest in history independent of his personal life. He will greatly be missed and brings happy memories about the 80's and many people's childhoods.
he was a great artist and we all know that
let god be the judge abuot the rest
While I was never fanatic about Michael Jackson I did really like some of his music and I never thought he deserved any of the criticism he was getting but I do love the Beatles and would really like to know what is happening with their songs. I wish nothing but the best for his family and friends and hope his children will make it through this unharmed by the media.
Tragic and a bit insensitive to mourners to discuss less than 12 hours after his death.
Good question. Wrong time. IMHO.
I always thought Jacko and Yoko Ono would have made a great couple, pity it will never happen now xxx
He was an icon of the global popular culture. Generations grew up with him all around the world.
Yes, he was a great artist, but it's not insensitive for us to wonder about the Beatles' catalog, even at a time like this. It's a valid and necessary question. How he "acquired" it by playing the innocent when Paul confided in him about the catalog coming on the market (and he could own his music, finally) when the two worked together in '82 has angered me for years....how he made sure he out bid Paul and Yoko for the catalog. Never liked him much since. Sorry if that's insensitive. Sorry he died but that doesn't make discussing the Beatles' catalog unnecessary now.
All the people that are leaving comments about how 'insensitive' it is to discuss the catalog should remember that this is a BEATLES blog after all. Paul has probably already put out feelers.
Besides, Wacko showed how 'sensitive' he was by purchasing the catalog when he knew his 'friend' Paul was also trying to buy it. I always wonder how he would have felt if Paul had the rights to 'Billie Jean' and 'Thriller'.
I'm sorry for his family, and the children that think he's their father, but for him personally, no, not really. Insensitive? I don't care what you think.
He is (was) a duplicitous swine re: the Fab catalog. He never should have left the Jack 5.
Actually, Mike, regarding your comment in which you state Michael Jackson was "insensitive" for buying the Beatles catalog when it was known that Paul wanted to buy it you really need to get it right because you shoot off your mouth and make yourself look stupid. Paul had the money to buy the catalog but was too damn cheap. Mike do us a favor - before you open your mouth realise what a fool you are and how little it is you know about anything so the rest of us don't have to endure your comments.
And another thing, the Beatles catalog was business. If Michael Jackson hadn't bought it, obviously someone else would have so what gives? That fact that Michael bought it just went to show how smart a businessman Michael Jackson was understanding the worth of material in this catalog. Michael Jackson owned the rights to many singers songs. Mike, you write as though Michael Jackson bought the catalog to purposely sabatoge Paul McCartney - really give it a rest. The Beatles catalog, whether you like it or not, was business as usual. Paul could have bought it but declined.
A sad loss to his family, his millions of fans. Unfortunately whilst the matter of this asset is a reality. Can't it wait until the man is buried.
McCartney could have bought the catalog but was too cheap and didn't want to spend what it was worth. Michael Jackson so the value and spent what Paul wouldn't....
well, the beatles rights are now supposedly going to paul, and hopefully he'll release the songs to iTunes =).
also, @realistic, get your facts down before you falsely correct someone, paul didn't cheap out when trying to get the rights, he and yoko ono even tried to work together to get the money, but jackson just had more money than both of them (mainly because yoko was an awful artist, sorry but it's true) and also, he was actually sabotaging paul, he was plugging the beatles.
and @ i hate mj and anonymous below him, what's wrong with you two,first of all, it's been less than 24 hours since Jackson died, and furthermore, it was never proven that he molested a child
just want to say that i support both mj and paul
When I had first heard that Michael Jackson had purchased the Beatles' Northern Songs catalog, I had mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I thought of it as being a business dealing, no big deal. Paul had purchased Buddy Holly's song catalog without much fanfare, and even gave Michael advice on buying other artists' song catalogs calling them good investments (little did Paul realize). On the other hand, after finding out that Paul and Yoko were bidding on the catalog made me feel sorry that Paul, George, Ringo, or John's estate couldn't reclaim what is rightfully theirs. I hope going forward that Paul, Ringo, and the estates of George and John, will be able to get the 50% that Michael owned and get at least 1/2 of the controlling interest in the Northern Songs catalog back.
Michael bought the catalog in 1985 for $47.5 mill, worth about $94 mill in today's dollars. Those rights are owned by SonyATV now, of which Michael owns a 50% stake. As of 2005 that 50% stake was collateral for a $270 Million dollar loan from Bank of America. So in theory Bank of America has the option to collect the collateral on that debt and do with it as it will. I assume they will auction it to recoup some of the loss from whatever remained of the $270 million dollar debt. Amateur guess, the catalog is worth around $150 Million, based partially on the allegation that the catalog earns $30/$45 million per year.
Hi Realistic. Before you shoot off 'your' mouth about other people's comments, perhaps you should read the definitive book regarding the loss of Northern Songs by Brian Southall with Rupert Perry. Then you can see your comments as absurd as I and many others do. Now stop wasting our time.
Without any disrespect to the Jackson family, the Beatle's circle deserves to own the Beatle's catalogue.
Paul and Ringo worked hard on the music,thus they deserve to own their own music.
If Paul has to get the songs from Bank of America, good luck Paul, they are not a very nice bank.
It was business as usuall when he purchased the Beatles catalog. Friends are friends and business is business. On a side note it wasnt Micheal as much as it was the team around him who made those financial agreements. The guy made millions and it took layers of people to control/maintain his wealth of which good and bad decisions were made. He was and is a great music artist but his odd behavior brought people into question his character. He will be missed greatly and his music will live forever.
WE all love you micel even know your not hear now we will all miss you lots me and my aintie are having a rembrance night of you. we love you lots micel xxx
We're only talking about the publishing rights, not the record royalties for every Beatles album that sells. That still goes to the Fabs if I am not mistaken.
We love u lots and lots we will always remember u.Me and myantie are having a remembance night of u micel.we will always remember u.lots of love love u xxxxxxxxxxx
Reading some topics written here, I am quite sute that many body were not aware of this fact: Paul and Yoko bought out Northern Songs to Jackson a few years ago for the double price of the one paid by Michael earlier...The latter had been obliged to sell the Northern Songs catalogue because he had many financial difficulties...
Hey Jeff, it wasn't Paul that was too cheap. It was Yoko. Paul tried to get her to go higher, once Paul realized MJ was bidding, but she wouldn't. I guess Paul could have done it himself, but then there would have been that whole sorting out process with Yoko on who owns what and it would have been too big of a hassle.
see a video from 1990 in which paul explained to the press how michael came to own the publishing rights of beatles songs, on youtube. search "joeatradio" in youtube dot com
Ive heard 4 times today thst Jackson and Paul worked it out on paper 2 years ago that the catalog would be willed to Paul at the time of Jackson's death. Jackson was distraught over losing Paul's friendship about the catalog and "wanted to do the right thing". I hope and pray this is true. And Paul didn't cheap out. It was YOKO who wouldn't go any higher. Get yout facts straight. I've loathed Jackson ever since. Who knew he would die within 2 years of that signing?
First of all, I consider Paul the real King of pop. Yes, MJ was a truly gifted performer as far as his voice, dancing and total stage production, but thats as far as it goes. As far as song writing you can't even mention those two names in the same sentence anymore than you could put Elvis in the same league as McCartney. Elvis never wrote one chord or word to any of his songs. Although Jackson was credited with writing some of his songs it was more words than music. He just never possessed the musical knowledge that Paul has. MJ had great vision for other peoples work, basically. Paul deserves to have his own songs back. To think he has to pay royalties to perform his own music is outrageous! Paul is the most brilliant songwriter of all times
After my post this morning, I felt as though I may have spoken unfairly about Michaels songwriting abilities. So I decided to research his solo albums since "Off The Wall" and found that he did, in fact, write the majority of his songs. I've also spent the better part of the day watching specials on TV. One interview was with Michael Boddicker, his keyboardist. He was saying that most of Michaels songs were complete before he (Boddicker) even came in to the studio to put down his tracks. So I can now say that Jackson was truly a great artist, not just an act. And I say this whole heartedly, having followed his career from day one. RIP Michael
GREED AND CONSPIRACY KILLED MICHAEL JACKSON, GREED FROM MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY BROUGHT HIS LIFE DOWN, all these allegations trailed from the BEATLES catalog. TOO BAD , PAUL MCCARTNEY, it really doesn't feel very good for you, going on tour and paying to sing your all your songs, and ever time you sing HEY JUDE, you've got to pay someone , that is MICHAEL JACKSON, "the Catalog is MINE now" Catalog ( girl is mine by Jackson), HEY JUDE YOU KILLED HIM FOR THIS STUPID BEATLES CATALOG) he bought it for $47.5 million and you guys want it back and then you framed him with these all allegations just to win your catalog back, Beatles songs are not popular as Michael jackson songs, you all music publishing company are sucks and GREEDY. Michael Jackson was not a freak, weird, molester, druggy human beings, thay drugged him because they want your catalog back, I admired Michael Jackson, he's a true Legend in music industry, he devoted his life in music. LONG LIVE THE KING OF MUSIC .
Nobody killed Michael Jackson in order to get their hands on the Beatles Catalogue. If that was the case, then that would really prove how much more popular the Beatles were. When Michael died he only owned half of the rights because he sold the other half to Sony. Everyone says what a good businessman he was, but apparently he couldn't even keep his hands on the Beatle Catalogue because he was so far in debt. Paul McCartney was wealthy enough to buy the catalogue in 1984, but he was being considerate and thoughtful of John Lennon and didn't want to be "grabby" and claim John's share of the songs. Obviously friendship means something to Paul. However, I don't think friendship meant very much to Michael Jackson. I hope that one day Paul will own the rights to his share of the Beatle songs. He certainly deserves it.
@Johnny esp...Paul will never be KING of anything so let's get that straight. Secondly, Michael has to his credit written, composed, and produced many songs (his and a few other artists). So, do your research before you speak. Thirdly, I have heard Beatles songs since their coming on the scene, and the music is good, but recently I purchased the Beatles Rock Band and had the chance to really listen to and sing along to the tunes, and if you call what they wrote GREAT, something is wrong with you. Lyrically their songs make absolutely no sense at all. My daughter and I felt like we were singing silly children's songs. It was so bad we are going to trade it in for a game that we can play. The Beatles have been given way too much credit for brilliant songwritting. Michael's songs have meaning and great rhyhmic tempos and beats. He will always be the King of Pop because he crossed all barriers when it came to music. I do like the Beatles but MJ and the J5 were better. Sorry.
The first comment made by "SG" or @johnny.....whatever that means... Firstly if you bought the Beatles rock band and think that is what the Beatles music is supposed to be like, your an idiot, its an F'ing game so people like you can try and be a "rock star". Secondly.....the time frame in which a lot of early Beatles material was written was at a time when music was just coming out of the 50's be bop era so lyrically speaking it wasn't complicated stuff. Your comment that there music and lyrics make no sense is obscured by the fact that it was musically complicated and they invented so much in the ways of how music was recorded. You obviously have no idea what your talking about but will say this.....try picking up a bass guitar and play I saw here standing there and sing at the same time. That was 1963.....musicians today have a real hard time playing that live. I could go on and on but I will say this.....you seriously need to listen to it before making stupid comments.
i have the catalog ITS MINE!!
Where dis all the stupid white people come from!
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