Sony Group is acquiring a 50% stake in late pop star Michael Jackson’s music catalog for at least $600 million.
The sale will be the largest ever for the assets of a single music artist, according to the sources Billboard.
The outlet reported that the King of Pop’s publishing company and recorded masters were valued at approximately $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 among the two best-selling albums of all time and reached the milestone of being the first album to go 30 times platinum.
Sony Group acquires a 50% stake in late pop star Michael Jackson’s music catalog for at least $600 million; pictured 1988
According to Billboard, the transaction is the largest deal ever for the assets of a single music artist
The deal between Sony and Jackson, which closed late last year, has a higher valuation than the $1.2 billion Queen is currently seeking.
Jackson’s estate had previously sold his 50% stake in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing joint venture, which featured Beatles songs.
The deal was completed in 2016 for $750 million.
Sony has been active with acquisitions lately. Last year it was reported that it would acquire a significant minority stake in Latin label Rimas Entertainment, which launched 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 targeting a $100 million valuation.
A 50/50 deal was then struck with Weiss, allowing him to retain control of the label’s recent catalogue.
The recent acquisition by Sony Group excluded royalties from the MJ Broadway musical and other theatrical productions showcasing the musician’s music.
Michael Jackson’s estate 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 that the King of Pop’s publishing company and recorded masters were valued at approximately $1.2 billion; pictured 1992
His 1982 Thriller album in particular is one of the two best-selling albums of all time
The lawsuit, filed by MJ Live in January in Nevada federal court, claims that Jackson’s estate wrongly made legal threats regarding the show’s use of the late pop star’s likeness, per TMZ.
The King of Pop tribute act, who first appeared on the Vegas strip more than a decade ago, is asserting his legal right to continue his performances.
According to the lawsuit, Jackson’s estate recently began sending cease-and-desist letters to the 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 Nevada — such as California and New York — because they consider the tribute show to be “low class.”
Thriller reached the milestone of being the first album to reach 30 times platinum; pictured with Jane Fonda in 1982
MJ Live’s lawsuit refers to the cease and desist letters as “intentional and unlawful interference” that was “intended to harm plaintiff,” per The Hollywood Reporter.
But the group goes one step further and claims that it is the Jackson estate that is tampering with their intellectual property.
After using the MJ Live name for over a decade, MJ Live’s legal department claims they have earned their own trademark rights to that name.
They argue that the estate’s recent use of “MJ The Musical” on Broadway undermines these rights.
“Over the past eleven and a half years…Plaintiff has spent millions of dollars on advertising and promotion for his MJ Live show,” the complaint said, according to THR.
The arrangement may also include songs by other artists from the Mijac publishing catalogue; Quincy Jones, Jackson and Steven Spielberg at work on the ET storybook soundtrack album, 1982
Jackson’s estate had previously sold his 50% stake in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing joint venture; Martin Bashir and Jackson in 2003
“Plaintiff estimates that more than 2,500,000 audience members, clapping and singing in their seats, jumping to their feet and dancing in the aisles, experienced the joy, excitement and thrill of MJ Live.”
In their complaint, MJ Live’s legal team states that the group has not infringed on any trademarks owned by the estate and has not violated any likeness rights by performing their MJ impersonations.
The show features a Michael Jackson impersonator who guides fans through the late pop star’s greatest hits.
The lawsuit cites Nevada’s “likeness laws,” which allow the use of a celebrity’s likeness by “impersonators in live performances,” according to the outlet.
“This lawsuit – including the allegation 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 more 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 department claims they have earned their own trademark rights to that name; Jackson in 2005
Michael Jackson’s estate is embroiled in a lawsuit with tribute MJ Live after the show accused the late pop star’s lawyers of sending cease-and-desist letters; Jackson in 2005
“The Estate will, as always, vigorously defend all of Michael Jackson’s intellectual property rights.”
Jackson died on June 25, 2009 from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, leaving behind an estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars, as well as significant debts to pay off.
The beloved King of Pop died at his Los Angeles home and his personal physician at the time, Dr. Conrad Murray, was jailed for involuntary manslaughter.
Dr. Murray administered several medications to Jackson 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 after serving half of his four-year sentence.
Murray (pictured) was sentenced to four years in prison for involuntary manslaughter
The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which stars Jaafar Jackson, 27, the cousin of the King Of Pop, the music superstar, has been given a release date of April 18, 2025.
An upcoming biographical film about the singer, titled Michael, is planned for release by Lionsgate on April 18, 2025.
Production on the film began late last month, and Nia Long and Colman Domingo were seen on set Friday as Jackson’s parents, Katherine and Joe.
“I am excited to be part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson and his impact on music and culture as a global icon,” Domingo said in a press release.
In this biographical musical drama, directed by Antoine Fuqua and with a screenplay written by John Logan, Michael’s real-life cousin Jaafar Jackson plays the King of Pop.
The singer and songwriter, who has been singing and dancing since he was 12, is the son of former Jackson 5 member and solo act Jermaine Jackson, 69.