Michael Jackson Estate Signs Sweeping Contract

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NY Times



By BEN SISARIO

Nine months after Michael Jackson’s death, his estate has signed one of the biggest recording contracts in history, giving Sony, Mr. Jackson’s longtime label, the rights to sell his back catalog and draw on a large vault of unheard recordings.

The deal, for about 10 recordings through 2017, will guarantee the Jackson estate up to $250 million in advances and other payments and offer an especially high royalty rate for sales both inside and outside the United States, according to people with knowledge of the contract who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly.

It also allows Sony and the estate to collaborate on a wide range of lucrative licensing arrangements, like the use of Jackson music for films, television and stage shows and lines of memorabilia that will be limited only by the imagination of the estate and the demand of a hungry worldwide market.

“We think that recordings will always be an important part of the estate,” John Branca, an entertainment lawyer who is one of the estate’s executors, said in an interview on Monday. “New generations of kids are discovering Michael.”

FULL story at link.


Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

Michael Jackson during a concert in Vienna in 1997. Mr. Jackson, who died in June at 50, was the top-selling artist in the United States last year.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/arts/music/16jackson.html?partner=EXCITE&ei=5043

[goclark]

1. Great!

[TheDebbieDee]

2. I can't wait to hear more of the work that he never

put out there for the public to hear. I've heard snippets of a song he did with Lenny Kravitz and another song done to the music of "Horse with no Name." I can't wait to hear the complete songs and his other works.

[Catherine Vincent]

3. King Michael to the rescue!

Is this one of the songs that will be on the new album?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNqjneaZIRo&playnext_from=TL&videos=rKrqMPH3nW4&playnext=1

[CountAllVotes]

4. damn!

that is a great song! I want it! :D :D :D

:dem: :kick:

[Catherine Vincent]

5. Isn't it sweet?

Here's another one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDpMH_SfWlA&feature=related

[CountAllVotes]

6. thanks!

I just ordered the 4 CD/1 DVD ULTIMATE collection! I had to have it! :D :D :D

:kick:

[CountAllVotes]

7. Great collection; rare stuff!

there is quite a range of dates on the unreleased tracks I've noticed.



Thank you Michael Jackson!!