Sony-EMI Deal Reunites Jackson 5 Songs With Michael Jackson

[PureLove]

Sony-EMI Deal Reunites Jackson 5 Songs With Michael Jackson

In the years after Michael Jackson became an international superstar, the song “I Want You Back” took on a new, reflexive sort of meaning for him.

Flush with cash from the stratospheric success of his solo career, Jackson thought seriously about buying the publishing rights to some of the songs he’d recorded years earlier as a member of the Jackson 5–including “I Want You Back,” one of hundreds in Motown’s Jobete catalog, then owned by the legendary Berry Gordy and his sister. Despite serious interest from Jackson, who was “like a son” to Gordy, the music mogul sold a 50% stake in the catalog to EMI for $132 million in 1997.

But dreams often take a lifetime to achieve, and the King of Pop seems to have realized this one posthumously. On Friday, a Sony-led team of investors purchased EMI’s entire publishing catalog for $2.2 billion. The group includes billionaire David Geffen, the Blackstone Group’s GSO Capital Partners LP, and none other than the estate of Michael Jackson (its stake is nested within Sony’s 38% share of EMI, according to sources close to the negotiations).

The move makes sense for reasons beyond just the sentimental. Michael Jackson’s estate still co-owns the separate Sony/ATV publishing catalog in a joint venture with Sony; that company, headed by former EMI chief Marty Bandier, will administer the newly-acquired EMI assets on behalf of the investors.

Still, the reunion is little more than a drop in the financial bucket. Because Sony/ATV will soon begin receiving administrative fees from the EMI catalog’s new owners, its own value is likely north of $2 billion as well.

As for Jackson, his estate has raked in half a billion dollars since his death two and a half years ago. And though the King of Pop’s posthumous concert flick was called This Is It, he’s just getting started from a posthumous earnings perspective. Jackson’s Immortal World Tour, a partnership with Cirque du Soleil, is grossing $2.4 million a night; plans call for over 100 shows a year for each of the next three years.

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[PureLove]

I knew some key people in Sony, knows about the hoax. I also heard that half of Sony is Michael's. People suspected from Sony that they killed Michael. It wasn't true. Sony gave us some hoax clues too. I remember the Twitter page of Sonny followed 777 people for a while.

[fordtocarr]

This was a deal I'd been waiting for since the hoax began.  Knowing that it was one of the things Michael wanted to do, rumors all these years, were ones I figured would pan out one day.  This will be a great deal for Michael.  Our man sure has great power.
To me this is a great clue that Michael lives and is still pulling the strings.

[voiceforthesilent]

I knew some key people in Sony, knows about the hoax. I also heard that half of Sony is Michael's. People suspected from Sony that they killed Michael. It wasn't true. Sony gave us some hoax clues too. I remember the Twitter page of Sonny followed 777 people for a while.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful news with us. It is great news for Michael and I'm so happy for him. He now owns the publishing to his music that was under EMI. Yay

PureLove - I heard the same. Even though it's known that Michael owns 50% in the publishing with Sony/ATV it's been rumored through various sources, including SOTT or Back? that his stake is more than just the music publishing. I'd love to know if this is true, just to make a statement to those who think Michael is nothing more than a singer/dancer.

I'd also like to add that there was speculation through the media that Michael was broke at the time of his disappearance and even 400 million in debt. But, it's been actually said more than once before and after June 2009 that those stories weren't true. I tend to believe Michael let the media believe what they wanted to believe because it served a greater purpose to believe he was broke when he wasn't.

Michael Jackson - #WINNER!

[VeryLittleSusie]

Congratulations, Michael!!!!

[BeTheChange]

Piece by piece....the 'takeover' is being revealed.

WTG Mike!   /bravo/

With L.O.V.E. always.

[MaryK]

He´s a very skilled businessman for sure!
Don´t mess with the King of Pop
 /bravo/