Sony Music has invested more than R$ 3 million to obtain the artist’s music catalog and other relevant names
Record label Sony Music has reached a deal worth more than R$3 billion to acquire half of Michael Jackson’s (1958-2009) music catalog. The billion-dollar acquisition is considered the largest purchase of assets from a single musician in history.
According to Billboard, the collection also includes titles by other renowned artists, such as Jerry Lee Lewis (1935-2022), Jackie Wilson (1934-1984), Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999), Ray Charles (1930-2004), Percy Sledge (1940-2015), as well as Dion and the North American band Sly & the Family Stone.
In February, the magazine estimated that Michael Jackson’s catalog generates about R$420 million annually, including ownership of the master recordings, the artist’s share of songs, Mijac publishing, and merchandise revenue and royalties from stage performances featuring the star’s music. However, Sony’s negotiations do not include royalties from stage productions.
Overall, the artist’s catalog has a cultural rather than financial significance, due to its relevance in the music world, mainly due to the unique legacy of Michael Jackson, who continues to be one of the greatest talents and references in the pop world of the 20th century.
Music icon
Billboard also notes that between 2020 and 2023, Jackson’s sales and streams grew from 1.07 million units (albums) to 1.47 million, up 37% in the U.S. alone. In other countries, consumption increased 38.3% last year alone, reaching 6.5 billion on-demand streams, up from 4.7 billion in 2021.
It is worth noting that Michael Jackson will have a biopic, “Michael” (2025), which promises to generate even more financial profits for the Jackson family and other rights holders.
Successful partnership
The CBS record label (later acquired by Sony) released all the songs recorded by Michael Jackson in his solo career, as well as recordings from his later years in the musical group The Jackson 5.
Over the years, Sony has paid more than $2 billion in some of the artist’s big deals, which go beyond distributing royalties for his records and songs. In 1991, the record company invested $100 million to acquire the first half of ATV Music, a catalog that contained the Beatles’ hits and was purchased by Jackson in 1985.
In 2016, Sony invested another $750 million for the remaining 50 percent of the operation, and two years later, invested $287.5 million for Jackson’s estate in the consortium with EMI Music Publishing, plus asset dividends totaling approximately $1.6 billion.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
