The sudden death of Michael Jackson introduces an incredibly complex series of financial problems, including publishing ownership questions. Jackson died with hundreds of millions in debt, and endless loans and assets attached. That includes the prized publishing rights to the Beatles catalog, currently half-owned by Sony/ATV.
Who ultimately controls the Jackson half remains the subject of speculation. In a suspiciously sourced report, Bloomberg asserted that rights would be assumed by the Sony/ATV venture, citing a singular “person with knowledge” of venture dealings. That could take time to resolve, and it represents just one component of a financial situation that may take years to unravel.
None of this affects the recording side of the equation, another critical collection of licenses owned by EMI Music and Beatles Corp., a group that handles the business interests of the surviving Beatles and heirs.
Outside of the Beatles, the publishing rights to Michael Jackson’s songs themselves are handled through MiJac. That catalog is administered through Warner Chappell, a division of Warner Music Group. In Friday trading, shares of WMG boomed 20.74 to $6.17.
