Michael Jackson Estate Is In Talks For Selling

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The Michael Jackson Estate has reportedly started negotiations to sell half of its interests in the late King of Pop's music catalog for a sum between $800 million and $900 million.

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The deal, which would be the largest of its kind to date in the thriving music catalog market, would include 50% of the estate's interests in Jackson's publishing, recorded-music revenues, the 'MJ: The Musical' Broadway show and the upcoming biopic 'Michael', and potentially more assets.

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While it is unclear who the financial partner might be, some of the likely suspects include Eldridge Industries and Shamrock.

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It is worth mentioning that Sony and CBS had been the sole home for Jackson's recorded-music catalog throughout his solo career and his time with the Jackson 5.

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In 2016, Sony Corp. had acquired the Jackson estate's 50% stake in the joint venture, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, for $750 million.

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In 2018, the company had acquired the estate's 25.1% stake in EMI Music Publishing for $287.5 million as part of its $2.3 billion acquisition of EMI Music Publishing. This made Sony the sole owner of the world's largest music publishing company.

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Michael Jackson's recorded-music catalog is one of the most profitable in history. His 1982 'Thriller' album alone is one of the two biggest-selling albums of all time, and was the first album to be certified 30-times platinum.

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It is worth noting that there have been reports about the making of a biopic on Michael Jackson's life, which would include all the controversial incidents associated with the King of Pop.

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While representatives for the Jackson Estate, Sony, and Primary Wave have declined to comment on the reports, sources suggest that the negotiations are ongoing.