The rights to Michael Jackson’s music are owned by Sony Music Publishing (formerly Sony/ATV Music Publishing). With endless opportunities to make money off of Jackson’s music, Sony has significant influence over how the rights are managed.
The King of Pop, an icon in music for decades, continues to sell well even after his 2009 death. His legacy endures with an extensive catalog, still generating significant revenue for Sony.
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Michael Jackson and Sony
In 1985, Michael Jackson bought ATV Music Publishing, acquiring rights to many Beatles songs. This purchase made Jackson a major figure in music publishing and created new opportunities for him to profit from both his and others’ music.
Ten years later, Sony offered to buy 50% of ATV Music Publishing from Jackson. This massive deal gave Sony control over more than 200,000 songs by artists like Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones.
In 2016, Sony paid the Jackson Estate around $750 million for its 50% stake in Sony/ATV, making Sony the sole owner of that publishing joint venture and its catalog of more than 200,000 songs by other artists. The estate kept Michael’s own song catalog and master recordings, held by his company Mijac Music. In February 2024, the estate sold half of Mijac to Sony Music for about $600 million, in a deal that valued Jackson’s music assets at roughly $1.2 billion.
Michael Jackson and Mijac Music
MJ’s personal record label, Mijac Music, holds his released and unreleased songs, including tracks from his Jackson 5 days, solo albums, and unfinished material. Since Sony’s February 2024 deal, Sony Music Group owns a 50% stake in Mijac, while the Jackson Estate keeps the other half and retains creative control over future releases.
The Michael Jackson Estate
The Michael Jackson Estate, a private company set up after his 2009 death, manages Michael’s business and personal affairs, including merchandising, licensing, and recording contracts. The estate handled the 2016 Sony/ATV sale and the February 2024 deal that sold half of Mijac to Sony for about $600 million.
They can choose to release some of Michael’s unreleased recordings and sell his music in the years ahead.
Conclusion
Sony Music Group now holds a 50% stake in Michael Jackson’s Mijac catalog alongside the Jackson Estate after their 2024 deal, while Sony Music Publishing (the rebranded Sony/ATV) continues to manage publishing administration. The estate keeps creative control over future releases, so all three parties play a part in licensing and protecting Michael Jackson’s legacy.
Michael Jackson Featured Image by: Zoran Veselinovic, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
