Michael Jackson estate, Sony Music Entertainment strike record distribution deal

[144000]

Hmm... how do you know?? How do you know that Michael's recent, unreleased material really lives up to his standard?? Just saying...

the answer to that, is simple. he has a great track record. that should be enough.

but what you are feeling is why there are fans that feel queasy about sony..because it seems like that's what sony were feeling, when he was alive. or MJ wouldn't have felt that he had to release a t 25, instead of a totally new album. that's a disrespectful feeling, that sony had.

if a car company had a sterling record, of quality throughout the years, would consumers question the next car that they made? nope.

why can't that same respect be afforded Michael Jackson, musically?

 

[THE JACKSONOLOGIST]

I read in one article that This Is It (the movie) had earned more than $250 million worldwide. I'm not sure how much of that Sony got, if any, or how much they made off the cd which supposedly did not sell as well as they had hoped. However much they make off this new album coming out in November, it will be mostly "gravy". He has already sold 31 million albums since his death. How much $$$ has that generated? I think Michael was on a 50% royalty rate. This doesn't count how much the estate made from owning half of Sony/ATV. If the average cd sold for $10.00, then Sony would have made $5.00 for each album sold. There was no challenge in them getting their $155 million back when they made this deal because they already had it back and then some before it was even made. Just remembering how much the world was anticipating new material from Michael before he died lets me know this new album is gonna be off the charts. You do the math. This is all good for everyone involved. unk:John Branca sure knows how to make a great deal for Michael's benefit. He has always shown that. For some reason, I think that if Michael and Branca had not had their differences in years past, Michael may not have gone throught those tough financial times he went through. I for one am happy about this whole thing. Who else in the world can still set records for making new deals after they gone on to glory? Nobody but Michael, nobody but Michael :yes:.

 

[Memefan]

Sony bets MJ fans won't stop 'til they get enough
By RYAN NAKASHIMA and LINDA DEUTSCH (AP) – 19 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES — The record-breaking deal in which Michael Jackson's estate will get up to $250 million in the next seven years probably isn't a huge gamble for the company that will pay the money out, Sony Music Entertainment.
Before he died last June at age 50, Jackson, a prolific songwriter, left dozens of unreleased recordings that are sure to be in high demand. Those include studio sessions from some of his best albums and recently recorded songs made with the likes of Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am.
Under a deal officially announced Tuesday, Sony has guaranteed Jackson's estate $200 million for 10 projects over the next seven years. One of them, a movie and album called "This Is It," was already completed. If certain conditions are met, the payment could rise to $250 million.
Since Jackson's death, estate co-administrator John McClain, a childhood friend and Jackson producer, has combed through boxes of tapes and recordings Jackson left behind. McClain and the other co-administrator, John Branca, who cut the Sony deal, each stand to make 5 percent on every new dollar of revenue brought into the estate.
McClain found about 60 songs in various forms that have never been released, according to people familiar with the songs, who spoke on condition of anonymity because what will be done with the material remains in flux.
Even if only half of them are commercially viable, that would be enough for two or three albums. And some songs could also be packaged with already-heard material. That likely wouldn't detract from a new album's value. It might even add to it, because fans have been flocking to known commodities in music.
For example, 14 remastered albums from The Beatles catalog sold 13 million copies worldwide in the four months after they were released last September. Bob Seger's "Greatest Hits," an album that came out in 1994, was the best-selling catalog album of the last decade, with 9 million albums sold to date.
Jackson's own two-disc set that accompanied the concert rehearsal footage in "This Is It" has sold 5 million copies, and it had only one new song. That was the title song, which Jackson wrote with Paul Anka around the time the "Thriller" album was becoming a smash hit. Strings were added to the bare-bones recording, along with backing vocals from Jackson's brothers. Other touches included finger-click percussion that echoes Jackson's recording of "The Girl Is Mine."
"He always said his children would never have anything to worry about because he had volumes of songs to release," said Raymone Bain, who began representing Jackson during his child molestation trial in 2005, in an interview Tuesday.
Bain, who is also suing the estate for fees, said Jackson told her he had "thousands of recordings" that he wanted to aim at a youthful audience, and spent nights during the trial writing new tunes as therapy.
"He wanted to prove to a new demographic group that he was still a major player in the industry," she said. "That's why he added Akon and Fergie and will.i.am to the 25th anniversary recording of `Thriller.'"
Speculation on exactly what unreleased songs exist (and how good they are) has been rampant since the King of Pop's death. Many who collaborated with Jackson in his later years have discussed their work with him, including will.i.am and Akon, who is a Senegalese R&B singer.
Tommy Mottola, who from 1998 to 2003 was chairman and CEO of Sony Music, said last summer that Jackson's posthumous releases could outsell even those from Elvis Presley, whose voice has graced around 300 compilation albums since his death in 1977.
Several unreleased Jackson songs have leaked, though many of them are in dubious forms. A 24-second clip of the song "A Place With No Name" was on TMZ.com shortly after Jackson's death. A track Jackson recorded with Lenny Kravitz, "Another Day," also got out last year, though Kravitz said it wasn't a proper, finished version of the song.
Whatever the unreleased material comprises, the Sony deal suggested that repurposing Jackson material across several formats — from DVDs to video games — will be of particular importance.
Last week, Sony Music's Legacy Recordings, in partnership with Jimi Hendrix's estate, released a new album of Hendrix material nearly 40 years after his death. "Valleys of Neptune," which cobbled together unfinished recordings mostly from 1969, has received largely positive reviews.
But even that album, which follows many other posthumous releases from Hendrix, is just a part of a new legacy launch. The Experience Hendrix, which is led by Hendrix's stepsister Janie Hendrix and oversees his musical estate, also rereleased Hendrix's "Live at Woodstock" in Blu-ray and regular DVD and the three Jimi Hendrix Experience albums. There's also a Hendrix "Rock Band" video game in the works, as well as a larger anthology collection.
The Hendrix reboot could very well serve as a mere rehearsal for what Sony has in store for Jackson.
AP Entertainment Writers Jake Coyle in New York and Anthony McCartney in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

 

[144000]

I read in one article that This Is It (the movie) had earned more than $250 million worldwide. I'm not sure how much of that Sony got, if any, or how much they made off the cd which supposedly did not sell as well as they had hoped. However much they make off this new album coming out in November, it will be mostly "gravy". He has already sold 31 million albums since his death. How much $$$ has that generated? I think Michael was on a 50% royalty rate. This doesn't count how much the estate made from owning half of Sony/ATV. If the average cd sold for $10.00, then Sony would have made $5.00 for each album sold. There was no challenge in them getting their $155 million back when they made this deal because they already had it back and then some before it was even made. Just remembering how much the world was anticipating new material from Michael before he died lets me know this new album is gonna be off the charts. You do the math. This is all good for everyone involved. unk:John Branca sure knows how to make a great deal for Michael's benefit. He has always shown that. For some reason, I think that if Michael and Branca had not had their differences in years past, Michael may not have gone throught those tough financial times he went through. I for one am happy about this whole thing. Who else in the world can still set records for making new deals after they gone on to glory? Nobody but Michael, nobody but Michael :yes:.

i don't agree that MJ had the financial problems. like you said, he already had that catalogue. i believe the media was into copy and paste. if anything, MJ was the brilliant one. it was MJ that told Branca 'don't overnegotaite'.

i believe, just like at the trial of 2003-5, MJ had the foresight. he went through more than one lawyer, because he knew when to make the change.

MJ's kids would never want for anything, because of MJ's brilliance.

 

[marebear]

If Michael was alive it is possible that he might of worked with Sony again. Who knows. People have problems but it's not impossible to work it out. The same people might not be working there anymore. The men running the estate have done a good job so far. I will wait and see what happens. I do feel that the new album has to be all new songs.

 

[Prometheus77]

the answer to that, is simple. he has a great track record. that should be enough.

Well, to that I say that his last album with new songs was released almost 10 years ago and only featured 2 songs fully written by him and many felt that the album wasn't as good as his previous ones! And with all the crap that happened in those last 10 years, who knows what effect that had on his songwriting! I just hope that there are really some really, really great songs lying in the vault! The sad thing is, that whatever they will put it, we never will know if Michael deemed those songs good enough and ready for release!

 

[144000]

Well, to that I say that his last album with new songs was released almost 10 years ago and only featured 2 songs fully written by him and many felt that the album wasn't as good as his previous ones! And with all the crap that happened in those last 10 years, who knows what effect that had on his songwriting! I just hope that there are really some really, really great songs lying in the vault! The sad thing is, that whatever they will put it, we never will know if Michael deemed those songs good enough and ready for release!

well..while it seemed that many didn't like invincible, many more did like it.

is there ever anything on earth that doesn't have both people liking it, and not liking it?

fact is, there were enough people liking invincible to take it to number 1 in 2001.

and MJ's magic, goes beyond writing. he didn't write for motown, but he stood out, at motown. MJ's magic is such, that whether he writes, co writes, or just sings, and produces, him just being there, is enough.

and...great songs do come from great pain. and MJ had plenty of pain to work with.

people on this board went crazy for just a snippet of 'another day'. not the whole song.

there are always the last minute people, like the guy in the blog who felt like MJ wasn't at his best in 2001 concerts. but he ended up wanting to see MJ, anyway at the o2.

the curiosity factor, alone, was on MJ's side. so, it's hard for MJ to lose, no matter what. there are enough fans who'll go for whatever he does, to make up for the fans who won't.(not counting the last minute fans who think they won't go for what MJ comes up with, but they are curious, anyway)

 

[athina_livadi]

Be happy Gaz is right!
This is a major agreement and Michael deserves it!

 

[Krshna28]

This is good for promoting Michael Jackson for tomorrows generation who were not alive when Michael was or were too young to remember him.

I do not care much for the unreleased stuff because if Michael saw them unfit for release then they shouldn't release them.

However, I am desperate for DVD's and Blu Ray's of Michael. Whether they are concerts, single performances or just remastered Music Videos (the stuff released and unreleased but in HD quality). I want it all!!!!!!!!

 

[Prometheus77]

well..while it seemed that many didn't like invincible, many more did like it.

Uhm... no!

fact is, there were enough people liking invincible to take it to number 1 in 2001.

Yeah, either that or because you had stupid fans (including me) buying the album in several colours!

the curiosity factor, alone, was on MJ's side. so, it's hard for MJ to lose, no matter what. there are enough fans who'll go for whatever he does, to make up for the fans who won't.(not counting the last minute fans who think they won't go for what MJ comes up with, but they are curious, anyway)

How does a curiousity factor help in having good songs?? And if you say people buy the album because of a curiousity factor you could also apply that to Invincible!

Anyway... don't want to argue... I just think it's funny how you are so sure, that there is no possibility of him having a writers block or creating songs which are not as good!

 

[marebear]

A lot of non fans saw This is It for the curiousity factor and liked what they saw. Michael sold out 50 concerts at the O2 just like that. People will want to hear his songs. After everything he went through all these years I am sure he had a lot to say and wanted to share.

I am looking forward to any dvds myself of tours etc.

 

[Memefan]

This is good for promoting Michael Jackson for tomorrows generation who were not alive when Michael was or were too young to remember him.

I do not care much for the unreleased stuff because if Michael saw them unfit for release then they shouldn't release them.

However, I am desperate for DVD's and Blu Ray's of Michael. Whether they are concerts, single performances or just remastered Music Videos (the stuff released and unreleased but in HD quality). I want it all!!!!!!!!

How do you know that?

Raymone Bain did an interview today, and she said MJ saved lots of songs for his kids. Just because they weren't released that doesn't mean they weren't good. Even Quincy Jones (barf) in the latest Bad edition said, they struggled to cut songs out before the album was release.

 

[144000]

Uhm... no!



Yeah, either that or because you had stupid fans (including me) buying the album in several colours!



How does a curiousity factor help in having good songs?? And if you say people buy the album because of a curiousity factor you could also apply that to Invincible!

Anyway... don't want to argue... I just think it's funny how you are so sure, that there is no possibility of him having a writers block or creating songs which are not as good!

see, you're deciding that because you didn't like Invincible that not enough people did. that's not fair, because a lot of people did. and i see a lot of people on this board, giving it a great rating in the groove section.

a person can't decide that his opinion equals everybody's opinion.

like i said before, did you ever approach a company that made a good product, (like a car, for example), and you decided you would have doubts about the next new car they made?

Be happy Gaz is right!
This is a major agreement and Michael deserves it!

he didn't say that everybody has to be happy. Gaz just said, we should respect each other's opinion.

 

[Benji78]

Well, but the thing is... you don't! You know how he felt about Sony (or more likely Motolla) almost 10 years ago, but you don't know how he felt about Sony last year! And it would make sense to think that Michael, would he still live, would go with the company who would give him the best deal/offer... and who's to say that Sony is not that company!

Granted, I don't know how he felt about Sony last year. Few people would. However he never publicly has shown any positive feeling toward Sony, only negative.

It is on that which I form my personal opinion.

 

[GinnyJackson]

oh brother here we go.

 

[Prometheus77]

see, you're deciding that because you didn't like Invincible that not enough people did. that's not fair, because a lot of people did. and i see a lot of people on this board, giving it a great rating in the groove section.

No! I'm basing that on how many (or not so many) people bought Invincible, on how people on music forums talk about it and on how many die hard MJ fans I know talk about it!

like i said before, did you ever approach a company that made a good product, (like a car, for example), and you decided you would have doubts about the next new car they made?

Well, just because a company has a history of having a great line of a product doesn't mean that their products can't suddenly become stale, less innoventive and just not as great as their previous products! And that's true especially in music!

 

[144000]

No! I'm basing that on how many (or not so many) people bought Invincible, on how people on music forums talk about it and on how many die hard MJ fans I know talk about it!



Well, just because a company has a history of having a great line of a product doesn't mean that their products can't suddenly become stale, less innoventive and just not as great as their previous products! And that's true especially in music!

well, you and i must have seen a different set of fans. and, it's hard for me, at least, to argue with number 1, in 2001, whatever reasons we may want to guess.
well...like u said, we'll agree to disagree.

 

[Hess]

Didn't Invincible become number one as the best album released last decade?

 

[Prometheus77]

Yeah, and Britney Spears was #2 and Adam Lambert #3!?

 

[Rockin.]

Why are people slagging off Invincible here? Its a great album, I personally love it, there are some really great songs on there.

 

[Prometheus77]

^^I don't know... it's off-topic really... so let's leave it at that!

 

[Hess]

From Billboard.

Michael Jackson has just earned an amazing accomplishment. His only album of new material this past decade was just voted as the #1 album of the 2000's. It wasn't even listed on the list of available options (you had to manually type it in). Just shows the power of Jackson's fans all around the world.

In addition to earning the #1 album of the decade, Jackson's THIS IS IT scored the #2 position in the vote for the best album of 2009.

Over 170,000 votes were casted on Billboard.com


Invincible is one of the best albums he ever did! LOVE it! L.O.V.E.

 

[144000]

From Billboard.

Michael Jackson has just earned an amazing accomplishment. His only album of new material this past decade was just voted as the #1 album of the 2000's. It wasn't even listed on the list of available options (you had to manually type it in). Just shows the power of Jackson's fans all around the world.

In addition to earning the #1 album of the decade, Jackson's THIS IS IT scored the #2 position in the vote for the best album of 2009.

Over 170,000 votes were casted on Billboard.com


Invincible is one of the best albums he ever did! LOVE it! L.O.V.E.

L.O.V.E. babbbyyyyyyy!!!

 

[virginia_woolf]

i have such mixed emotions about this. i was thinking today what if this anouncement was made after the concerts had finished. mj finished the run in triumph and then a few weeks later we have an anouncement about a huge deal. the joy i would have felt the joy of going up to haters and saying f*** you the king is back. but all i can do is sit here feeling,well i dont know what to feel and i dont know how i should feel. so when i read though this thread seeing ppl moaning/arguing about whether its gonna be 5 g.Hits or 2 or 1 all i can do is sit here and shake my head and say to myself you really dont it get do you. in the scheme of things none of it matters

Beautifully said. Of course it's good news but I can't feel pure joy and excitement about this. Michael should be here with us.

 

[tricia70]

You shouldn't feel bad. MJ was still making deals with Sony after what happened with Invincible. Thriller 25, The King of Pop album, and the Visionary Box Set to name a few. MJ put the past behind him, so we can too!

That's true. Remember he was mainly upset at Mottola, and he resign or was ousted in 2003 I believe, so Michael dealt with other ppl in the organization. An organization is more the ppl that run it not the name. So don't feel guilty. This deal is the best deal any artist has ever made, and what was wonderful is that Sony won't get any income from merchandising or licensing fees which could amount to a pretty hefty amount, and something that most artists these days agree to do. So Branca was smart not to include it. This is a great deal. And I for one am very, very ecstatic about it!!!! Another thing, I'm sure Sony will want to promote it very well since they want to recoup their monies.

Yes, Michael has made history once again! Rejoice fellow King of Pop fans this is all good!!!unk::clapping:

 

[chacal]

Michael Jackson Deal: $225 Mil Just for Records, Nothing Else

The new Sony deal for Michael Jackson’s new records is actually worth $225 million according to my sources.
That means that Jackson attorneys John Branca (a co-executor) and Joel Katz, with the help of co-executor John McClain, have cut for Michael Jackson’s estate the richest deal ever in recording business history. It far exceeds the deal Sony made with Bruce Springsteen a couple of years ago for $100 million.

The deal is only for records for the next seven years. It already includes the soundtrack to “This Is It.” Come November, the first scheduled release will be a collection of unreleased tracks perhaps including a duet with Paul Anka and one or two songs left off of “Thriller.”
Two more releases will be anniversary editions of “Bad” and “Off the Wall” which will include extra and remixed tracks a la the 25th anniversary edition of “Thriller.” McClain and hopefully Jackson’s longtime manager Frank DiLeo will be involved with those.
There are also enough tracks for at least one or two live albums from various Jackson tours.

The Sony deal does not include anything to do with Michael’s publishing, live shows still to be arranged, or merchandise. A show with Cirque du Soleil, as I’ve written before, will be announced shortly for Las Vegas.
But all of that is separate. What happened: Since his death Jackson has sold 31 million albums worldwide. Sony, which had parted company with Jackson before his death, wants to remain in the Jackson business. With this contract, they will be in business with his estate for at least seven more years.

Insiders say that Jackson’s estate will retain the rights to all the master recordings, too. This is highly unusual. Also: Branca, Katz and McClain also, apparently, renegotiated Jackson’s royalty rate with Sony for this deal. “It’s the highest rate anyone’s ever had,” says a source.
At this rate, the prediction is that Jackson’s huge debt leveraged against his own MiJac Music Publishing will be paid off in a short time. His even bigger debt, secured against his one half interest in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing company–also known as the Beatles catalog–will be refinanced and reduced. When Jackson died, sources point out, he was $500 million in debt.His estate is now solvent, and his children are well taken care for their lives.

It is the sad irony of the Michael Jackson story that for years he suffered financially, and drifted in his career. Since his death. his career and finances have flourished.

http://showbiz411.blogs.thr.com/201...illion-dollars-just-for-records-nothing-else/

 

[ExoticPrincess]

Knowing how much MJ loved breaking records, I think he would love this. I can't really say that I'm 'excited' as this new 'period' is still so unreal for me. As for the whole issue with Sony, I can't even both going there as whatever I may feel changes nothing. I want MJ's Estate and Legacy to thrive for his childrens sake. I just hope whatever is released, that all concerned try to keep MJ's desires in mind.

I'll always love you Michael!

BTW.....lets us bear in mind that the game has now changed, so we should all watch what our expectations are, the status quo is no more. Appreciate what Michael left us and ease up on the arguements.

 

[SeriousEffect.]

Bad feeling about this.

The advance amount is so high that if his albums don't sell enough to recoup the advance amount the estate will end up actually owing Sony money. Getting more in debt could contribute to the selling of Michael's share of Sony/ATV. I don't feel this is the case, but I know it'll come up eventually.

 

[mj_brainiac]

So the new deal doesn't include concert DVDs?

 

[GinnyJackson]

Bad feeling about this.

The advance amount is so high that if his albums don't sell enough to recoup the advance amount the estate will end up actually owing Sony money. Getting more in debt could contribute to the selling of Michael's share of Sony/ATV. I don't feel this is the case, but I know it'll come up eventually.

This is another reason why as fans we need to do our part and promote the hell out of it!