Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which is a joint venture between Sony Corp. and the estate of Michael Jackson, will take over worldwide administration of Michael Jackson's Mijac Music Catalog, which has been handled by Warner/Chappell Music Publishing since its inception in 1980.
In addition to Michael Jackson's own songs, Mijac includes the Sly and the Family Stone catalog and songs by Philadelphia soul legends Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, as well as songs made famous by artists such as Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin.
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In a statement, Sony/ATV chairman and CEO Martin Bandier, said "Everyone at Sony/ATV looks forward to finding innovative ways to use these songs while protecting their legacy."
The agreement comes in advance of the September 18 release of
"Bad25," a new two-disc-package and DVD that marks the 25th anniversary of Michael's landmark "Bad" album. The Warner/Chappell agreement was fulfilled with the release of the "Michael" album in December 2010, sources say.
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"We are excited that the company Michael helped found, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and in which his Estate remains a 50% partner, will represent these amazing songs along with a rich collection of other music recorded by some of our greatest popular artists," John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, said in a statement.
In addition to Sly and The Family Stone and Jackson's own songs, the Mijac catalog includes "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," "After Midnight," "Ease on Down the Road," "Great Balls of Fire," "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher," "I Got A Woman," "If You Don't Know Me By Now," "Love Train," "Mr. Bojangles," "People Get Ready," "Runaround Sue," "Shake, Rattle and Roll," "Sixteen Candles," "The Wanderer", "What'd I Say," "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "You Don't Know Me."
