Michael Jackson and the rights to The Beatles' back catalogue

[violaine]

How did Michael Jackson end up owning the rights to most of the Beatles' back catalogue, if what I have heard is true? Do the remaining Beatles not get any say in how their music is used?

[andy hughes]

Very simply - Michael Jackson was the person who put up the money when The Beatles' back catalogue was sold by EMI Records in the mid-80's. For reasons not specified, the remaining beatls did not step forward to claim their heritge, causing severe strain in the relationship between Paul McCartney and Jackson. this resulted in Jackson paying a higher royalty rate to Lennon's widow Yoko Ono when songs he owned were played on radio, than to McCartney. Rumours persist that Jackson's ongoing financial difficulties may result in the sale of his percentage of the Beatles, works to his parent company Sony Music. The remaining Beatles, and Yoko, do have considerable control over the remainder of their catalogue, and I am sure various limitations on usage exist - have you noticed that no original Beatles music ever appears on any CD compilations, or in any adverts.

[gilf]

Its a sort of 2 tier system as I understand it. There is publishing rights which is what Jackson owned and then there is performer rights which will remain with McCartney and Yoko Ono. I think the beatles get a say in how they are used as much as Sony do. The reason you don't get them on Adverts and compilations is that they are a valuable asset which will always get a high premium, None of the Beatles will want for money so whats the point of selling a few tracks for compilation when you know you can sell CD's full of your own stuff and get 100% of the profits.

[gilf]

The story goes like this. In the 80's Jackson was talking to McCartney about how he could invest his money and McCartney said the music publishing rights were a seriously good bet. Then the whole EMI Beatles collection came up for auction so Jackson took McCartney's advice and bid for them, only trouble was that McCartney also wanted to buy them back but Jackson paid a huge sum for them. Then when Jackson got his Sony contract for �50Million part of the deal was he signed over the Beatles publishing rights. McCartney was really p***ed off about the whole thing and hasnt spoken to Jackson for years, I think its also why he has only recently perfomed Beatles songs live as he said he couldnt bring himself to ask Jackson for permission to perform his own songs (he's allowed to perform them free but he legally has to ask Sony first.)

[violaine]

Thanks for the answers andy and gilf. :)