The Motive
Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 10:17AM Sony bets MJ fans never can say goodbye
The man who spearheaded the record-breaking deal in which Michael Jackson's estate will receive up to $250 million in the next seven years said last week that Sony Music Entertainment bought a treasure trove of new Jackson music — some of it recorded “quite recently,” some in collaboration with other artists.
John Branca, who negotiated the deal along with co-executor John McClain and team of attorneys, was clearly elated about the deal. He said in an interview with The Associated Press that this is only the first of more deals that will bring Jackson's music to his fans and introduce it to a world of potential new fans.
“The remarkable thing is to make the biggest deal in history in a market with declining record sales. It's a pretty big thing,” Branca said. “It's a testament to Michael's incredible talent and his music. It's really an honor to be part of this.”
He added that “there's more to come” but declined to elaborate. He also would not discuss the finances or specific details of the deal.
Branca is the lawyer who met the superstar singer when both were young men and is seen as the architect of Jackson's financial empire. They worked together for 30 years.
Branca said that he is convinced that Jackson would be delighted with the results of the negotiations.
He said he has not heard all of the 60-plus songs discovered by McClain but what he has heard is “classic Michael Jackson.”
Reader Comments (5)
And you know what...SONY is right. We will go to our stores and on the net and any and every where we can because we never can say goodbye to Michael. I can't. I will buy what ever keeps him alive to me, I am sad to report. My only wish, or let's call it what it is, my prayer, is that good fortune will run out for Sony and all those who still manipulate Michael and yes, his fans who love him unconditionally. I pray that in the coming months, Sony will fall and they will be found out and they will be brought to justice because in the deepest recesses of my heart, I know, they are to blame for Michael not being here today. So Sony, you are riding high now on the coat tails of your ill gotten fortune; but there is another all seeing eye which is more focused than even yours. There is another kingdom whose ruler is by far, mightier and stronger. And then there are my eyes and all of the eyes of the people who love and are hurting because people like you decided that adjunct money and power was greater than the human being behind it. You are right Sony, we never can get enough of the magic that was and always will be Michael Jackson. And in that vein, we can never walk away from the truth. Truth is power. Our power lies in knowing that we are forces to be reckoned with. While we are singing and crying to Michael's words put to music, honoring and remembering him, we will also be screaming to the top of our voices THY WILL BE DONE. Justice for Michael Jackson is always at the top of our charts until it truly has come to pass. Justice for Michael Jackson means the end of injustices done to him and a swift remedy in an appropriate court of law for all those who perpetuated the crimes against him. HIStory will be written and yours will be a part of it. I hope one day that my children's children will read that Michael Jackson fans, by sheer will, love and determination, did bring down one of the worlds's top conglomerates. They were Invincible. We will never say goodbye and we will never stop fighting for Michael Jackson. We are his voice now. And Sony would do well to listen.
it makes me angry to see that those pple who are calling themself michaels friends are making deals with the ones michael never again wanted to work for
makes you wonder what else is behind this and it also makes me pray that when these three lovely children of michael become adults the catalog is still in the hands of michaels estate and then the kids or if the deal we hear about is simply made to have the estyate lawyeers hand ovber the catalog in exchange for big money into their own accounts
his name is michael JOE jackson not michael JOSEPH jackson.
sooooo his will means NOTHING.
wake up!
dur
i have heard rumours that mike was hit and threatened by tohme r tohme and was forced into the tour contacts. i have seem a picture which on the internet of mike being manhandled by tohme at the doors of the Oliver show.
the tour was for 10 dates see 02 conference and then moved to 31, 38 , 50 and then a 3 year world tour
you have to ask questions about the involvement of these business men in mikes life
why was tohme at the hospital when he was sacked by mike
mo and souza of the michael jackson death hoax investigations have posted disrepectful comparsions about michael jackson being a double, they have dissected his face, chin, nose, body everything, now they are saying mike pretended to be dave dave on larry king live. they have no consideration for dave dave and his family as well as michael and his family.
it is a shame that this sort of thing is allowed to go on it is very disrespectful. they feel they are entitled to do this sort of thing because the family has not complained.