Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense
Reuters - Saturday, March 20
Send
IM Story
Print
By Gail Mitchell
LOS ANGELES - The magnitude of Sony Music Entertainment's landmark recording contract with the estate of Michael Jackson raises an inevitable question: Is it a smart deal for the label?
Given Jackson's superstar status, his influential creative legacy and the market's seemingly insatiable appetite for all things MJ, the consensus of executives who handle works of other deceased music stars is an overwhelming "yes."
Under the contract, which guarantees the estate between $200 million and $250 million, Sony will issue 10 releases of Jackson's music through 2017, with the double-CD "This Is It" soundtrack counting as the first of these. Already in the pipeline is the planned November release of a collection of previously unreleased tracks and a 2011 reissue of Jackson's seminal 1979 Epic album, "Off the Wall."
The Jackson/Sony deal eclipses such recent headline-making unions as Live Nation Entertainment's pacts with Madonna and Jay-Z, pegged at $120 million and $150 million, respectively. And it places Jackson among a select group of artists who posthumously remain major wage earners: Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Jimi Hendrix, whose new album of unreleased material, "Valleys of Neptune," debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200.
Since Jackson's June 25 death, his catalog has generated sales of 8.7 million albums in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and a reported total of 31 million worldwide. To date, the "This Is It" double CD has sold 1.5 million units domestically, according to SoundScan, and more than 5 million worldwide, according to Sony.
LONG-TERM GOALS
Sony has been in talks with the estate since late last summer, when they came together to discuss the "This Is It" movie and soundtrack, according to Columbia/Epic Label Group chairman Rob Stringer. The new contract renews Jackson's 30-year association with the company, which dates back to 1979.
"My first premise for wanting to do something long-term," Stringer says, "was there was music that was out there post the term of our contract, and I wanted that wrapped up as part of our forward-going structure with the estate. For instance, it would have been a very strange process if we had to deal with the estate and then another record label signed the material post the term after 'Invincible.' It was a much-needed process for both sides to have everything in place. Both the 'This Is It' movie soundtrack and DVD exceeded our expectations. We knew we had something incredibly buoyant in terms of the legacy of a fantastic artist."
John Branca, who with John McClain serves as special administrator for the Jackson estate, says the contract is in keeping with future projects and other ideas he and Jackson had discussed before his death. "What John and I have been trying to do is execute a game plan Michael would have been comfortable with," Branca says. "We have turned a lot of things down; we have been very selective. And yet we're also very aggressive about wanting to do these kinds of deals that Michael would have been proud of."
Tony Gumina, president of the Ray Charles Marketing Group, calls the Jackson/Sony agreement a great deal for the major. "The $250 million figure sounds incredible, but so did the $60 million that Columbia Pictures guaranteed for the footage used in the 'This Is It' film," Gumina says. "It has since grossed more than $200 million in worldwide box office and DVD sales."
Bob Sillerman, chairman/CEO of CKX, which oversees Presley's estate, doesn't view the contract as much of a gamble because of Jackson's unique appeal. "If their experience with the Jackson catalog is anything like our experience with the Elvis catalog -- where ... there has been a treasure trove of unreleased material and the ability to repackage material -- then the label and the estate have done something unique and will be immensely successful."
MOVING QUICKLY
A senior executive at another major label agrees that the deal is a wise investment, while observing that the speed at which it was completed suggests "just how much debt pressure there must be on the heirs." The executive adds that "the important thing now is for Sony to handle the assets and fans with care and respect and not overlook the demand at the moment."
The contract is also a testament to Jackson's worldwide appeal, Gumina says.
"When you're dealing with icons like Michael Jackson and Ray Charles," he says, "their appeal in the international markets is remarkable, so you're not just selling product in North America. If there are some great Michael Jackson recordings in the Sony vaults, this should be the best catalog investment they have ever made."
The key to maximizing this kind of material is respecting the artist's legacy and recognizing that less is more. "There is no urgency to rush these out," Sillerman says. "Being respectful of the integrity of the original creation and the original audience is something that the estate and the label know as well as anything."
Sustaining interest in any legacy act in the long term remains a challenge. But not every legacy act carries Jackson's cachet. "This deal shows you the power of the Michael Jackson brand," says Larry Mestel, CEO of Primary Wave Music Publishing, which owns a stake in Kurt Cobain's song catalog. "There are only a handful of artists who have that type of power. That's why Sony was very smart to make that deal."
Sillerman adds, "There are other world-class acts that I don't think have the reach and impact that Michael and Elvis have. I would put the Beatles up there and also the Rolling Stones."
Branca says there will always be interest in Jackson. "Look what happened with Elvis," he says. "To this day, there's interest in Elvis. And I think there will be enduring interest in Michael. It's our job to continue to expose Michael to new generations."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - Saturday, March 20
'A dad like any other,' son says of drug lord Escobar AFP - Saturday, March 20
Bands explore promo potential of Chatroulette Reuters - Saturday, March 20
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense Reuters - Saturday, March 20
"College" kid outdoes rap stars in digital sales Reuters - Saturday, March 20
News Search
Top Stories
'Red Shirts' take to streets to win over Thai capital
British boy receives pioneering stem cell surgery
US tanker bid war heats up with Airbus, Russia in wings
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
German tax authorities probe Credit Suisse clients, staff
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Personal TechnologyMobile phones & personal gadgets
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
McLaren launches new supercar
US children get Playboy, not Bugs Bunny in cable mixup
Bullock cancels London trip, film premiere called off
Japan celebrates defeat of bluefin tuna trade ban
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
More Most Viewed »
Chile quake moved Earth's axis, shortened days: scientist
Experts confirm asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs
'Britain's Fritzl' raped daughters for over 25yrs
Researchers back cancer-fighting properties of papaya
Common weed-killer chemically castrates frogs: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 20 March 2010 Mideast Quartet tells Israel to halt settlements
German tax authorities probe Credit Suisse clients, staff
Brazil surgical robot fixes heart in Latin America first
BA strike to go ahead after talks collapse
Rocket fired from Gaza at Israel: army
At least 200 killed as Sierra Leone mine collapses
|
Palm shares plunge on weak forecast
Atom smasher reaches record energy levels: CERN
EU agrees to act to stop Iran jamming broadcasts, Internet
US military pushed for closure of CIA-Saudi website: report
Putin says Russia could sign up to Iran sanctions: RIA
|
US Army worries about 'threat' from whistleblower website
Google to add Maya, Nahuatl languages to search engine
Owner Postpones Auction For "Sex" Website
Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: U.N. report
Icahn Makes Hostile Takeover Bid For Lions Gate
Mexican police ask spirits to guard them in drug war
|
Palm's survival questioned
Police Accidentally Raid House 50 Times ? And Counting
Ukraine's Yanukovich to repeal Bandera hero decree
|
Ashley Tisdale, Alyson Michalka Sign On For CW Cheerleading Drama
Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: U.N. report
|
Palm Reports Q3 Loss, Analysts Cut Price Target To $0
Paralyzed Woman Takes 8th Floor Plunge
Zuma defends minister, demands spats end
|
"The Last Song" Star Hallock Beals Talks New Movie And Miley Cyrus
US breaks up vast China, Malaysia smuggling ring
Hidden Camera Reveals Babysitter Abusing Infant
Top Colombian rebel gets 20 years prison in U.S
FIFA excludes Indonesia's World Cup bid
Obama says history is nigh on health care
Pakistan arrests halt UN contacts with Taliban
Dutch PM slams 'disgraceful' Srebrenica gay comments
The Economist not published in Thailand
Russia, US on 'brink' of new arms treaty: Clinton
Activists urge Australia to charge Japanese whalers
Japan PM hints at leaving disputed US base on Okinawa
NKorean loggers in Russia making defection bids
Net produces new generation of China activists
SKorea appeals to France over looted royal books
Trial starts in British teen's slaying in India
Bollywood, Hollywood join hands against piracy
Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: U.N. report
|
S.Korea rebuffs N.Korea threat to seize assets
Secrets unravel as "Breaking Bad" returns to TV
Losing the battle to keep female flesh off Afghan TV
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates flat; rupee firmer
German celebrity magazine admits fake interviews
Bharti to sell iPhone 3GS in India
Patti Smith to be honored by music industry
China warns US not to politicise yuan debate
Soviet space dogs blast-off to animated immortality
Street kids stage their own World Cup in South Africa
French makes inroads in Africa
Risque sex film arouses interest in Bollywood
Bollywood, Hollywood join hands against piracy
Court rules against Anna Nicole Smith in estate
|
FCC kicks off cable-broadcaster review
|
McLachlan to release first album in seven years
|
Losing the battle to keep female flesh off Afghan TV
|
Secrets unravel as Breaking Bad returns to TV
|
Neil Young documentary captures raw energy of live show
|
Sports endorsement firm eyes music world
|
MySpace trail leads US police to teen burglar
New venture from Facebook co-founder to promote charity
Obama to Iran
Opposition red shirts try to win over Thai capital
|
British boy receives pioneering stem cell surgery
US-TECH Summary
Supposed 'ETA terrorists' are just holidaymakers:report
New York food trucks turn to Twitter
Mousavi vows 'year of perseverance' against Iran regime
Israel strikes in Gaza after deadly rocket
|
Albanian stalemate can hit EU ambitions: official
Black and white meets new technology at photo show
Gunmen block roads in Mexico's drug-plagued north
|
'Red Shirts' take to streets to win over Thai capital
North Korea parliament to meet, Kim and cadres in focus
|
YouTube creators cashed in big on sale to Google: documents
Serbia-Kosovo row overshadows EU-Balkans summit
U.S. eyes early summer for airwaves auction process
US tanker bid war heats up with Airbus, Russia in wings
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
Legal adviser to U.S. Haiti missionaries arrested
|
Republican Leader Besieged After "Punk Staffers" Remark
High Number Of Student Suicides At Cornel University Causes Concern
Sanin wins Colombian conservative candidacy
|
$940 Billion Democratic Healthcare Bill In Final Lap Ahead Of House Vote
Appeals Court Orders Federal Reserve To Release Bailout Details
U.S. Markets Dip On Global Concerns, Dow Snaps Winning Streak
US, Russia, will sign nuclear treaty in April: report
Year's biggest sandstorm turns Beijing sky orange
Obama reaches out to Iranian people
Thai protesters begin weekend march around capital
Opposition "red shirts" try to win over Thai capital
7th anniversary of Iraq War passes, little noticed
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense
Yachting Team NZ draw first blood over Italians
North Korea sets date for parliament session
Putin offers U.S. hints of support
Pakistan army chief leaves to attend talks in US
'Red Shirts' take to streets to win over Thai capital
Obama optimistic on weekend healthcare vote
Nigeria "moving on" from political crisis
NKorean loggers in Russia making defection bids
U.S. envisions troop surge in northern Afghanistan
Sandstorms blanket Beijing in yellow dust
Smartphones not enough for carriers at CTIA
|
Japan marks 15th anniversary of subway gas attacks
New York food trucks turn to Twitter
|
U.S. eyes early summer for airwaves auction process
|
Pakistani c.bank buys 62.15 bln rupees of govt paper
Serial killings highlight Indonesian child abuse
India unexpectedly hikes rates a quarter point
SKorea vice fin min sees MSCI upgrade in H1-reports
South Korea national oil firm eyes Ghana's Jubilee
US to host 2011 APEC trade talks in Montana
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
'A dad like any other,' son says of drug lord Escobar
Bands explore promo potential of Chatroulette
Aretha Franklin does own thing with new album
|
Music biz insiders say Sony-Jackson deal makes sense
Bands explore promo potential of Chatroulette
|
"College" kid outdoes rap stars in digital sales
Childhood memories inspire new songs for Frampton
|
Ellen, Web site give gay teen $30,000 in prom flap
Aretha Franklin does "own thing" with new album
Childhood memories inspire new songs for Frampton
McLachlan to release first album in seven years
US weighs more troops for north Afghanistan: official
British Airways strike grounds flights but passengers fly
Pope's shame and remorse over Irish child sex abuse
|
Obama to Iran: U.S. offer of dialogue still stands
|
Israeli troops kill Palestinian in W.Bank: medics
|
Allawi edges ahead of PM again in Iraq election
|
Swarm Of Bees Attack 3, Critically Injures 2 Women
U.N.'s Ban in West Bank pushes for peace talks
|
India to get access to U.S. man on Mumbai attack
|
Thousands rally against Putin, dozens detained
|
Obama urges Senate action on finance reform
Nepal's Maoists say Koirala's death a blow to peace
|
Indonesian Muslims protest Israeli settlement plan
New threat puts Hemet officers on heightened alert
Thai protesters' caravan wends through capital
US official: India to question US terror convict
Bloated lake haunts North Dakota town again
Elderly Man Calls 911 Before Killing Wife And Himself
Tokyo marks 15th anniversary of subway gas attack
Trendy Sushi Restraunt Accused Of Selling Whale Meat Closing
Clerics tell Filipino Muslims to reject Estrada
Cambodia to build memorial for slain journalists
Aust. state named disaster zone as cyclone nears
Thai protesters stage weekend march around capital
Veteran Nepal politician Koirala dies at age 86
Cambodia bans citizens from marrying South Koreans
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights