Sony Buys Beatles Music from Michael Jackson’s Estate

Michael Jackson asked his friend Paul McCartney for investment advice back in the 1980's. Paul suggested he invest in music publishing. Michael bought the rights to the Beatles' catalog. His subsequent choices to license some of the songs for various advertising campaigns caused a rift between the two. It was never repaired. Michael was reportedly hundreds of millions of dollars in debt at the time of his passing. NBC News reports, his estate has agreed to sell Michael's interest in the SONY/ ATV catalog for three quarters of a billion dollars. The catalog also includes songs by Taylor Swift, and Bob Dylan. He bought it for 41.5 million in 1985. I sure hope "Ticket to Ride" doesn't become a commercial for AMTRAK, or "Here Comes the Sun" a commercial for suntan lotion.