Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Thorn in deal on Jackson songs: Catalogue includes most Beatles titles

Michael Marray
Wednesday 24 November 1993 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

THORN EMI has entered into a five-year agreement with a music publishing company owned by Michael Jackson, the embattled pop star currently in seclusion.

The deal, with ATV Music Publishing, will mean that EMI will help to market an extensive song catalogue that includes most of the Beatles tunes written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

The agreement will start next January. In common with other music publishing companies, ATV owns copyright to songs and earns royalties by licensing them for use in films and advertisements, as well as for public performance or radio play.

After his acquisition of the Beatles catalogue in the 1980s Michael Jackson came in for strong criticism from Paul McCartney, who did not want to see Beatles songs used in advertisements.

Under the agreement, EMI will advance dollars 30m to ATV Music next year and another dollars 40m over the following four years. EMI will then be able to earn revenues by exploiting the ATV catalogue, which also includes songs by Little Richard, Elvis Presley and UB40 in its collection of more than 4,000 song titles.

(Photograph omitted)

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in