Michael Jackson, the Beatles...and Apple

[Black&Tan]

Just heard on BBC2 that MJ has debts of 185 thousand pounds and the current speculation is he may have to sell the rights to the Beatles catalog.

Wouldn't it be ironic if Apple bought the rights?? That would end the legal wrangling with Apple records....

[skunk]

Wouldn't it be ironic if Apple bought the rights?? That would end the legal wrangling with Apple records....They wouldn't be buying the rights to use the Apple trademark, though.

[MacNut]

When Wacko Jacko goes to jail then will he have to give up the rights to the collection.

[Ugg]

Just heard on BBC2 that MJ has debts of 185 thousand pounds and the current speculation is he may have to sell the rights to the Beatles catalog.

Wouldn't it be ironic if Apple bought the rights?? That would end the legal wrangling with Apple records....

I wonder what the catalog is worth? Yeah, that would be a slam dunk in regards to the Apple Corps suit and would sit well with Apple's foray into Music.

[MacNut]

Considering that it includes all the master tapes I would assume its worth quite a lot. Now I believe that Paul McCarthy owns the rights to the Lyrics so Apple would still need his approval to put the stuff on iTunes.

[DavidLeblond]

Would that mean that we'd be able to download Beatles on iTunes? :rolleyes:

[Doctor Q]

If Jackson goes to jail, he wouldn't be around to spend his money on luxuries, won't be paying personal bodyguards to be around him at all times, and he'll still have royalty income. So perhaps he'll be able to pay to keep Neverland running and not have to sell his holdings after all.

[Guitarius]

I think McCartney should get them back. Maybe share it with Ringo. Like it should have been.

[skunk]

Considering that it includes all the master tapes I would assume its worth quite a lot.It doesn't.

[Nickygoat]

They wouldn't be buying the rights to use the Apple trademark, though.
Actually this reminds me of a post I read in another forum 18 months ago. This was before the MJ trial.
Apple buys the rights to The Beatles songs. They use this to either beat the remaining Beatles over the head in any court dispute(you can stop us selling music but we can stop you making any money), and reform Apple Records as an active record label. The advantages? No more legal suits by Apple Corp. Apple Comp can start selling exclusive records by new artists through iTMS on their own terms. The beauty is that Apple can effectively bypass the RIAA and charge their own rates on music, and the artists get plenty of exposure on iTMS.

[Nickygoat]

If Jackson goes to jail, he wouldn't be around to spend his money on luxuries, won't be paying personal bodyguards to be around him at all times, and he'll still have royalty income. So perhaps he'll be able to pay to keep Neverland running and not have to sell his holdings after all.
But will his income, as a convicted paedophile, be enough to keep Neverland running? Who's going to buy his records if he is guilty?
OT that's a weird (and slightly dodgy) avatar you've got ATM ;)

[zap2]

I think McCartney should get them back. Maybe share it with Ringo. Like it should have been.


ya they should

Paul and RIngo have a pick ems , they go through all the song and pcik the ones the want the rights to

[Doctor Q]

Who's going to buy his records if he is guilty?The same dozen people who have been buying them lately.

[wordmunger]

His debts are just a *bit* more than 850,000 pounds. Try $270 million! Yikes!

I've read his interest in the songs is worth $500 million.