Quincy Jones has sued Sony Music, Michael Jackson's estate over royalties

by **Admin** Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:11 pm

Anthony McCartney ‏@mccartneyAP 13m
Quincy Jones has sued Sony Music, Michael Jackson's estate over royalties: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (Updated story coming soon.)
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Quincy Jones sues Michael Jackson's estate
Associated Press By ANTHONY McCartney

10/25/13

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Quincy Jones sued Michael Jackson's estate on Friday claiming he is owed millions in royalties and production fees on some of the superstar's greatest hits.

Jones' lawsuit seeks at least $10 million from the singer's estate and Sony Music Entertainment, claiming the entities improperly re-edited songs to deprive him of royalties and production fees. The music has been used in the film "This Is It" and a pair of Cirque du Soleil shows based on the King of Pop's songs, the lawsuit states.

Jones also claims that he should have received a producer's credit on the music in "This Is It." His lawsuit seeks an accounting of the estate's profits from the works so that Jones can determine how much he is owed.

The producer worked with Jackson on three of his most popular solo albums, "Off the Wall," ''Thriller" and "Bad."

Jackson's estate wrote in a statement that it was saddened by Jones' lawsuit. "To the best of its knowledge, Mr. Jones has been appropriately compensated over approximately 35 years for his work with Michael," the statement said.

An after-hours message left at Sony Music's New York offices was not immediately returned.

Jackson's hits "Billie Jean," ''Thriller" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" are among the songs Jones claims were re-edited to deprive him of royalties and his producer's fee.

Jones' lawsuit states the producer's contracts called for him to have the first opportunity to re-edit or alter the songs, in part to protect his reputation.

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by **Admin** Tue Oct 29, 2013 5:42 pm

SHE’S THE LAW: Quincy Jones’ Lawsuit Against Michael Jackson’s Estate Explained
By Rashida Maples, Esq.

Oct 28, 2013

Quincy Jones Sues Estate of Michael Jackson, But Who Controls and Owns MJ’s Estate?

It was announced last week that legendary super producer Quincy Jones sued the estate of the late Michael Jackson seeking an award of $10 million dollars for owed royalties based upon claims of breach of contract and loss of credit. In the suit, Jones claims that both Sony and Michael Jackson Productions intentionally devised a scheme to cut him out of royalties by remixing and editing songs he originally produced from the “Off The Wall”, “Thriller” and “Bad” albums to be used in the “This Is It” movie, “Cirque du Soleil” show and also the 25th Anniversary of the “Bad” album.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, under the contracts, Jones should have been given first opportunity to re-edit and remix any of the master recordings and that he was entitled to producer credit for the master recordings, as well as additional compensation if the masters were remixed.

What Does This Mean, and Exactly who controls and owns what from MJ’s estate?:

Michael Jackson was reportedly the world’s highest earning deceased celebrity for the last 12 months, bringing in $160 million this year alone. According to the the pop star’s last will and testament, which was allegedly executed on July 7, 2002, the current co-executors of his estate are John Branca (Jackson’s lawyer of 20 years), John McClain (a longtime friend of the Jackson family and music executive) and Barry Siegel (an accountant, who later resigned as co-executor in 2003). An executor of an estate handles the allocation of assets and the payment of taxes, judgments and debts.

Based upon the last will, MJ’s assets and interests were to be placed in a trust known as Michael Jackson Family Trust, which stipulates a distribution of assets as such: 20 percent to charity, and the remainder to be split between a lifetime trust for Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, and a trust for his children to be split evenly. Upon his mother’s death, the remaining funds (if any) would go to his children.

It has been reported that four years from the date of his death, MJ’s estate had made well over $600 million dollars, but owed debts totaling more than $500 million. The executors have allegedly disbursed a total of $30 million to Michael’s mother for herself and as guardian of the children (prior to joint custody later being awarded to one of Michael’s nephews last year) and have held on to the remainder of MJ’s assets to settle debts, pay taxes, etc.

With that said, any claims against Michael’s estate (i.e. – claims of past child abuse, IRS claims for back taxes and now this suit from Quincy Jones) will be handled by the executors and the lawyer for the estate, Howard Weitzman. In a statement released by Weitzman after the filing of the suit, he stated, ”The state of Michael Jackson was saddened to learn that Quincy Jones has filed a lawsuit seeking money from Michael’s estate. To the best of our knowledge, Mr. Jones has been appropriately compensated over approximately 35 years for his work with Michael.”

How Does This Affect You? :

Everyone with assets, such as a house, car, life insurance, pensions, bank accounts, etc., should be encouraged to have a last will and testament in place to dictate who will be the executor of your will and assets within your estate. Additionally, all bequests will be properly allocated according to your wishes, and even certain custody issues involving minors may be ironed out if a properly drafted and executed will is located and admitted for probate. Probate Courts in each state handle the administration and allocation of assets and collection of debts once a person passes away and a will is admitted.

If someone passes away without a will in place, they are deemed to have died “intestate” (i.e. – without a will). Each state dictates subjectively in their statutes how assets will be allocated if you die “intestate” depending on if you are married, have children or have no living heirs.

Even after death, certain creditors and even the tax man may show up to seek payment from your executors on your behalf. A will can assist all family members during this grief stricken time to have order in how you desired to part with your worldly possessions. Just because a person has passed away, that does not mean all of their creditors, past and present, just go away. As Michael Jackson earned a whopping $160 million dollars just last year, you can most certainly believe that those who had past or present issues with the King of Pop will still show up to collect.

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