Join Our Community

Take advantage of our member benefits when you sign up | log-in

Related Sections: Business A&E Business - Market Business - National A&E - Celebrity A&E - Music

Web Search powered by YAHOO!

Toolsview all

In death, Jackson remains a moneymaking machine

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 27, 2009

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson spent the last years of his life buried in debt. But the King of Pop’s death is likely to yield a financial bonanza more lucrative than any comeback tour ever could, as fans snap up his music and memorabilia and perhaps one day get the chance to tour his Neverland home.

More Info

Caution urged when dealing in Michael Jackson collectibles

Michael Jackson’s death has triggered a spike in the market for collectibles linked to the pop star. Much of it is being sold on eBay and other online commerce sites. But be careful — there may be some shady operators out there who may be pitching items that aren’t authentic or properly licensed. Here’s a few tips from the Better Business Bureau and dealers in the memorabilia industry:

• HOW UNIQUE? Unless an item is truly rare, its market value may be minimal. Research the cost of comparable items on the market before agreeing to a price.

• CONFIRM AUTHENTICITY: Autographs can be verified by a third party, including memorabilia dealers who are members of the nonprofit Universal Autograph Collectors Club. For other items, the collector should feel free to ask questions about the item, including how the seller came to own it. If the seller can’t answer simple questions, then walk away.

• PAY WITH PLASTIC: Consumers should always buy with a credit card if they’re shopping online. If the seller turns out to be fraudulent, then the consumer can dispute the charge with the credit card company, and may be eligible for reimbursement.

• BUY FROM REPUTABLE SELLERS: When shopping online, collectors should look for the Better Business Bureau’s seal on Web sites and click on the seal to confirm its legitimacy. If there isn’t a BBB seal on the site, check a company out at www.bbb.org.

• READ CAREFULLY: Don’t be fooled by empty advertising claims. Just because the seller claims a commemorative item is a limited edition doesn’t mean that there weren’t millions made. If it’s being widely advertised, it’s probably too common to actually gain much value over the years.

• WANNA SELL? THINK TWICE: Remember that the value an item holds for you might far outweigh the price you can get for it on the resale market.

"It is all very personal,” said Martin Brochstein, senior vice president at the New York-based Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association. "If you are looking at something as an investment, my advice would be to wait until the emotion dies down. If you’re looking for personal satisfaction, that is an evaluation that everybody has to make for themselves, and what it means to them.”

FROM WIRE REPORTS

NewsOK Related Articles

Medical care is focus in Jackson’s death
06/27/2009 LOS ANGELES — Police investigating Michael Jackson’s death looked into his medical treatment Friday, seeking to interview one of the pop...

"Quite frankly, he may be worth more dead than alive,” said Jerry Reisman, general counsel for the Hit Factory, a recording studio where Jackson produced his best-selling album "Thriller.”

Jackson’s death at age 50 leaves a multitude of questions about a financial empire that included his own music, as well a 50 percent stake in a library that held the rights to songs by the Beatles. But Jackson reportedly had $400 million in debts, and it isn’t known how his estate will be divided and who the beneficiaries will be.

This much is clear: Jackson’s heirs, music labels and opportunists will probably be mining his legacy for decades to come.

In that way, his death may parallel that of the music industry’s original King — Elvis Presley, who died in 1977 at age 42.

Like Jackson, Presley hadn’t had a hit album in years. At the end of his life, he was mostly relying on royalties from his past hits and doing shows in Las Vegas. But in death he became a moneymaking phenomenon.

Presley’s estate was valued at just $4.9 million at the time of his death. In 2005, a company run by media entrepreneur Robert F.X. Sillerman paid $100 million for 85 percent of the estate and a 90-year lease on his Memphis mansion, Graceland.

By some estimates, Jackson’s estate could be worth more than $1 billion. Besides the master recordings of his own music, Jackson owned half of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, a jewel estimated to be worth $2 billion by itself. The 750,000-song catalog includes music by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Lady Gaga and the Jonas Brothers.

Debts come first

Creditors will get first crack at the estate.

"I think the first question is, `Is there anything left after you pay off the debts?’” said Robert Rasmussen, the dean of law at the University of Southern California.

Jackson might have shielded some of his estate from creditors and ensured that his children were taken care of by placing a life insurance policy and other assets in an irrevocable trust, said Steve Hartnett, associate director of education for the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

The pop star left behind three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7. The elder children were born to ex-wife Deborah Rowe, while the youngest is his biological son, born to a surrogate mother.

Other potential beneficiaries include Jackson’s parents, his five brothers, three sisters and a long list of nieces and nephews. His children’s nanny was believed to be close to Jackson.

The contents of Jackson’s will have not been released. Typically, a will becomes public within about 30 days of a person’s death.