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Sony pays $600m for 50% stake in Michael Jackson’s catalogue

The biggest deal for a single artist’s work also includes rights to songs by Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles

Record label giant Sony Music has reportedly agreed to buy half of the singer’s back catalogue from his estate in the biggest-ever deal for a single artist’s work. The Sony deal will see the label buy a 50 per cent stake in Jackson’s recorded music and songwriting catalogues for about $600 million (£475 million), according to The New York Times. As well as his own hits — such as Bad, Beat It and Smooth Criminal — the deal includes rights to songs held by Mijac Music,

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