Current Ownership Structure of the Michael Jackson Catalog
The Michael Jackson estate, administered by executors John Branca and John McClain, owns the majority of his music rights through Mijac Music, the songwriter entity Jackson co-founded. Mijac controls the publishing copyrights to most of his classic songs, while master recordings are split between the estate and Sony Music Entertainment, which acquired a 50 percent stake in the Sony/ATV joint venture that once held the publishing rights. The estate continues to earn royalties from streaming, licensing, and sync deals worldwide, with the catalog valued at over $2 billion in recent appraisals Forbes.
Ownership is structured so that the estate benefits from both composition and recording rights, maximizing control over how the music is used in films, commercials, and streaming platforms. The executors have consistently stated that the catalog will remain a long-term asset for the Jackson family, with no plans to sell the entirety of the rights despite earlier partial licensing deals SEC.
Key Deals and Financial Impact of the Catalog
In 2016, Sony completed its acquisition of the remaining 50 percent stake in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalog, which included the Michael Jackson share, creating the world's largest music publishing company. The estate retained a significant portion of the publishing income through Mijac, while Sony now administers global licensing and collects royalties on behalf of the catalog. This structure has generated hundreds of millions in cumulative revenue for the estate since the acquisition, with annual royalty inflows continuing to grow as streaming consumption rises Forbes.
The financial impact is further amplified by the estate's control over master recordings, which allows it to negotiate direct licensing agreements with platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. The catalog's valuation has been reinforced by its consistent placement among the most valuable music portfolios globally, with industry analysts ranking it as one of the top music assets in the entertainment sector SEC.
Management, Administration, and Future Outlook
Role of the Estate Executors and Mijac Music
John Branca and John McClain serve as co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, overseeing the catalog's licensing, royalty collection, and strategic partnerships. Mijac Music, the entity Jackson created with songwriting partners, remains the core copyright holder for his compositions, ensuring the estate retains creative and financial control over his legacy. The executors have pursued selective licensing deals while protecting the catalog from full sale, a strategy that has preserved long-term value for the Jackson family Forbes.