News

Michael Jackson Royalties up 70% In The Past 12 Months

• 24th Jun 2010

THE estate of Michael Jackson has been raking in profits from the grave as the popularity of his music hits new heights, it was announced today.

PRS for Music which collects royalties on behalf of song writers revealed on the eve of the anniversary of his death that the use of his music is up SEVENTY per cent in the year after his death compared to the year before.
The news follows recent reports that his estate is set to bring in $1billion in the year since he died. Last year, PRS for Music correctly predicted that the Pop icon’s death would lead to a phenomenal increase in royalty earnings from music sales and radio & television airplay both in the UK and internationally.

Record sales soared as soon as news of Michael's death was announced on June 25 last year. More than 415,000 albums were sold in the first four days in America alone – and 2.3million songs were downloaded across the world.

Jackson wrote many of the 100 songs he recorded including Jam, Billy Jean, Bad, Smooth Criminal, Black or White and They Just Don’t Care About Us. Since his death, Man in the Mirror royalties have increased by an incredible 1039% and Jam 1037% illustrating just how much usage has soared.

His estate, run by two US lawyers, has recently signed the most lucrative recording contract ever – a $250million deal with Sony for continuing rights to his music and further unreleased songs.

In addition, a $200million contract with Cirque du Soleil to create a Michael Jackson show in Las Vegas, Jackson merchandise, profits from The Beatles songwriting catalogue, the Thriller musical and the This Is It film released after his death have all helped raise the $1billion.

Top 20 Most Popular Tracks

Rank Song title % usage increase in past 12 months
1 Man in the Mirror 1039%
2 Jam 1037%
3 They Don’t Care About Us 874%
4 You are Not Alone 718%
5 Human Nature 483%
6 Leave me alone 402%
7 Another part of me 370%
8 Liberian Girl 321%
9 Remember the Time 261%
10 Smooth Criminal 254%
11 Thriller 243%
12 Earth Song 211%
13 Bad 140%
14 Dirty Diana 136%
15 Heal the World 129%
16 Black or White 112%
17 The Way You Make Me Feel 99%
18 You Rock My World 98%
19 Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough 92%
20 Rock with You 81%

Source: PRS for Music

Interestingly, Billie Jean does not appear on the chart (up just 42%) but the track was the most played song pre- Michael Jackson’s death (double that of Thriller) illustrating a broadening in the use of his repertoire than when he was alive.

The PRS for Music findings also looked at the sources of the increase which found that TV showed the biggest increase at 118%, with online consumption at 72%. The ‘This is It’ film released last year boosted TV figures together with the help of the X Factor contestants who released ‘You are Not Alone’ as their charity single at the end of last year.

Rank Category % Usage Increase
1 TV 118
2 Online 72
3 Public Performances 61
4 Radio 33

Source: PRS for Music

PRS Chairman Ellis Rich said: ‘These figures are a tribute and a testament to the lasting iconic quality of the songs Michael recorded, many of which he wrote or co-wrote and will no doubt ensure he will go down in history as one of the greatest artists of all time. It’s fantastic that we can continue to listen and enjoy his music, and great news for the many song-writers who worked with him.’