Katherine Jackson sought to uphold her son’s legacy.

In a landmark deal, Sony has purchased the entirety of Michael Jackson’s back catalog for a staggering $600 million. The transaction, which was a lengthy and complex process, was officially finalized on August 22 by the estate’s executors, John Branca and John McClain. Originally, reports suggested that Sony was only interested in acquiring half of Jackson’s music rights, but it has now been confirmed that the sale includes all of the recordings created by the King of Pop during his lifetime. While many people close to Jackson will benefit from the sale, his mother, Katherine, is not among them.

Katherine Jackson contended that the deal with Sony went against her son’s wishes. She made attempts to halt the agreement through legal means, but her efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. The court ruled that she had “forfeited” her argument by failing to present it to a lower probate court. Branca and McClain were able to proceed with the sale because it did not violate the terms of Michael Jackson’s will. The court emphasized that Jackson’s will gave his executors “broad powers of sale,” with no exception for the assets involved in this transaction.

Katherine Jackson Insists Michael’s Wishes Were Ignored

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by 2Cool2Blog (@2cool2bl0g)

The court also maintained that the estate was fully within its legal rights to pursue the deal with Sony according to a report on Billboard. It ruled that the executors had the authority to sell any estate assets they deemed advantageous, including those in the proposed transaction. Katherine Jackson was the last remaining family member opposed to the deal. Initially, Michael Jackson’s children, Blanket (also known as “Bigi”) and Paris, were against the sale as well. However, as the legal battle continued and expenses mounted, they became more open to negotiations.

In March 2024, Blanket released a statement urging his grandmother to stop using Michael Jackson’s estate to fund her legal efforts. He labeled Katherine’s actions as futile, stating, “Bigi has chosen not to waste his resources on an appeal.” Court documents further revealed that Katherine’s decision to challenge the court’s ruling was not in the best interest of Michael Jackson’s heirs. Despite ongoing debates about whether Michael Jackson would have agreed to the Sony deal, the reality is that the company now holds $600 million worth of his music.