MovieChat Forums > Paul McCartney Discussion > Shameful how he lied about Michael Jacks...

Shameful how he lied about Michael Jackson buying the Beatles' catalog!


He made out that Michael went behind his back and bought the rights out from under him.

He knows the truth. Holmes à Court, the owner, wanted to sell them for 48 million in 1985. Considering it would be worth over a billion by the end of the century, he screwed up.

But he did "the right thing" and offered them to the Beatle's surviving members. They said no. Paul was like 'why would I pay money for something that should belong to me?'

So he lost out. Michael bought them.

So why was he leaving it out of the story that he turned down buying them? Why is he bitter at Michael for taking an opportunity?

reply

And he admits that, after recording a song with Michael, he advised him to go into publishing.

reply

McCartney said that publicly, but was it true? Or was he outbid by Jackson?
https://americansongwriter.com/the-story-behind-michael-jackson-buying-the-beatles-catalog-and-angering-friend-paul-mccartney/

The linked article also states that Paul received compensation:

"following a 2017 lawsuit in U.S. court, McCartney finally reached a settlement with Sony/ATV over copyright to the Beatles catalog under the US Copyright Act of 1976, which states that songwriters can reclaim copyright from music publishers 35 years after they gave them away.

While details were not made public, a lawyer for the Beatle informed a judge that the two sides “have resolved this matter by entering into a confidential settlement agreement.” "

I like what Taylor Swift did when she lost ownership to her old songs. She rerecorded them!
https://www.vox.com/culture/22278732/taylor-swift-re-recording-speak-now-enchanted-mine-master-rights-scooter-braun

reply

Well the owner in the 80s first offered them to Paul, before seeking other buyers. And Paul says this in your linked article "The trouble is I wrote those songs for nothing and buying them back at these phenomenal sums, I just can’t do it.”

So it sounds like an emotional reason for him to both not buy them and hold a grudge against Michael.

He also took offence at Michael using some of the songs for commercials, saying "we didn't write them as jingles."

reply

It sounds like bitter grapes after he was outbid. Paul could've pooled his money with John if he was still alive.

Billionaire problems!

reply