Jackson Leaving Beatles Songs to McCartney in Will

Michael Jackson reportedly plans to end his longstanding feud with Paul McCartney by leaving him the Beatles' back catalog in his will. Jacko and Macca have been estranged since a falling out back in 1985, after Jackson beat out McCartney and Yoko Ono -- widow of John Lennon -- in a bidding war for the rights to 200 of Fab Four's legendary songs.

Sir Paul, 66, has long felt betrayed by Jackson, now 50, on principle. In 2006 McCartney said, "You know what doesn't feel very good, is going on tour and paying to sing all my songs. Every time I sing 'Hey Jude,' I've got to pay someone."

Previously, the pair collaborated on Jackson's 1982 'Thriller' extract 'The Girl is Mine,' and McCartney's 1983 single 'Say, Say, Say' from 'Pipes of Peace.'

U.K. newspaper the Daily Mirror quotes a Jackson insider as saying, "Michael told his lawyers he was sad he no longer talks to Sir Paul and said he wanted to make things right."

Just last month, Jackson denied rumors that he was suffering from a deadly lung condition after unauthorized biographer Ian Halperin claimed Jackson was battling emphysema, genetic illness Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD) and was also losing the vision in his left eye.

Artists React to Jackson's Passing

Michael Jacksons Famous Friends

25 Dec 1983, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA --- Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, who team up on duets, are seen in a recording studio. Jackson was 5 when the Beatles invaded America. He and McCartney also spend hours together watching cartoons. Both are collectors.

Bettmann / CORBIS

Beyonce presents the humanitarian award to Michael Jackson at the 2003 Radio Music Awards

M. Caulfield, WireImage

Michael Jackson and Britney Spears

Kevin Mazur Archive 1 / WireImage

Justin Timberlake & Michael Jackson during Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Celebration - Show at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Singers Madonna and Michael Jackson at the Academy Awards.

Time Life Pictures / DMI / Getty Images

Michael Jackson with backup singer Sheryl Crow 1992.

Mark Anderson , Retna

Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston

Ron Galella, Ltd. / WireImage

Stevie Wonder and singer Michael Jackson attending 28th Annual Grammy Awards on February 25, 1986 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

Ron Galella, Ltd. / WireImage

Posted by John D. Luerssen on Jan 6th 2009 6:15PM
Filed under: News, Holy Hell

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Comments (122)

Reader Comments(1 of 7)

Highest Ranked

rohrscheibcrohat 1-06-2009

its the least he can do im impressed

Neutral

pisceanperryat 1-07-2009

He does not own paul McCarthy anything. Paul was too cheap to out bid him and that falls on him.

Joanneat 1-08-2009

Unless Michael Jackson is planning on dying soon, it's an empty gesture. Paul will still be paying to sing his songs and at 16 years older than Jackson, he'll likely be paying for the rest of his life.

Michael? Haven't you earned enough off those songs all these years to give them back to Paul now?

bidbid316at 1-08-2009

pisceanperry... You wrote:

pisceanperry
at 1-07-2009He does not own paul McCarthy anything. Paul was too cheap to out bid him and that falls on him.

I don't want to rag on anybody but Paul was bidding for his own songs and Michael KNEW how much Paul was going to bid. Paul could have been dishonest with Michael about the amount. He could have decided not to discuss it at all. Have you ever tried to wait till the last minute to hold the bids down on ebay... and then bid too low? I have!!

In addition, the '60s were bad for songwriters. Many of those individuals did not own their own songs. When you're mega-rich and you have a chance to buy them back, it's only right. I'm a big Beatles fan and I like Michael, too. But, if I was Paul, Michael and I would be THROUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Beatles were special AND they knew it. They never wanted compilations of their songs and they never wanted to go "commercial." All you need is Luvs? Gimme a break.

Lastly, I think that people, in general, may not be taking into account the money to be earned nor any tax position on the related earnings. Michael Jackson is keeping himself afloat. Those songs, which were written mostly by Paul and John, are actually "priceless."

And wouldn't leaving them to Paul (and/or his heirs) leave the others and their heirs out? I don't know what Paul would have done with the rights if he had been successful in the initial purchase.

jimat 1-06-2009

Hmm, interesting. I would hope that Jackson was extending an olive branch, but unless he's really deathly ill, the sad fact is that McCartney is 16 years older and will be probably pass on long before Jackson does. I Jackson really wanted to play nice, he'd give those music rights back right now. And didn't I hear somewhere that Jackson had sold some of the songs off earlier?

Nikki Roseat 1-07-2009

true but pauls kids will get them I am sure and heather mills is young I am sure she will not allow them to be slighted

Heidiat 6-25-2009

Well, he's dead....

Lowest Ranked

lerwrghat 1-07-2009

whatz up there how are you doing were you at and the weather

brianb498at 1-07-2009

Paul McCartney will moonwalk over Mike's grave once he receives his copy right for HIS songs!

Hippieat 1-07-2009

i hope michael jackson dies now so that paul McCartney can sing hey jude without paying for it and so he will once again own the fab four and the beatles

Low Ranked

beg4mercyat 1-08-2009

you are such a fucking idiot

irunnycbabieat 6-29-2009

you happy retard?

Lisaat 7-04-2009

wow, now don't you feel stupid? Hippie huh..so much for peace and love.

High Ranked

jaezebelat 7-08-2009

I guess you got your wish, huh, asshole? By the way, since you're too stupid to know the difference, Paul was still allowed to perform the songs DESPITE that he claims he had to pay Michael - all he had to get permission to do is publish the lyrics. But I guess since the public, like you, is absolutely moronic when it comes to knowing about music publishing laws and rights, he could get away with it.

Fuck Paul McCartney and fuck you too.

Riverrat47at 1-07-2009

Good !!! Does this mean that the freak is dying??

Tat 7-01-2009

HMMM! Could be you stupid idiot.

keithian2at 1-07-2009

Am I Mistaken or did sir paul do something like this to the beatles back in the day?

pgoldnlvat 1-08-2009

He didn't "do" anything to the rest of the members of the Beatles. The band as a whole owned, and still owns, Apple Records that was formed in the 60's and that company owned the rights to all of the songs. Every member of the band owned equal parts of the company and the rights referred to the estates/heirs of those who have passed on. Michael Jackson is the one who supported Paul getting the rights back to all of his songs but when he found out how much money could be made off of the licensing fees, he went behind Paul's back and bid a higher amount so basically, Michael Jackson was and still is a piece of crap.