December 17, 2014
Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the global leader in music rights management, is proud to announce that the estate of global supernova Michael Jackson has renewed its agreement with BMI for representation of the public performances of his incomparable music catalogue. Jackson, whose career spanned more than four decades and generated estimated cumulative album sales in excess of 1 billion, continues to impact the entertainment industry ecosystem in film, television and music with his superb storytelling and timeless repertoire.
“We are pleased to announce our continued representation of Michael’s extraordinary and vast catalogue,” said BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill. “Since 1976, we’ve had the privilege of licensing his works and we’re honored to continue this relationship with his estate.”
Michael Jackson evoked raw and honest emotions with his voice, songs and performances. His innate musical talent, first identified in his youth and showcased in hit songs such as “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “Ben,” laid the framework for what would become an incomparable solo music career. Jackson’s hit albums were numerous and impactful, from Off The Wall to Invincible and including the biggest selling album of all time - the masterpiece Thriller, which has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide His list of accolades surpasses comparison: 13 GRAMMY Awards; induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame; 26 American Music Awards; and 21 BMI Pop Awards. Definitively, he is considered the greatest entertainer of all time. Posthumous projects highlighting Jackson’s genius include two albums, Michael and Xscape; the latter featured “Love Never Felt So Good,” a pop-R&B hit that has been named by numerous critics as one of the best recordings of 2014, further affirming Jackson’s continuing reign as the King of Pop.
In addition to the estate of Michael Jackson renewing with BMI this year, stellar songwriters P!nk, Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift have also chosen to continue their partnership with the Company. Moreover, BMI saw its membership swell in 2014 with the signings of breakout wordsmiths Sam Smith (PRS), Hozier (IMRO), Danielle Bradbury, Nico and Vinz, Tamar Braxton, St. Paul and The Broken Bones, Jhene Aiko, Brooke Eden and more. BMI now represents over 650,000 songwriters, composers and publishers.
Media Contacts
Jamil Walker – BMI
212-220-3143;
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