GAMBLE

Sony Spent $250M on Michael Jackson Rights Just Before ‘Leaving Neverland’: WSJ

Music sales could be hit by allegations in “Leaving Neverland.”

Sony Music Entertainment spent $250 million last year to hold the rights to distribute Michael Jackson’s recordings, The Wall Street Journal reports. The deal—which hands over distribution rights for seven years—is now being seen as a huge gamble following a shocking new documentary that accuses the late superstar of sexually abusing additional young boys. Leaving Neverland featured accounts from two men who say Jackson abused them as children—accusations the singer’s family strongly denies. New charges can’t be brought against Jackson, who died in 2009, but there could be an effect on sales of his music and merchandise. The Journal reports Jackson’s catalog sold more than 1.3 million album-equivalent units last year, which accounts for physical sales, track downloads, and streams. Sony declined to comment on the documentary. Jackson’s music has been with Sony since 1988—he’s been one of company’s biggest stars and the newly revealed distribution deal is expensive compared to similar music contracts.

‘LEAVING NEVERLAND’

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