Paul McCartney Plans to Buy Back His Songs from Michael Jackson’s Estate

Sir Paul McCartney is set to win back the rights to The Beatles songs.

McCartney lost ownership of the publishing rights to the songs he co-wrote with John Lennon when Michael Jackson outbid him in 1985.  He's been pissed about that for decades, but copyright laws will soon allow him to buy back his music.

Sir Paul has complained at having to pay the Jackson estate royalties every time he performs a Beatles song: "The annoying thing is I have to pay to play some of my own songs. Each time I want to sing Hey Jude I have to pay!"

While it is unknown how much the back catalog would be worth nowadays, in 2005, Sony paid Jackson $95 million for 50 per cent of the rights.

-Spencer

 

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