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Michael Jackson's death has generated almost $80million in marketing, merchandising and film deals.
The administrators of his estate say interest in the singer's career has soared above expectation.
The biggest deal so far has been the $60 million agreement with Sony Pictures to produce a film based on the footage for what was supposed to be the 50-show run of his “This is it” concert at London's 02 arena. The administrators — lawyer John Branca and music executive John McClain — have also signed a $15 million merchandise agreement with Bravado International Group, a division of Universal Music Group.
They have a further $5 million deal with various companies to produce calendars, coins and school supplies and have recouped a similar sum being held by a financial adviser and other parties before Jackson's death on 25 June.
Two planned book deals could earn millions more. The estate is trying to rush out the merchandise to head off a flood of counterfeit memorabilia that is already entering the marketplace, including a shipment of Michael Jackson keyrings from Turkey.
The estate is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars but the singer left debts of about $435 million. Mr Branca said some of the funds raised so far will help clear those obligations.
* A poll to mark the 40th anniversary of Woodstock has named Michael Jackson as the most popular performer for Americans in their teens and twenties.
But the overall winners were the Beatles, ahead of acts including Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones. They were in the top four of every age group, and most popular in the 50 to 64 range.
The Stones and Coldplay made the top 20, but Led Zeppelin and the Who missed out.
Reader views (4)
it's an old rock'n'roll adage. ' dying is a damned good carrer move. mostly to the benefit of managers, agents and to some extent the grievings relatives estate.
lennon, hendrix, elvis, bolan have all made untold since their demise.
maybe the rumours are true ' they've all had plastic surgery and now live quietly in Ulan Bator.
mind you i'd swear i saw hendrix selling ice cream in
Scunthorpe.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 13/08/2009 18:56
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arn't people silly to spend money just to make his estate richer.
- John, austria, 13/08/2009 12:51
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In death he gets what he wanted in life...very sad situation. Question is would all this money have helped his addication...maybe he would have had the boost he longed for. RIP.
- Chetna, London, Hounslow, London, 13/08/2009 12:25
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This figure still won't clear the colossal debt he still has to his name, even though he is now deceased
- Keith Price, Luton England, 13/08/2009 11:46
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