Sony Music Group now owns a major share of Michael Jackson’s music, but the Michael Jackson estate (via the Michael Jackson Family Trust) still owns the other half and remains a key decision‑maker over his catalog.

Who owns Michael Jackson’s music now?

  • In 2024, the Michael Jackson estate agreed to sell about 50% of Jackson’s publishing and recorded‑music catalog to Sony Music in a blockbuster deal reportedly worth around 600–750 million dollars , valuing the rights at over 1.2–1.5 billion dollars.
  • The other roughly 50% is still owned by the Michael Jackson estate, whose beneficiaries are his children through the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

So when people ask “who owns Michael Jackson’s music?” the current answer is: it is co‑owned by Sony Music Group and the Michael Jackson estate, with Sony controlling a large commercial stake but not the entire catalog.

Quick Scoop: how the deal works

  • Sony’s stake: Sony now controls about half of the publishing rights and recorded‑music masters for Michael Jackson’s solo work, plus certain related assets, giving it huge power over licensing, reissues, and long‑term exploitation.
  • Estate’s stake: The estate retains the remaining share, meaning Jackson’s heirs still benefit from ongoing royalties and have significant say over his legacy and brand.
  • Legal green light: A California appeals court in 2024 overruled objections from Jackson’s mother, Katherine Jackson, clearing the estate to complete the sale to Sony.

In forum discussions, fans often frame this as “Sony finally getting Michael’s catalog,” but technically it is a partial sale , not a total handover, and the estate still has substantial control and income.

Mini timeline: from ownership to co‑ownership

  1. 1980s – Jackson buys ATV Music, including many Beatles songs, making him one of the most powerful music‑rights owners in pop.
  1. 1990s – ATV merges with Sony’s publishing to form Sony/ATV, co‑owned 50/50 by Jackson and Sony.
  1. 2016 – After Jackson’s death, Sony buys the estate’s stake in Sony/ATV for roughly 750 million dollars, taking full control of that joint catalog.
  1. 2024–2025 – The estate sells about half of Michael Jackson’s own catalog (publishing + masters) to Sony in a deal reported at around 600–750 million dollars, with a total catalog valuation above 1.2 billion dollars.

This arc is why online discussions often say Jackson went from owning massive chunks of the industry to having his own work become one of the most valuable catalogs others now partly own.

Different angles fans discuss

  • Business angle:
    • Some see the sale as smart estate planning: cashing out part of the catalog at a market peak while still keeping a big slice for the heirs.
* Others argue the catalog is an evergreen money machine and should never have been sold at all.
  • Legacy angle:
    • Supporters worry about how a corporate co‑owner might use the music in ads, films, or products that Michael Jackson himself might not have approved.
* On the flip side, better funding and global marketing from a giant like Sony can keep his music prominent for new generations.
  • Fan‑forum angle:
    • Forums and Reddit threads often mix hard facts with speculation, conspiracy theories, and emotional reactions, especially around Sony’s long and sometimes contentious history with Jackson during his lifetime.

What this means going forward

  • Expect more reissues, documentaries, biopics, and licensing deals , because large catalog buyers like Sony typically push to maximize long‑term revenue.
  • The estate’s continuing stake means Jackson’s family (through the trust) will likely keep earning and still has leverage over big strategic decisions, even if day‑to‑day exploitation is heavily driven by Sony’s commercial interests.
  • As of the mid‑2020s, the situation is not “Sony owns everything,” but rather a high‑dollar partnership in which Sony paid hundreds of millions for roughly half of one of the most valuable music catalogs in history.

TL;DR: Michael Jackson’s music is now a shared asset: Sony Music Group owns about half, while the Michael Jackson estate, via his family trust, still owns the other half and remains deeply involved in managing his legacy.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.