Sony BMG seeks Michael Jackson’s backing for move to sign songwriters

Sony BMG seeks Michael Jackson’s backing for move to sign songwriters
Dan Sabbagh, Media Editor

Sony is in talks with Michael Jackson to renegotiate the terms of their music publishing joint-venture, which would allow Sony BMG, the sister company, to sign songwriters for the first time.

A clause in the existing agreement between the Thriller singer and the Japanese electronic giant prevents Sony backing a music publisher to rival their Sony/ATV venture, which has the copyrights to all 252 Beatles songs in its catalogue.