(Santa Monica, CA) – December 6, 2010 – John Branca, the lawyer in charge of Michael Jackson’s estate, engineered a deal to sell the music cataloguesthe pop star held most dear – the Beatles and the singer’s own Mijac catalogue – to the investment bank Goldman Sachs in 2003.
The deal never closed but is a key insight into the man who now rules Michael Jackson’s financial universe. Jackson has John Branca to thank for nearly every significant stroke in his career and financial affairs.
The revelation kicks off a five-part Wrap series investigatingthe entertainer’s estate as it prepares to release the pop star’s first posthumous album on December 14.
Other revelations in the series include:
How Branca won the Beatles catalogue
The hiring, firing and eventual rehiring of Branca only days before the pop star’s death
Branca’s final return as the co-executor of the Jackson estate
The series, written by award-winning journalist Johnnie Roberts, involves a months-long investigation into Jackson’s 30-year relationship with Branca. It also includes the surfacing of secret documents and dozens of interviews with individuals close to the Jackson estate, including a revealing interview with Branca himself.
“The Jackson series marks a major milestone for TheWrap and reinforces our commitment to investigative journalism that is powerful and thought provoking,” said Sharon Waxman, CEO and Founder of TheWrap. “We’re confident that the serialized format will provide a great user experience in the digital age.”
The timing of the series comes just days before the release of Jackson’s first posthumous album. In addition to uncovering the details behind Jackson’s complex relationship with Branca and the revelations surrounding the Beatles catalogue, the series brings readers up to speed on the current state of the Jackson estate and Branca’s role as a co-executor.
TheWrap.com, founded by award-winning journalist Sharon Waxman in 2009, has established itself as the leading voice in entertainment business news, reaching over 1 million unique visitors per month. Winner of the National Entertainment Journalism Award for news in 2009, TheWrap.com delivers high-profile newsbreaks, investigative stories, and authoritative analyses as a reliable and independent source for media and industry professionals.
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