 |
|
Pop star Michael Jackson rehearses for
his planned shows in London at the Staples Center in Los Angeles,
California in this handout photo taken June 23, 2009.
(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, Aug. 6 -- Michael Jackson products could start
appearing on store shelves, cell phones, even in X-Box add-ons if a judge signs
off on a merchandising deal.
The current administrators of the singer's estate
have presented several proposed contracts to a probate judge for approval.
The agreements offer a taste of how the King of Pop
may be sold in the coming months and years.
Trading cards,
T-shirts, calendars, lighters, stuffed animals that play Jackson's music and
games are among the tangible items being considered.
So too are denim products and high-end clothing
lines, according to the filings in Los Angeles.
But Jackson seems destined to try to conquer the
digital domain too. Some of the possible products include cell phone screen
savers, X-Box themes, video games and digital tattoos for characters in games
such as "Second Life."
The proposed deals are between Jackson's estate,
concert promoter AEG Live and Bravado International Group Merchandising
Services. The contract calls for Bravado, which is Universal Music Group's
retailing arm, to receive global merchandise rights. AEG Live will retain rights
to sell certain merchandise related to Jackson's canceled London performances.
Despite a tainted legacy while he was alive, some
believe Jackson will beat Elvis Presley in annual merchandise sales. Presley's
estate reported US$55 million in revenue last year, US$14 million of which came
from retail sales.
A separate agreement is being pursued between the
estate's administrators and Columbia Pictures for a feature length movie based
on footage of Jackson's preparations for his 50 comeback concerts in London. The
studio paid US$60 million for the rights to the project, the contract filed in
Los Angeles Superior Court states.
Jackson's estate - which primarily benefits his
mother and three children - would receive 90 percent of the profits from the
film.
(Source:Shanghai
Daily/Agencies)
 |
|
Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine
Jackson speaks during a memorial service for music legend Michael Jackson
at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California July 7,
2009.(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
Lawyers announce agreement on custody
of Michael Jackson's children
LOS ANGELES, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Late pop star Michael
Jackson's mother Katharine would retain custody of his three children under an
agreement announced Thursday between the Jackson family and the singer's
ex-wife.
Under the deal, which will be presented to a Los Angeles
judge for approval on Monday, Debbie Rowe would have visitation rights with the
two children she had with Jackson, 12-year-old Prince Michael and 11-year-old
Paris. Full story
Hollywood studios bid for Michael
Jackson's rehearsal footage
LOS ANGELES, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Major Hollywood movie
studios found themselves in a frenzied bidding war over the weekend to acquire
film rights to late pop
AEG Live, the concert promoter behind Jackson's
planned 50-concert tour at London's O2 Arena, offered the rights to some 1,200
hours of rehearsal footage to all the major movie studios last week, according
to the Los Angeles Times. Full story
 |
|
A fan poses by the star of deceased pop
star Michael Jackson on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California July 14,
2009. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
