By the mid-1980s, Michael Jackson had become one of the most powerful figures in the music industry. His commercial success gave him access to ventures beyond performing—and one of his most famous business moves was acquiring the ATV Music Publishing catalog in 1985.

This purchase, worth $47.5 million (equivalent to over $130 million today), gave Jackson control over nearly all of The Beatles’ songs, a decision that would forever change his relationship with former collaborator and friend Paul McCartney.

Ironically, it was McCartney who introduced Jackson to the world of music publishing during their time collaborating on hits like “Say, Say, Say” and “The Girl is Mine.” McCartney had suffered the painful loss of his publishing rights decades earlier and hoped to prevent others from facing similar experiences. But to his shock, Jackson used that advice to outbid him for the Beatles catalog.

Initially, McCartney tried to remain positive, trusting that the music would be handled better by a friend than a corporation. However, as Jackson licensed Beatles songs for commercials—like Nike’s 1987 “Revolution” ad—McCartney felt the art was being cheapened. He publicly criticized Jackson, expressing disappointment over the commercialization of the Beatles’ legacy. Jackson, in turn, cut communication, deepening the rift between them.

How Michael Jackson Outbid Paul McCartney for the Beatles Catalog

Despite several attempts by McCartney to negotiate higher royalties or reclaim his music, Jackson never responded to his letters. Their friendship, once filled with creative energy, gradually dissolved, and the two remained distant until Jackson’s death in 2009.

Speculation soon arose: had Jackson planned to return the Beatles songs to McCartney in his will? McCartney addressed these rumors directly, writing on his website, “Don’t believe everything you read, folks.” There was no such gift. Instead, after Jackson’s death, Sony gained full control of his share of the catalog by buying out the estate’s 50% stake in Sony/ATV in 2016 for $750 million. The Beatles catalog alone was by then valued at over $1 billion.

Still determined, McCartney took another route to reclaim what he’d lost. Under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1967, songwriters are allowed to reclaim their works 56 years after publication. In 2015, McCartney filed to reclaim rights to 32 Beatles songs. Though UK laws didn’t offer the same protection, McCartney eventually reached a private settlement with Sony in 2017. Details remain confidential, but the case was dismissed, and it’s believed he regained rights—at least in the U.S.—to songs co-written with John Lennon.

Paul McCartney's Tip to Michael Jackson Pays Off - The New York Times

But another hurdle remained: McCartney could only claim his 50% of the Lennon-McCartney songwriting team. Yoko Ono, representing the Lennon estate, had struck a separate deal with Sony in 2009, ensuring Lennon’s share wouldn’t revert until 2050—70 years after his death. So while McCartney may now own a portion of the catalog, Lennon’s half and other international rights likely remain with Sony.

Despite the complicated legal and emotional battle, Paul McCartney now seems at peace with the outcome. Whether or not he reclaimed every song worldwide, he has certainly secured a significant part of his musical legacy. For a man whose lyrics helped define a generation, finally owning his creations is a poetic end to a decades-long fight.