Michael Jackson
Nowadays, everyone is familiar with Taylor Swift's battle to reclaim the rights to her songs, but before her, many artists have had to go through the same struggle to gain ownership of their own work.
Decades ago, Paul McCartney faced those challenges with his share of The Beatles' songs, and while this year marks a big win for the former Beatle, the sad reality remains that he has yet to regain his rights to the songs with which he changed the music world. To make matters worse, it was a good friend of his, who he had supported in his beginnings, that stole his catalog from under him.
Michael Jackson is a huge star in his own right, but a lot of people might not know that, before he really blew up, he asked McCartney for advice. Among the different tips he gave him, McCartney advised him on how to get into the song publishing business. Jackson told him then that he would buy McCartney's songs, to which the Beatle laughed. But it turned out not to be a joke after all.
Paul McCartney Advised Michael Jackson on Song Publishing In the early '70s, long before he released the huge hits that would catapult him into stardom, Michael Jackson met Paul McCartney, one of his heroes. The two of them would go on to have a long and fruitful friendship and partnership before it all came crashing down after what McCartney saw as an unforgivable betrayal. When they first met, McCartney explained, Jackson asked him if he had any advice.
The Beatle, who had years of experience in the music business, gave him three pieces of advice: he said he should make provocative music videos, told him to secure a really good manager, because"it's all gonna be coming in, and it could all go out," and also advised him to get into song publishing, as it was a lucrative business. At this point, McCartney recalled Jackson saying,"I'm gonna buy yours.
" The Beatle laughed at that, assuming it was a joke, but sure enough, as soon as there was a bidding war for the early Beatles catalog, his friend outbid him. RockQuiz Classic Rock · Personality · 10 Questions Classic Rock Personality Quiz Who's Your Perfect Classic Rock Band? A Personality Quiz · 10 Questions Five legendary bands. One perfect match.
Answer 10 questions about your personality, attitude, and taste to find out which classic rock icon you truly belong with. Are you raw power, rolling swagger, operatic drama, thunderous riffs, or timeless melody? ⚡AC/DC 👅Rolling Stones 🤘Metallica 👑Queen 🎸The Beatles Begin Quiz → 01 / 10 Energy 01 How do you walk into a room? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
ALike a freight train — loud, fast, and everyone knows I've arrived. BWith a slow, cool swagger — I take my time and own every step. CHead down, focused — I'm here for a purpose and small talk isn't it. DWith total confidence and a flair for the dramatic — all eyes on me.
EWarmly and curiously — genuinely excited to see what and who is here. Next Question → 02 / 10 The Weekend 02 What does your ideal Friday night look like? ALoud bar, cold beer, cranked jukebox — the louder the better. BA smoky club, good company, and doing whatever feels right in the moment.
CIntense concert or staying in with headphones — nothing in between. DSomething theatrical — a show, a dinner party, an experience worth remembering. EHanging with close friends, maybe making music, keeping it relaxed and genuine.
Next Question → 03 / 10 Complexity 03 What's your philosophy on keeping things simple vs. complex? ASimple is king. A great riff repeated perfectly beats any amount of cleverness. BKeep it loose and bluesy — the groove matters more than technical perfection.
CGo deep and dark — I want layers, tension, and something that hits hard. DWhy not both? Elaborate arrangements and hook-driven anthems can coexist. ECraft every detail — a perfect melody is the result of countless small choices.
Next Question → 04 / 10 Style 04 How would your friends describe your personal style? ANo-frills, no-nonsense — jeans, a t-shirt, and ready to go. BEffortlessly cool — slightly dishevelled in a way that somehow always works. CDark and deliberate — black is a lifestyle, not just a colour.
DBold and expressive — fashion is a form of performance for me. EClean and classic — timeless over trendy, always put-together.
Next Question → 05 / 10 Legacy 05 How do you want to be remembered? AAs someone who never let the energy drop — relentless, loud, and alive. BAs someone who lived fully and on my own terms, unapologetically. CAs someone who was brutally honest and made music that meant something real.
DAs someone who transcended genres, boundaries, and expectations entirely. EAs someone who changed the world — and left it genuinely better than I found it.
Next Question → 06 / 10 Crowd 06 What kind of crowd do you want around you? APeople who are there to have a blast — no pretension, just pure fun and noise. BA mix of rebels and free spirits who don't take themselves too seriously. CA loyal, passionate crew who are all in — intensity over numbers every time.
DEveryone — I want to unite people who wouldn't normally be in the same room. EPeople who appreciate craft and feel genuinely connected by the music.
Next Question → 07 / 10 Songwriting 07 If you were writing a song, what would it be about? AHaving a good time, turning it up, and not overthinking it. BStreet life, desire, and the rawness of being human. CAnger, grief, war, or the darker side of the world — music as a weapon.
DSomething epic and emotional — love, loss, triumph, or pure fantasy. ESomething personal and universal at once — a feeling everyone can recognise.
Next Question → 08 / 10 Longevity 08 What's your secret to staying relevant over time? ANever change the formula — if it works, it works. Consistency is everything. BStay hungry, stay dangerous, and always keep a bit of that rebellious edge.
CEarn respect through dedication — the work and the live show speak for themselves. DReinvent constantly — never let anyone put you in a box or predict your next move. EWrite songs so good they can't be ignored, in any decade, in any context.
Next Question → 09 / 10 Stage Presence 09 You're playing to 80,000 people. What does your performance look like? AA wall of sound and sweat — pure, unfiltered energy from first note to last. BLoose, cool, and dangerous — every song feels like it might fall apart but never does.
CBrutal precision — tight, powerful, and leaving no one unmoved. DA full spectacle — lights, costumes, vocal acrobatics, and total theatrical command. EWarm, joyful, and tight — the crowd singing every word back at you.
Next Question → 10 / 10 The Essence 10 Pick the word that best sums up your relationship with rock music. This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully. ARaw — stripped back, high-voltage, no frills. BRolling — fluid, dangerous, built on blues and attitude.
CHeavy — powerful, honest, uncompromising. DMajestic — theatrical, boundary-defying, unforgettable. ETimeless — melodic, human, built to last forever. See My Result → Your Result Your Perfect Band Is Revealed Based on your personality, energy, and taste, the classic rock band that matches your soul is… Your Band ⚡ AC/DC You are pure, undiluted rock energy.
You don't need tricks, trends, or theatrical gimmicks — you have something more powerful: a riff that hits like a thunderbolt and an attitude that never wavers. Like AC/DC, you understand that simplicity executed with absolute conviction is its own form of genius. You're the person in the room who doesn't overthink it, doesn't pretend, and never turns the volume down. The highway to hell is a state of mind — and you've been on it since day one.
Your Band 👅 The Rolling Stones You've got swagger that can't be taught. Rooted in the blues and soaked in street-level attitude, you move through life with a loose, dangerous elegance that draws people in without ever trying too hard. Like the Stones, you've seen it all, done most of it, and somehow look better for it. You're not chasing perfection — you're chasing truth, groove, and that electric moment when everything clicks.
Can't always get what you want? You tend to get it anyway. Your Band 🤘 Metallica You go hard or you go home — and you almost always go hard. Intense, dedicated, and fiercely loyal to what you believe in, you don't do anything halfway.
Like Metallica, your passion runs deeper than most people's will ever go, and when you care about something, it shows in every detail. You're drawn to darkness not because you're cynical, but because you're honest — and honest people know the world isn't always pretty. Enter Sandman. Nothing else matters.
That's your philosophy. Your Band 👑 Queen You are magnificent, and you know it — not from arrogance, but from an unshakeable sense of self that has never needed anyone's permission. Like Queen, you defy every category people try to place you in. You blend the epic with the intimate, the operatic with the anthemic, the serious with the playful.
You live boldly, love fiercely, and perform every aspect of your life as though the whole world is watching. Because sometimes it is. We are the champions — and so are you. Your Band 🎸 The Beatles You have the rarest of gifts: the ability to make something that feels both deeply personal and universally human.
Like The Beatles, you're a natural connector — someone whose warmth, curiosity, and creative instincts draw people together across every divide. You believe in melody, in craftsmanship, and in the quiet power of a song that says exactly what someone needed to hear. You've changed the people around you just by being who you are. All you need is love — and you give it generously.
↩ Retake Quiz Who's Your Perfect Classic Rock Band? RockQuiz Classic Rock · Personality · 10 Questions Classic Rock Personality QuizWho's Your PerfectClassic Rock Band? A Personality Quiz · 10 QuestionsFive legendary bands. One perfect match.
Answer 10 questions about your personality, attitude, and taste to find out which classic rock icon you truly belong with. Are you raw power, rolling swagger, operatic drama, thunderous riffs, or timeless melody? ⚡AC/DC 👅Rolling Stones 🤘Metallica 👑Queen 🎸The Beatles Begin Quiz → 01 / 10Energy 01 How do you walk into a room? Choose the answer that feels most like you.
ALike a freight train — loud, fast, and everyone knows I've arrived. BWith a slow, cool swagger — I take my time and own every step. CHead down, focused — I'm here for a purpose and small talk isn't it. DWith total confidence and a flair for the dramatic — all eyes on me.
EWarmly and curiously — genuinely excited to see what and who is here. Next Question → 02 / 10The Weekend 02 What does your ideal Friday night look like? ALoud bar, cold beer, cranked jukebox — the louder the better. BA smoky club, good company, and doing whatever feels right in the moment.
CIntense concert or staying in with headphones — nothing in between. DSomething theatrical — a show, a dinner party, an experience worth remembering. EHanging with close friends, maybe making music, keeping it relaxed and genuine.
Next Question → 03 / 10Complexity 03 What's your philosophy on keeping things simple vs. complex? ASimple is king. A great riff repeated perfectly beats any amount of cleverness. BKeep it loose and bluesy — the groove matters more than technical perfection.
CGo deep and dark — I want layers, tension, and something that hits hard. DWhy not both? Elaborate arrangements and hook-driven anthems can coexist. ECraft every detail — a perfect melody is the result of countless small choices.
Next Question → 04 / 10Style 04 How would your friends describe your personal style? ANo-frills, no-nonsense — jeans, a t-shirt, and ready to go. BEffortlessly cool — slightly dishevelled in a way that somehow always works. CDark and deliberate — black is a lifestyle, not just a colour.
DBold and expressive — fashion is a form of performance for me. EClean and classic — timeless over trendy, always put-together.
Next Question → 05 / 10Legacy 05 How do you want to be remembered? AAs someone who never let the energy drop — relentless, loud, and alive. BAs someone who lived fully and on my own terms, unapologetically. CAs someone who was brutally honest and made music that meant something real.
DAs someone who transcended genres, boundaries, and expectations entirely. EAs someone who changed the world — and left it genuinely better than I found it.
Next Question → 06 / 10Crowd 06 What kind of crowd do you want around you? APeople who are there to have a blast — no pretension, just pure fun and noise. BA mix of rebels and free spirits who don't take themselves too seriously. CA loyal, passionate crew who are all in — intensity over numbers every time.
DEveryone — I want to unite people who wouldn't normally be in the same room. EPeople who appreciate craft and feel genuinely connected by the music.
Next Question → 07 / 10Songwriting 07 If you were writing a song, what would it be about? AHaving a good time, turning it up, and not overthinking it. BStreet life, desire, and the rawness of being human. CAnger, grief, war, or the darker side of the world — music as a weapon.
DSomething epic and emotional — love, loss, triumph, or pure fantasy. ESomething personal and universal at once — a feeling everyone can recognise.
Next Question → 08 / 10Longevity 08 What's your secret to staying relevant over time? ANever change the formula — if it works, it works. Consistency is everything. BStay hungry, stay dangerous, and always keep a bit of that rebellious edge.
CEarn respect through dedication — the work and the live show speak for themselves. DReinvent constantly — never let anyone put you in a box or predict your next move. EWrite songs so good they can't be ignored, in any decade, in any context.
Next Question → 09 / 10Stage Presence 09 You're playing to 80,000 people. What does your performance look like? AA wall of sound and sweat — pure, unfiltered energy from first note to last. BLoose, cool, and dangerous — every song feels like it might fall apart but never does.
CBrutal precision — tight, powerful, and leaving no one unmoved. DA full spectacle — lights, costumes, vocal acrobatics, and total theatrical command. EWarm, joyful, and tight — the crowd singing every word back at you.
Next Question → 10 / 10The Essence 10 Pick the word that best sums up your relationship with rock music. This is your tiebreaker — choose carefully. ARaw — stripped back, high-voltage, no frills. BRolling — fluid, dangerous, built on blues and attitude.
CHeavy — powerful, honest, uncompromising. DMajestic — theatrical, boundary-defying, unforgettable. ETimeless — melodic, human, built to last forever. See My Result → Your ResultYour Perfect Band Is Revealed Based on your personality, energy, and taste, the classic rock band that matches your soul is… Your Band ⚡ AC/DC You are pure, undiluted rock energy.
You don't need tricks, trends, or theatrical gimmicks — you have something more powerful: a riff that hits like a thunderbolt and an attitude that never wavers. Like AC/DC, you understand that simplicity executed with absolute conviction is its own form of genius. You're the person in the room who doesn't overthink it, doesn't pretend, and never turns the volume down. The highway to hell is a state of mind — and you've been on it since day one.
Your Band 👅 The Rolling Stones You've got swagger that can't be taught. Rooted in the blues and soaked in street-level attitude, you move through life with a loose, dangerous elegance that draws people in without ever trying too hard. Like the Stones, you've seen it all, done most of it, and somehow look better for it. You're not chasing perfection — you're chasing truth, groove, and that electric moment when everything clicks.
Can't always get what you want? You tend to get it anyway. Your Band 🤘 Metallica You go hard or you go home — and you almost always go hard. Intense, dedicated, and fiercely loyal to what you believe in, you don't do anything halfway.
Like Metallica, your passion runs deeper than most people's will ever go, and when you care about something, it shows in every detail. You're drawn to darkness not because you're cynical, but because you're honest — and honest people know the world isn't always pretty. Enter Sandman. Nothing else matters.
That's your philosophy. Your Band 👑 Queen You are magnificent, and you know it — not from arrogance, but from an unshakeable sense of self that has never needed anyone's permission. Like Queen, you defy every category people try to place you in. You blend the epic with the intimate, the operatic with the anthemic, the serious with the playful.
You live boldly, love fiercely, and perform every aspect of your life as though the whole world is watching. Because sometimes it is. We are the champions — and so are you. Your Band 🎸 The Beatles You have the rarest of gifts: the ability to make something that feels both deeply personal and universally human.
Like The Beatles, you're a natural connector — someone whose warmth, curiosity, and creative instincts draw people together across every divide. You believe in melody, in craftsmanship, and in the quiet power of a song that says exactly what someone needed to hear. You've changed the people around you just by being who you are. All you need is love — and you give it generously.
↩ Retake Quiz It was a tough blow for McCartney. He and Jackson had collaborated a lot throughout the '80s, co-writing hits like"Say Say Say" and"This Girl is Mine.
" But in 1985, when the Northern Songs, the publishing company he had set up with John Lennon and Beatles manager Brian Epstein, was up for sale, Jackson outbid McCartney, who had been attempting to buy back his music after a mismanagement in the '60s had robbed him of his own creations. Jackson bought The Beatles' catalog for $47.5 million, and McCartney never got over that betrayal.
Related Paul McCartney Admitted This Artist Is Unforgettable — Despite Their Legendary Feud The super star that Paul McCartney hated but still respected. Posts By Karly B. Decades Later, McCartney Is Finally Reclaiming His Music For a long time, McCartney was angry about Jackson's decision. Especially when every attempt the Beatle made to buy back his own songs was met with a staunch refusal.
“I think it’s dodgy to do something like that. To be someone’s friend, and then buy the rug they’re standing on. ” He tried to reach an agreement countless times, but to no avail.
Moreover, Jackson seemed dismissive of how much his own music meant to his estranged friend.
“I wrote a couple of letters and I said, Michael, don’t you think that after 30 years of being successful in this company you now own, don’t you think I could have a raise? ” McCartney revealed. Jackson’s response to that?
“Oh Paul, that’s just business. " Related The 10 Best Alternative Rock Albums of the 1990s, Ranked "Here we are now, entertain us. " Posts 5 By Gabrielle Ulubay Despite the fact that they never reached an agreement, decades later, McCartney was able to recover some of the legacy that had been taken from him.
After Sony bought out the Jackson estate's stake in 2016, McCartney referred to the US Copyright Act of 1976 to reclaim his share of the songs one by one. This allows artists to reclaim rights after 56 years of release, with the earliest Beatles compositions becoming eligible in 2018 and the later catalog following year by year through 2026. Much like Taylor Swift, McCartney waited patiently every year for the possibility to reclaim the music that rightfully belonged to him.
This year, Let It Be, the last Beatles release, became eligible. While this is a huge victory for the Beatle, it's important to note that Sony retains the publishing rights outside the United States, meaning McCartney still doesn't fully own his share of the catalog worldwide.
Explore music-rights stories—subscribe to our newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter for in-depth coverage of music publishing, artist ownership fights, and the legal and business forces behind iconic catalogs—contextual stories that illuminate how music rights shape culture. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Even so, this is a step towards justice.
Artists should have a claim over the music they created, and it's heartwarming to see the 83-year-old Beatle have the courage to fight for what's rightfully his: the songs that changed music forever.
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