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I think the Beatles situation has to do with Michael Jackson having owned the Beatles catalogue for a time then Paul Mcartney bought it back (I think?). I'd sta

I think the Beatles situation has to do with Michael Jackson having owned the Beatles catalogue for a time then Paul Mcartney bought it back (I think?). I'd start your search with that in mind. Also, the Beatles are on Apple Records which was/is their own label (but still under the umbrella of another label, possibly Columbia, I think). My broad strokes are correct but the details are questionable. I'm a big Beatles fan so I had to take a stab at answering your question. Keep those facts in mind on your search for answers.

dpark 15y ago
Pretty sure McCartney was never able to purchase the catalog from Jackson.
Hari_Seldon 15y ago
AFAIK. Michael Jackson owned the publishing rights to the Beatles songs, not the Beatles recordings. Basically the sheet music rights, royalties when Beatles songs are played on a jukebox or the radio or someone does a cover version of a Beatles tune. It's a complicated arrangement, When in 1989 Paul McCartney wanted to print the lyrics to Eleanor Rigby and other songs for a tour, he discovered he'd have to pay a fee to Michael Jackson.