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  • October 2020
  • Case
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John Branca: Negotiating the Beatles' Northern Songs Catalog (A)

By: James K. Sebenius and Alex Green
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:10
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Abstract

In 1985, pop music superstar Michael Jackson instructed his attorney, John Branca, to make a bid for the Northern Songs music catalog, which contained the songs of the Beatles. In a challenging negotiation with Australian media baron Robert Holmes à Court, Branca secured the rights to the collection. Over the next three decades, first as Jackson’s attorney and later as the executor of his estate, Branca undertook numerous complex negotiations to secure and expand Jackson’s music publishing empire until it became the largest music publishing company in the world.

Keywords

Negotiation; Entertainment; Music Entertainment; Strategy; Music Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; United States; United Kingdom

Citation

Sebenius, James K., and Alex Green. "John Branca: Negotiating the Beatles' Northern Songs Catalog (A)." Harvard Business School Case 921-009, October 2020.
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About The Author

James K. Sebenius

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
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Related Work

    • October 2020
    • Faculty Research

    John Branca: Negotiating the Beatles' Northern Songs Catalog (B)

    By: James K. Sebenius and Alex Green
Related Work
  • John Branca: Negotiating the Beatles' Northern Songs Catalog (B) By: James K. Sebenius and Alex Green
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