Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009), dubbed the "King of Pop", was an American musician and one of the most commercially successful entertainers of all time. His unique contributions to music and dance, along with a highly publicized personal life, made him a prominent figure in popular culture for four decades.
London, September 7 (ANI): Michael Jackson has been predicted to become the world’s top earning celebrity next year.
The late King of Pop’s estate is expected to amass up to 150 million pounds from beyond the grave, thanks to merchandising contracts, album sales, and other royalties.
The top 1,000 licensing and merchandising experts across Europe, participating in the Brand Licensing trade event in London, made the predictions.
“Michael Jackson’s image and legacy is licensed on anything from coins and clothes, to coffee table books and singing, stuffed animals,” the Daily Express quoted Ciaran Coyle, The Beanstalk Group chief, as saying.
Other high profilers to feature among the top 20 stars, dead or alive, include Elvis Presley, Heath Ledger and Jade Goody. (ANI)

Jackson tipped to be 2010’s highest earning star
London, Sep 7 (IANS) Late pop legend Michael Jackson is set to become the highest earning celebrity of 2010, with experts predicting the star will bring in an estimated $240 million in revenue.The King of Pop’s music shot back into the charts following his sudden death in June and the executors of his estate are planning to launch an official range of merchandise as well, reports contactmusic.com.
Bosses at the company behind Jackson’s doomed comeback concerts in London, AEG, are set to release a movie featuring rehearsal footage for his ‘This Is It’ residency, and are also reportedly considering a live album and DVD.
The ventures look set to make Jackson the highest earning celebrity in 2010, ahead of Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, Lady Gaga and Harry Potter actors Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe.
Also featuring in the top ten is British supercouple David and Victoria Beckham, racing driver Lewis Hamilton, “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson, Elvis Presley and Britney Spears, according to a survey of licensing and merchandising experts across Europe.

MJ may become top-earning dead star
London, August 14 (ANI): Michael Jackson has been predicted to become the top-earning dead star and his estate is expected to amass 120 million pounds alone this year.
The late King of Pop’s earnings since his death on June 25 were apparently set to top the entire 90 million pounds earned by Jimi Hendrix since he died in 1970.
The executors of the star’s estate, lawyer John G. Branca, music executive John McClain and a Jackson family friend, were said to have already gathered 60 million pounds through a film deal and several merchandising contracts.
“Clearly it’s a new record for estates that likely will not be broken,” The Sun quoted Branca as saying of first-year earnings.
Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain is the top earning dead star, with 450 million pound earnings since his death in 1994, followed by Elvis Presley with 362 million pounds.
John Lennon comes next at 140 million pounds, then Jimi Hendrix, followed by reggae legend Bob Marley with 24 million pounds. (ANI)