Interview mit Lynton Guest about Sony, AEG and more....

[geli2709]

Sonntag, 10. Juli 2011

Interview with Lynton Guest about Sony, AEG and more...!


Lynton Guest is the author of the fantastic and well-researched The Trials of Michael Jackson and several best-selling football books. He has been in the music industry for decades. In the 1960s, he was part of the band The Love Affair. Their first record Everlasting Love hit number one in several countries, released on the CBS Records label. Other UK top ten hits followed. After Sony had taken over CBS, they renegotiated their contract. Following his success with The Love Affair, he was a songwriter and producer. In the 1980s, Lynton Guest graduated with honors in Ancient and Medieval History at Kings College, London. At that time, he also began to write for newspapers and magazines. Thanks to his musical career, Lynton Guest is acquainted with music executives and knows how this business works.

The Trials of Michael Jackson does not only talk about the trial in 2005 but also explains what happened behind the scenes. It was published in 2006, a time when basically no one wanted to be associated with the artist.

It is based on facts coming from reliable sources and which are written down by a legitimate journalist. Names, dates, lies, and plots are mentioned to show how control over Michael Jackson and his fortune was going to be gained by greedy people.

The author Lynton Guest kept a cool head which speaks for the credibility of his book. While he is praising Michael Jackson as an artist and expressing sympathy to his situation, he does not seem to be a fan who wears rose-colored glasses.

The book reveals the unscrupulous machinations of big companies, whose only goal is profit maximization. It delivers an insight into the entertainment industry.

A must read for every Michael Jackson fan!
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Are you a Michael Jackson fan?

Lynton Guest: I think fan is probably the wrong word. I loved his music from when I first heard ‘Doctor My Eyes’ way back. There are a number of artists I really love like the Beatles or Stevie Wonder and Michael certainly falls into that category.

Lynton, you have not been sued by Sony because of your book exposing their evil plan. I think this speaks a lot for the authenticity of the given information. What made you want to write a book based on the Michael Jackson trial? What was the purpose of it?

There was no single purpose. I wanted to write a book that people enjoyed reading. Beyond that I wanted to find the truth behind the trial. I also wanted to put Michael’s problems in some kind of context by going into my own knowledge of the music business to show how the troubles that Michael experienced could be fitted into a wider picture. But what got me started was a chance conversation with Paul Russell, which is explained in the book.

Do you know if Michael knew about your book and what he thought about it?

Michael certainly knew about it. I like to believe he thought it was a fair and accurate version of events.

In your book you wrote about how you persuaded Paul Russel l to tell the public what he knew about Michael’s financial situation. Why do you think this was necessary and important?


I didn’t really have to persuade Paul. To be fair to him he was prepared to tell what he knew. He was important because he held senior positions, first at CBS, then at Sony, and was there at all the big moments. He was, if you will, an eye-witness.

Have you heard about William Wagener trying to produce a documentary about the trial in 2005 that portrays the truth? Do you think we should support his effort?

I think it is important to support anyone who seeks to add to the sum of human knowledge, in whatever field.

How much of the ATV catalogue does the MJ estate currently own? Will Sony make a move to take full ownership? Will the estate sell it?

This is a very complex issue. The story is best said, I think, in the book and its epilogue. The ownership of Sony/ATV music publishing has for years been mired in obfuscation and technically complicated financial arrangements. What might or might not happen in the future is anyone’s guess but one thing is for sure: this catalogue’s value will continue to rise.

What is the status of Michael’s back catalogue? Who owns the mechanical copyrights to Michael Jacksons’s own songs?

As far as I can make out, Sony owns the lot but has entered into a deal with Michael’s estate and other interested parties since his death in respect of royalty payments, although I don’t believe any change of ownership was included.

Do you think Michael made a mistake with selling half of the ATV catalogue to Sony? Or was it good business?

Good question. I don’t know if I can provide a satisfactory answer. I suppose with hindsight you would have to say that bringing in Sony was both good business and seemed to provide a host of experience and expertise to the operation of the company. On the other hand, it didn’t turn out too well in the end. One other point, when Michael originally bought the catalogue he kept it out of the hands of those who were only interested in maximum exploitation of the songs. He wanted to preserve the legacy those songs represented.

As you know there are a lot of controversies over whether the voice on the first posthumous Michael Jackson album is really the voice of the King of Pop. Fans have been demanding evidence for the authenticity of the vocals for months now. What is your take on it? Why is Sony not giving us the evidence they claim they have? Is it because they have nothing?

In the absence of any technical information , we can all have only our opinions. Many believe it’s not Michael and I tend to go along with this view but I can’t be sure. Sony obviously don’t think it is in their interests to engage in any debate on the subject.

What could be the possible reason for faking Michael’s vocals? Is Sony still playing a dirty game?

Money and yes.

What would be the consequence for Sony if evidence emerged that the vocals are indeed not sung by Michael Jackson?

It would be a complete disaster.

What do you think about Conrad Murray being the only one on trial? Are their people who in your opinion should also be investigated?

I deal with this question comprehensively in the epilogue to my book. Murray is not the only villain, in fact he is not even the main villain.

Do you believe that Michael Jackson was murdered? Was Murray a fall guy?

One day I believe he was murdered, the next day I don’t. It’s so difficult when you are a long way removed from the action to say for sure. Either way, there is an element of the patsy in Murray’s involvement.

What do you think about the executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain, and the decisions they have made so far, especially the deal with Sony after Michael tried everything to get out of his contract?

Once again – and I apologize for coming back to this answer – I have a lot to say about this in my epilogue. In many ways it was easier to deal with Sony because a deal with anyone else would have been fraught with legal problems. Having said that, it was a cynical enterprise, no question.

Can you summarize your finding of your epilogue about AEG in one sentence? What is AEG’s role in Michael Jackson’s death?

It’s impossible to say in one sentence. In my opinion AEG have a lot to answer for but they have never been asked, as far as I know, to account for their actions and their role. They don’t need to respond to any media questions and no proper enquiry has been instituted. The criminal investigation, in my view, was limited to Murray deliberately. And remember, the ultimate owner of AEG is one of the richest men in the world, and one with a particular political and religious agenda.

Do you believe there will ever be justice for Michael Jackson? And the real people responsible for his destruction and death will get their punishment?

I’m sorry to say, my answer is no, I don’t think there will be justice and I don’t think those responsible will ever be held to account. I wish it wasn’t so.

Are you currently investigating anything in regards to Michael Jackson? Will there be some kind of a new publication?

While I continue to be interested in developments, I am not currently involved in any further investigations. I think the book says just about everything I want to say on the subject. I suppose, though, I should never say never.

Thank you very much for answering my questions, Lynton. I would also like to thank you very much for having the courage, especially at a time when basically no one wanted to be associated with Michael Jackson, to expose the corruption in the music industry and what Sony has done to Michael in their greedy effort to take over his whole catalogue. Thank you!

http://allformj.blogspot.com/2011/07/interview-with-lynton-guest-about-sony.html?spref=tw

[Lena]

Also ehrlich gesagt finde ich das IV wenig aussagekräftig bzw. das IV hätte jetzt auch mit jedem geführt werden können der einfach seine Meinung loswerden will und die ist dann teilweise doch recht unentschlossen. Enttäuschend faktenlos für jemand der doch mal im "Sonysumpf" recherchiert hat? Zudem weist er ja ständig auf seinen Prolog vom Buch hin. Heißt das er legt sein altes Buch von 2006 neu auf mit einem neuen Vorwort?? oder wie will er sonst auf AEG und Murray eingehen, denn neue Veröffentlichungen und Recherchen hat er ja nicht geplant?
Zudem echt irritierend das er eigentlich einfache Fragen wer Michael`s Back-Catalog besitzt nicht beantworten kann. Ein Blick in die zugänglichen Gerichtspapiere vom Estate-Bericht hätte genügt um zu erfahren, dass er in 100%igem Besitz vom MJ-Estate ist.


Hier ist das IV auch in Deutsch:
Übersetzung des Interviews mit Lynton Guest

http://allformj.blogspot.com/2011/07/ubersetzung-des-interviews-mit-lynton.html

Lynton Guest ist der Autor des fantastischen und gut recherchierten Buches The Trials of Michael Jackson und mehreren Football Bestsellern. Er ist seit Jahrzehnten im Musikgeschäft. In den 60ern war er Mitglied der Band The Love Affair. Ihre erste Single Everlasting Love, herausgebracht mit CBS Records, war Nummer Eins in mehreren Ländern. Weitere Top Ten Lieder folgten. Mit der Übernahme von CBS durch Sony wurde der Vertrag der Band neu verhandelt. Nach dem Erfolg mit The Love Affair, war Guest Songschreiber und Produzent. In den 80ern beendete er sein Studium der Früh- und Mittleren Geschichte am Kings College in London mit ausgezeichneten Ergebnissen. Zu dieser Zeit begann er auch für Zeitungen und Magazine zu schreiben. Dank seiner musikalischen Karriere hat Lynton Guest Kontakte im Musikgeschäft und weiß wie dieses Business abläuft.


__________________________________________________ _______

Bist du ein Fan von Michael Jackson?
Lynton Guest: Ich denke Fan ist wahrscheinlich das falsche Wort. Ich liebte seine Musik seit ich damals zum ersten Mal „Doctor My Eyes“ gehört habe. Es gibt einige Künstler, die ich wirklich liebe wie die Beatles oder Stevie Wonder und Michael Jackson fällt sicherlich in diese Kategorie.


Lynton, du wurdest von Sony nicht verklagt aufgrund deines Buches, das ihren bösen Plan aufdeckt. Ich denke das sagt so einiges über die Authentizität der gegebenen Informationen. Was hat dich dazu getrieben ein Buch über den Michael Jackson Prozess schreiben zu wollen? Was war die Absicht dahinter?


Es gab keine bestimmte Absicht. Ich wollte ein Buch schreiben, das die Leute gerne lesen würden. Darüber hinaus wollte ich die Wahrheit über den Prozess herausfinden. Ich wollte auch Michaels Probleme in einen Kontext bringen, indem ich mein eigenes Wissen über das Musikgeschäft anwendete, um zu zeigen wie die Probleme, die Michael hatte, im Hinblick auf ein Ganzes passen könnten. Aber was mich zum Anfangen brachte, war ein Gespräch mit Paul Russell, das im Buch erklärt wird.


Weißt du, ob Michael über dein Buch Bescheid wusste und was er darüber dachte?

Michael wusste zweifellos davon. Ich möchte glauben, dass er dachte, dass es eine gerechte und korrekte Wiedergabe der Geschehnisse darstellte.
In deinem Buch schreibst du darüber, wie du Paul Russel davon überzeugt hast, der Öffentlichkeit zu erzählen, was er über Michaels finanzielle Situation wusste. Warum denkst du war das wichtig und notwendig?

Ich musste Paul nicht wirklich überzeugen. Um ihm gegenüber gerecht zu sein, er hat bereitwillig erzählt, was er wusste. Er war wichtig, weil er in einer Führungsposition war, zuerst bei CBS, dann bei Sony und er war bei all den großen Momenten dabei. Er war, wenn man so will, ein Augenzeuge.


Hast du von William Wagener gehört, der versucht eine Dokumentation über den Prozess 2005 herzustellen, die die Wahrheit wiedergeben soll? Denkst du, wir sollten ihn unterstützen?
Ich denke es ist wichtig, jeden zu unterstützen, der versucht der Summe des menschlichen Wissens, egal in welchem Bereich, etwas hinzuzufügen.


Wieviel des ATV Kataloges besitzt das Estate zurzeit? Wird Sony versuchen in den Besitz des kompletten Kataloges zu kommen? Wird das Estate ihn verkaufen?


Das ist ein sehr komplexes Thema. Die Geschichte ist am besten erklärt, denke ich, im Buch und dem Epilog. Der Besitz am Sony/ATV Music Publishing steckt seit Jahren in Verwirrung und komplizierten, finanziellen Arrangements… Was zukünftig passieren mag oder nicht ist jedermanns Vermutung, aber eine Sache ist sicher: der Wert dieses Katalogs wird weiter steigen.


Was ist mit Michaels „back catalogue“? Wer besitzt die mechanischen Rechte von Michaels eigenen Liedern?

Soweit ich das ausmachen kann, besitzt Sony die Rechte. Aber Sony ist nach seinem Tod eine Abmachung mit Michaels Estate und anderen Interessenten eingegangen, bezüglich Bezahlung von Tantiemen, obwohl ich nicht denke, dass es eine Änderung im Besitz gab.


Denkst du, Michael hat einen Fehler gemacht als er die Hälfte des ATV Kataloges an Sony verkaufte? Oder war es ein gutes Geschäft?
Das ist eine gute Frage. Ich weiß nicht, ob ich mit einer zufriedenstellenden Antwort dienen kann. Ich glaube im Nachhinein müsste man sagen, dass es ein gutes Geschäft war, Sony hereinzubringen und es schien dem Unternehmen Erfahrung und Expertenwissen einzubringen. Andererseits ging es nicht sehr gut aus am Ende. Ein anderer Punkt ist, dass Michael, als er den Katalog ursprünglich kaufte, ihn aus den Händen derer hielt, die nur an der maximalen Ausbeutung der Lieder interessiert waren. Er wollte das Vermächtnis beibehalten, das diese Lieder repräsentierten.


Wie du weißt, gibt es Meinungsverschiedenheiten darüber, ob die Stimme auf dem ersten posthumen Michael Jackson Album wirklich die Stimme des King of Pop ist. Fans verlangen jetzt schon seit Monaten nach Beweisen für die Authentizität. Was ist deine Meinung dazu? Warum gibt uns Sony nicht den Beweis, den sie behaupten zu haben?

Mangels Informationen können wir alle nur unsere eigene Meinung haben. Viele glauben, es ist nicht Michael und ich tendiere dazu mich diesem Glauben anzuschließen, aber ich kann nicht sicher sein. Sony denkt offensichtlich nicht, dass es in ihrem Interesse liegt, sich an dieser Diskussion zu beteiligen.


Was könnte der mögliche Grund sein, Michaels Stimme zu faken? Spielt Sony immer noch ein dreckiges Spiel?
Geld und ja.


Was wäre die Konsequenz für Sony, falls es wirklich beweisbar wäre, dass Michael Jackson nicht der Sänger dieser Lieder ist?


Es wäre ein komplettes Desaster.


Was denkst du darüber, dass Conrad Murray der einzige ist, der vor Gericht steht? Gibt es Leute, die deiner Meinung nach auch untersucht werden sollten?
Ich behandele diese Frage ausführlich in dem Epilog meines Buches. Murray ist nicht der einzige Verbrecher, tatsächlich ist er nicht mal der Hauptverbrecher.


Glaubst du, dass Michael Jackson ermordet wurde? Ist Murray ein Sündenbock?
An einem Tag glaube ich, dass er ermordet wurde, am nächsten Tag wieder nicht. Es ist schwierig, wenn man vom Geschehen weit entfernt ist. So oder so trägt Murrays Beteiligung Elemente des Sündenbocks in sich.


Was denkst du über die Verwalter des Michael Jackson Estates, John Branca und John McClain, und die Entscheidungen, die sie bisher getroffen haben, vorallem die Vereinbarung mit Sony, nachdem Michael alles gemacht hat, um aus seinem Vertrag herauszukommen?
Nochmal – und ich entschuldige mich, dass ich wieder darauf zurückkomme – ich habe eine Menge darüber zu sagen in meinem Epilog. In vielerlei Hinsicht war es einfacher mit Sony Geschäfte zu machen, weil eine Abmachung mit irgendjemand anderem voller legaler Probleme gesteckt hätte. Andererseits war es ein zynisches Geschäft, keine Frage.


Kannst du das Ergebnis des Epiloges in einem Satz zusammenfassen? Was ist AEGs Rolle in Michaels Tod?

Es ist unmöglich, es in einem Satz zu sagen. Meiner Meinung nach gibt es eine Menge für das AEG sich verantworten muss, aber sie wurden nie gefragt, soweit ich weiß, ihre Taten und ihre Rolle zu erklären. Sie brauchen Medienfragen nicht zu antworten und keine richtige Ermittlung wurde eingeleitet. Die Untersuchungen wurden, meiner Ansicht nach, absichtlich auf Murray beschränkt. Und denk daran, der Besitzer von AEG ist einer der reichsten Männer der Welt und einer mit einer gewissen politischen und religiösen Vorstellung.


Glaubst du, es wird jemals Gerechtigkeit für Michael Jackson geben? Und die tatsächlichen Menschen, die verantwortlich für seine Zerstörung und seinen Tod sind, werden ihre Strafe bekommen?
Leider muss ich sagen, meine Antwort ist nein. Ich denke nicht, dass es Gerechtigkeit geben wird und ich denke nicht, dass die betreffenden Personen je zur Verantwortung gezogen werden. Ich wünschte, es wäre nicht so.


Recherchierst du im Moment irgendwas bezüglich Michael Jackson? Wird es eine neue Veröffentlichung geben?

Während ich weiterhin interessiert an der Entwicklung bin, befasse ich mich zurzeit nicht mit weiteren Nachforschungen. Ich denke, dass Buch sagt so alles, was ich zu diesem Thema sagen möchte. Doch sollte ich niemals nie sagen.


Vielen Dank für die Beantwortung meiner Fragen, Lynton. Ich möchte dir auch sehr dafür danken, dass du den Mut hattest, vorallem zu einer Zeit, in der eigentlich niemand mit Michael Jackson assoziiert werden wollte, die Korruption in der Musikindustrie aufzudecken und zu zeigen, was Sony Michael, in ihrem gierigen Bestreben seinen ganzen Katalog zu übernehmen, antat. Danke!

[geli2709]

Hier ein weiteres Interview mit Lynton Guest:


My Conversation with Best Selling Author Lynton Guest

With the upcoming, trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson, a little over a month away. I began to focus more on certain areas of this cataclysm that happened on June 25th 2009. Any open minded clear seeing person would notice many inconsistencies surrounding and in this case. As a true admirer of Michael since the age of nine my heart continually weeps over the loss of this magical man in the mirror. As a writer and researcher I began to look at angles that I felt the press and media have purposely avoided. Analytical mind in tow, I questioned events, looked at motives and delved deep into the images that were before me. I needed and wanted to know more, the injustices that were being blatantly carried out feels quite personal and is a slap in the faces of the millions of Michael supporters worldwide. I began for the first time to read books that spoke about Michael to see if I could find some clues….evidence, that could possibly somehow makes sense of this tragic loss.

I had the pleasure of speaking with international chart topping artist and best-selling author Lynton Guest. Lynton has been in the music industry over 4 decades since he joined the group Love Affair in 1968. Later Lynton graduated from London’s prestigious University of London; Kings College. As a journalist, he worked for London’s Daily Mirror and Sunday Telegraph. All while writing 5 bestselling books on football and one on Michael Jackson. Lynton Guest’s book The Trials of Michael Jackson sheds a much needed light on the infamous world of entertainment.

After reading The trials of Michael Jackson, I had a better understanding of the nature of the beast. You thought you knew but had no idea; is a trending thought that becomes more and more undeniable when you chance outside the box of societal propaganda. In this page turning best seller, the things you learn are jaw dropping, heart breaking and at times down right mind blowing. The media’s character assassination of Michael Jackson was nothing more than a smoke screen to keep the attention away from the deliberate dismantling of a musical dynasty. The truth, that Michael had been set up and falsely accused of a career devastating crime. The truth that, a record label would work against its artist and business partner to gain his 50% stake in a multi-billion dollar publishing empire. The truth, that Michael Jackson was in fact the target in a complex scheme; to finance the Japanese Conglomerate’s rise to a world super power.

Working as a musician, producer and manager Mr. Guest has the skinny on what’s really going on behind the scenes of the industry we can’t get enough of. With close friends in high place and people willing to speak to him about the most sacred of transactions at the second largest music label in the world. I was so honored when Lynton granted me this interview. As I probed the mind of this most charming man, I became educated on an aspect of business that far supersedes the music industry its a part of and more ruthless than a mob hit on the streets on New York.


My conversation with Lynton Guest…….


At what age did you realize you were musically talented?

When I was about 4 years old my mother worked in the house of a local bigwig. There was a piano in the living room. It fascinated me. When she took me to her workplace I would sit at the piano and try to play it. That’s what got me going. From there I wanted to play music. I learnt the piano. When I look back I have no idea where I found the time to practice. I was also a very keen sportsman. When I was about twelve I used to play keyboard backing singers in dives called Working Mens’ Clubs. I would play Saturday nights, Sunday lunchtimes and Sunday nights. It was a great grounding.



At 16 you joined the group the Love Affair, and released the international hit “Everlasting Love”, how did this group come to be?

I answered an advert for a keyboard player in the coolest music mag of the day, Melody Maker. I was 16 and decided to go to London from my home in Leicester for the audition. That was it for me, there was no way I was going back home even if I didn’t get the job. As it happened, despite the fact that there were about 50 keyboard players at the audition, I got the job. The drummer was the nephew of a famous British jazz drummer of the 1940s called Max Bacon and his family helped us big time.

Did you all write your own lyrics and create your songs’ melody?

We did do some writing and altered the arrangement of Everlasting Love to suit ourselves. However, our live gigs in those days were really as a soul band, playing the soul standards of the day: Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, that sort of thing, along with some blues.



What record label signed youpour gr Love Affair?

We had one record out with Decca, which was associated with London Records in the USA. But after that we were signed to CBS, which was the British arm of the American CBS labels, Epic and Columbia.



Sony bought CBS Records in 1988 as well as CBS’ Columbia Pictures in 1989, did Love Affair as well other CBS Records artists make the move to Sony Music?

We had no choice really. In those days contracts were heavily weighted to the benefit of the record label. CBS had complete rights to sell everything, including the copyright of our recordings, to whoever they chose.



Love Affair on CBS Records in 1968 made the song “Everlasting Love” a chart topping hit, which is now part of Sony Music’s back catalog. Because you are paid royalties, does that mean that your masters are owned by Sony?

Yes, Sony owns the Love Affair’s back catalogue.



Would you please explain what the Dunkirk law is?

In my day, contracts were completely in the favour of the record label. They held the copyright for all time. Then, in the 1970s, some enlightened executives of record labels and managers of bands accepted that this was unfair and exploitative. They then began to offer the artists the chance to own their own copyrights after a certain length of time. The clause in contracts that covered this was called the Dunkirk Clause.



As a musician and recording artist, having a plethora of production credits, you’ve managed groups, worked for labels on the business side…..would you say that you have a great understanding of the music biz?

I think that with the variety of experience I have had since being a youngster in the business, I do understand how the music business works, and I know the motivations of all those involved.



You took a break from the Music biz and attended Kings College and gained a degree in Ancient and Mid-Evil History, can you tell us why you chose such a major?

I don’t normally make a big thing of this but I had a severe medical problem with my ears when I was in my thirties. Because of that I decided to see if I could do something other than music so I went back into full time education. I had read a book called The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail and that got me interested in Ancient and Medieval studies. I really went into it and was accepted by Kings College, University of London, one of the great colleges of the world, to study for a BA.



After becoming a Kings College fellow you entered the world of journalism. As a journalist you wrote for the Daily Mirror as well as the Sunday Telegraph’s sports department. What was it like being on the investigative reporting side of the “industry”?

Wow, it was cool. I learned so much and broke a few exclusive stories, particularly for the Sunday Telegraph.



You’re known for your straight talk and real approach to stories. One of very few, whom doesn’t subscribe to allowing your pieces to be altered by political agendas, character defamation or spin. Can you please tell us how you were able to keep the integrity of your pieces in an industry that will do anything to sell papers, music, news etc……?

I have to say I was encouraged by a fantastic editor of the sports section of the Telegraph, a guy called David Grice. He ensured I didn’t run away with my own importance and showed me how to keep things real. It is possible you know, even in the cut-throat world of the British press.



Was there ever a time when you felt that the integrity of your piece was at stake or you were asked by your paper’s superiors and/or editors to “spin” a story in a certain light. If so, would you tell us a little about that?

Yes. Once. As I explain in my book, The Trials of Michael Jackson, I got to interview OJ Simpson after he was acquitted of murder and after he appeared in a debate at Oxford University. When I wrote the piece for the Telegraph I was told in no uncertain terms that it was too “neutral”. They only wanted it if I was prepared to say that Simpson was definitely guilty. I wasn’t prepared to say that and refused to make the change. So the paper refused to print the article.



As a bestselling author of five books on the game of football, “For Love or Money” ”For Love or Money: Manchester United and England - The business of Winning” “Heroes and Villains” “Out of Time: Why English Football Isn’t Working” “A Survey of Football League Clubs” what made you write the best seller “The Trials of Michael Jackson”?

Obviously, I had an interest in music and some experience in the industry. Also, I had always enjoyed Michael Jackson’s music. However, what really made the difference was that when Michael was on trial I was at the home of Paul Russell, who was a senior executive for CBS and Sony for many, many years. He told me certain things he knew as we were drinking a bottle of wine in his lovely house. What he said impacted on what was being said in the trial. So I decided to find out more and that led to the book.



Earlier in our conversation you explained how your group the Love Affair was signed with CBS records. Which was later bought by the Sony Corp in 1988 and you became a Sony Music artist. In your book “The Trials of Michael Jackson”, you speak about your friend Paul Russell; can you tell us who he is?

Paul started out as a music business lawyer, looking after the affairs of artists such as Led Zeppelin. He was then asked to join CBS, initially as a lawyer. Over time he rose up the organization, running the London Label, then the international label in New York, the Australian arm of CBS and was one of the the top three international executives. When Sony bought half of the ATV Music publishing catalogue from Michael, Paul became Chairman of the company. He was involved with almost every major artist CBS/Sony signed from 1970 onwards, from Billy Joel to Abba. Of course, one of the artists he worked closely with was Michael Jackson.



Michael Jackson taking the baton from Walter Yetnikoff helped CBS Records seal the deal to be acquired by the Sony Corporation while on the Bad Tour which ended in Tokyo in 1988. Why was it instrumental for Mike to be a part of closing this deal?

The Japanese realized that Michael Jackson was the biggest recording artist there had ever been. To own the company that boasted Michael on its books was something the Japanese wanted more than anything. It put them right up there.



Please tell us who Walter Yetnikoff is?

Walter Yetnikoff ran the American end of CBS records, then Sony, for many years. He was a brilliant record man but was also something of a loose cannon.



How did Tommy Matolla become Walter Yetnikoff’s successor?

According to Yetnikoff, he had become an embarrassment to the Japanese. He was too rock & roll, taking drugs and drinking to excess. He also began alienating artists. He had brought Tommy Mottola to the company but Mottola undermined Yetnikoff, eventually taking his job.

After Russell’s retirement he started to speak candidly about his many years in the music game. Is this normally OK for former and/or current Sony Music employees to do?

Well, that’s a good question. Yetnikoff wrote a book; Paul was prepared to talk to me. However, both of them were supposedly subject to confidentiality clauses in their contracts.



What did Paul Russell, a CBS Records as well as a Sony Music exec, say about Michael Jackson having known him since the 70’s both professionally and personally, in regards to the child molestation trial of 2005? (Michael was later acquitted on all counts)

Paul was adamant Michael was not guilty. For instance, we were watching the trial together when there was evidence of Michael drinking alcohol on board airplanes. Paul told me that in all the years he worked and socialized with Michael, he had never seen him drink alcohol. And record company execs are trained to recognize drink and drug use.



After, you convinced Paul Russell, to be forthcoming about Michael Jackson’s finances at the time. The two of you went to the London press and an article was written, which became world news and pretty much derailed Tom Sneddon’s case. Why did you feel the need to have this information public knowledge?

Sneddon was trying to use Michael’s finances as evidence of his guilt. Both Paul and I felt this was wrong. Although we decided to reveal details of Michael’s finances, we felt it was the right thing to do so that Sneddon would be required to answer for his distortions and lies.



Tom Sneddon (Santa Barbara district attorney during the 2005 child molestation trial against Michael Jackson) tried to bring up the fact that Michael’s financial issues at the time, was a motive to do the Living with Michael Jackson “current events” lol documentary and allegedly holding the Arvizo Family hostage. How did Mr. Tom Sneddon Santa Barbara District attorney get knowledge of Michael’s finances?

My information, and I cannot reveal the source, was that details of Michael’s financial situation was provided by Sony in Japan. No-one else, in my view, could have supplied it.



In your book “The Trials of Michael Jackson” you introduce us to the founding fathers of the Sony Corporation, Morita and Ibuki. Would you tell us a little about them?

They were both from traditional Japanese backgrounds. Morita was instrumental in the Japanese war effort and was assisted by the Americans after the war to set up a new electronics company. He recruited his old friend Ibuki, who was something of an electronics wizard, to help him.



The Sony Corporation rose out of the ashes of PIRC after the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What do the initials PIRC stand for and what was this organization about?

PIRC stood for Precision Instrument and Research Committee. It was a special unit of the Japanese military which tried throughout the war to invent and miniaturize weapons with which to surprise the Americans. It was intimately concerned with the transistorisation of electronic components.



The Sony Corp and CBS Records had business dealings since 1968, before Sony took 100% ownership of the record company in 1988. This was a successful joint music venture in Japanese music; at the time they were known as Sony/CBS Records. This music relationship lasted 20yrs. Their Japanese friends weren’t paying them their dividends, citing it’s against Japanese law to pay such dividends to an overseas corporation. This weakened CBS even further, wanting to hold on to their Television licenses and News networks. CBS wanted to off load some of its assets. CBS Records consisting of the Epic and Columbia music labels along with Columbia pictures were sold and bought by the Sony Corp. Why did the Sony Corporation decide to get into the entertainment game on an even larger scale with the acquisition of CBS Records and Columbia Pictures?

By the time of the takeover, Sony was headed by Norio Ohga, who had risen up the company as Morita and Ibuku got older. Ohga was a musician in his youth and he had an understanding that, for Sony to maximize its world-wide reach, it needed to add software products to its existing hardware business. Music copyright, which was becoming subject to international treaties, and movies were the obvious choice. At the time Sony were cash rich, while CBS were suffering financial problems. So Sony saw an opportunity to buy a blue-chip US corporation which would give them massive credibility in the world of music and films, as well as a never-ending revenue stream from some of the world’s greatest recording artists. They first bought the record company, then later Columbia Pictures



Your book The Trials of Michael Jackson is backed by undisputed evidence from sources named and un-named on three different continents, within the Sony corporation, the Japanese embassy in London as well as the Bertelsmann company (BMG). Why do you think these people opened up to you about Sony and Michael Jackson?

It’s hard to say really. I think some were genuinely ashamed of Sony’s attitude towards Michael and believed in justice. Others may have had their own agenda and I’m sure some wanted to settle old scores.



Can you please tell our readers what Sony/ATV is?

Sony/ATV is a music publishing company, which holds the copyright of the songs written by Lennon and McCartney, along with many other great songs from the 50s and early sixties. Originally called ATV Music it passed through many hands of ownership until it was bought by Michael Jackson. Later, Sony purchased 50% of the company from Michael and renamed it Sony/ATV



How much is Sony/ATV worth then and now and what type of income did Michael Jackson make as a 50% owner of Sony/ATV?

Michael bought the company for around $50 million. He sold half to Sony for $50 million. Today, the company is worth, in my opinion, well mover $2 billion.



Michael Jackson due to the merger of Sony with ATV (Michael Jackson’s sole owned music publishing company at the time) was on the board of directors of Sony/ATV, attended all business meeting religiously, had veto privileges and a 50% ownership the company. Can you tell us what are the significances of this in regards to his power in and the economics of the entire Sony Corporation?

Well, if Sony wanted to exploit the music to its maximum, it had to have Michael’s approval for every deal. Michael was more interested in keeping the legacy of the music alive, rather than financial gain. For Sony, this attitude prevented them from earning the maximum amount from their ownership.



Michael’s personal music, his famed Thriller album (which to this day has sold the most copies in the history of recorded music since recording music began) as well as the music of other well-known artists such as Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield and Sly and the family Stone was owned by his baby; a publishing company called Mijac. How did Sony Music get a stake in Michael’s personal company?

Michael used his ownership of Mijac to borrow money from the Bank of America. This debt eventually ended up with Sony, who effectively gained control of Mijac in the process.



In 1993 and again a decade or so later in 2005, Michael was falsely accused of child molestation. During the accusation in 1993, Michael was on a sold out world tour called Dangerous. Which was 69 performances to an audience of 3.5 million plus. Where all profits, were donated to various charities including Michael’s personal charity at the time, “Heal the World Foundation”. This tour ran from June 27th 1992 - November 11th 1993. During this time the media had reported none of this; it later became apparent that all things good about Michael wasn’t news worthy. Michael ended up settling out of court with his accuser Jordan Chandler for a reported 20 million dollars. Can you please tell us who advised Michael to do this and why?

Sony was instrumental in this. They (along with others) advised Michael to settle to make the Chandler allegations go away. It was never the case, as was reported by the media, that the settlement was an admission of guilt. Michael did it to protect Sony’s investment in him. But he brought more to Sony than they ever brought to him. It was a disastrous decision as it turned out but it was made because he was told that a long, drawn-out trial would put his career on hold and would make him the subject of never-ending media speculation.



How did Sony Music feel about the child molestation accusations of 1993 and 2005?

They were not pleased. They felt the allegation compromised their image of a family company.



In 2005, we learned from your very well written and informative book The Trials of Michael Jackson that then Santa Barbara district attorney Tom Sneddon who prosecuted the child molestation case against Michael in 2005 and failed at his attempts to bring charges against Michael in 1993 gained information on Michael’s then financial situation, from the Tokyo offices of Sony’s headquarters through way of New York. Tom Sneddon was attempting to use this as a motive for Michael’s agreeing to do Martin Bashir’s documentary Living with Michael Jackson as a means of reviving his career and solving his money problems. Tom Sneddon also wanted to prove the count of conspiracy and kidnapping, stating that Michael wanted to cover up alleged wrong doings which he was then being prosecuted for based on the Bashir piece. What was Michael’s relationship with Sony at this time and why did they give such information about Michael’s finances to the Santa Barbara district attorney’s office?

That’s a good question. Michael’s relationship with Sony began to deteriorate after the settlement with Jordi Chandler. There were many reasons for this, not least when Tommy Mottola took over the US operation from Walter Yetnikoff. By the time of the 2005 allegations, Sony was conducting a campaign to gain full control of Sony/ATV and ownership of Michael’s back catalogue. If he were bankrupted and disgraced, this would enable them to achieve their goal much quicker and easier than would otherwise have been the case.



Based on our discussion thus far can you please connect the dots for our readers between Sony Music being formed, Michael Jackson’s financial problems, the child molestation accusations of 1993 and 2005 and finally Sony becoming the major owner having now 75% of the Sony/ATV publishing company?

Well to do this subject justice people would really have to read the book. What I can say is that Michael’s debts were impossible to repay following the disruption caused by the molestation cases of 1993 and 2005. After Michael was acquitted he nevertheless suffered media assassination and his record sales went down. Using all this, Sony eventually reached a deal with Michael whereby they ended up effectively owning both Sony/ATV and Michael’s back catalogue.

Your revised version of The Trials of Michael Jackson included a very telling epilogue. This was released after Michael’s murder on June 25th 2009. You talked about AEG the production company responsible for the tour Michael was to embark on This Is It. Can you tell our readers in conclusion to this most fascinating interview, a little about AEG, Sony and the Estate of Michael Jackson (executed by John Branca and John McClain) and how they are all connected……..?

Wow, another huge question. AEG, which is essentially a company promoting live music, is wholly owned by Phillip Anscluss, one of the richest people in the world and a committed evangelical Christian. Anschluss has an agenda to impose his beliefs throughout the entertainment industry. AEG were organizing the “This is It” appearances in London and they employed Dr. Conrad Murray. Following Michael’s death, footage of the rehearsals was subject to a deal between AEG and Sony with agreement from Michael’s estate. Sony has continued to receive income from Michael’s recordings and Sony/ATV music as well as the movie. In death Michael’s earning power for AEG, Sony and the estate has rocketed. It’s been a pleasure answering your questions.

In conclusion, straight talk….buy Lynton Guest’s book The Trials of Michael Jackson if you want a better understanding of the happenings in Michael’s life sans the spin; this book’s goal is to bring that to you. Educate yourselves and stop leaving it to the discretion of the conventional press and media. Informing and becoming informed is an act of Love. I Love you all and Lynton and I both thank you all for reading.

If you have any questions and/or comments about this interview for Lynton or I, please direct them to or just follow our twitter accounts @lynton6 and @deegomez_

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