PeachTreeMusicGroup

Sunday, September 8, 2024

MINIX and Michael Jackson, more than just a collaboration.

As we know, the Estate has been approving licenses to a whole range of companies around the world. From Queen Studios in China to Chilli Beans in Brazil, there’s suddenly an influx of Official Michael Jackson Products, and if you’re a collector – that’s great news!

The latest product is from the Spanish company called MINIX.

MINIX is a brand under the company “Toys and Humans SL,” which is based in Spain. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing of collectible figures, known for their high-quality designs and attention to detail. These figures are typically around 12 cm in height and are packaged in premium window boxes, making them highly collectible. There are also smaller 7 cm versions available in different formats, including keychains and multi-figure packs.

MINIX figures span a wide array of popular culture themes, including famous TV shows, movies, anime, and even football players. The company has licensed characters from well-known franchises such as Stranger Things, The Witcher, Naruto, and has also created figures for top footballers like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. The brand has been quite successful, with over 4 million units sold worldwide.

The figures are made from durable, high-quality materials, ensuring they are safe for all ages. This dedication to quality is evident in their rigorous safety and quality control processes. The company has been expanding its product lines by acquiring new licenses to create more figures. And one of them is Michael Jackson!

We have already two of them ready to collect: “Thriller” and “Smooth Criminal”.

But what is the difference between MINIX and other companies? Believe it or not, one of the owners of MINIX actually met Michael Jackson and even organised a Birthday Event for one of Michael’s children.

Before working for MINIX, Dutch born Wibo Westdijk worked in the Toy industry for over 2 decades. His love for toys started in New York in early 2000’s at the FAO Schwarz toy store (yes, the same toy store that Tom Hanks dances on a dance-on piano in the movie BIG).

As Event manager in the store, he was responsible for many events there. But one day in 2001, the King of Pop himself called to organised a sleep-over Birthday party for one of his children.

Wibo recalls, “When Michael called, he did not have many requests, one was to have all the store windows to be blocked off, which was challenging, the second was no unnecessary staff to be present and all staff present should focus on the birthday party”.

“It was a fun night but more guests turned up so I had to find at the last minutes some sleeping bags. I went to the store where we purchased the first batch but I arrived just few minutes after closing time. I banged on the door and the lady opened the door and told me to come back tomorrow. I said, it is for now, it is really important. She said “I am sure, but come back tomorrow” and I told her: “It is for a very important person, the Birthday party is tonight. I need those sleeping bags… It’s for Michael Jackson” – She open the door and let me purchase the items.”

Wibo told us that the party was a success and that Michael was really fun and childlike. Children were everywhere and at one point, Michael was missing. After asking all the staff if they’d seen Michael, Wibo found him playing alone in the storage room with marbles. “Are you ok Michael? Wibo asked, “Shall we go back to the party?” Wibo recalls that Michael was deep in his thoughts and after a moment Michael said “Oh yes! The party! Let’s go!”

“Michael was a great and cool guy, we really had fun and I am so proud I did this event for him”

Originally the idea for MINIX was to make caricature football figurines to bring the personality of the heroes to life, but due to the success the company decided to grow the portfolio with iconic figures from the past and present and they managed to get the licence for Michael Jackson.

Living now in Paris, France, Wibo told us that he wanted to do more Michael Jackson figures and hopefully we will have a full range of them soon. Having this link between MINIX and Michael is so special, especially for us the fans, there is a connection between the product and Michael directly unlike some items we saw popping in this year, like TUD (The Ugly Duck… literally).

Don’t wait too long to grab the first Michael Jackson MINIX Thriller edition—it’s a collector’s item that’s finally affordable for everyone. MINIX is listening to the fans, so get ready for a special figurine in 2025 to celebrate a unique anniversary… but I won’t reveal any more details just yet!

$2 Billion in Ticket Sales for the Michael Jackson Estate

By: Admin Team September 6, 2024

I hesitated to write this piece for a few days, unsure of how to approach a subject that leaves me with mixed feelings. It’s been widely reported that the Michael Jackson Estate has surpassed $2 billion in global ticket sales across their various projects. Over the past 12 years, John Branca, the estate’s co-executor, has orchestrated deals that have generated an astounding $2.5 billion. These ventures include high-profile successes like “Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT,” the highest-grossing concert film ever; “MJ The Musical,” a Broadway sensation with four Tony Awards, now captivating audiences across North America, London’s West End, and soon in Hamburg and Australia; “Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR,” ranked among the top 10 touring shows of all time; and “Michael Jackson ONE,” Las Vegas’ premier show.

Financial experts and the media have praised Branca for pulling the Estate out of debt and generating massive revenue. There’s no denying his talent for negotiating deals under the Michael Jackson brand. But let’s be honest: all of this was possible because of the immense talent and legacy of the King of Pop himself. The ticket sales, music sales, and lucrative contracts weren’t just because of savvy business maneuvers — they were fueled by the extraordinary artist that was Michael Jackson.

As someone with a Master’s degree in Business, I understand why experts commend Branca and the Estate for their financial management. I get it — their goal is to grow, develop, and ultimately, make money. But as a fan, I see many gray areas in the deals and projects the Estate has pursued, such as the controversial “Michael” album, the sale of Neverland Ranch, the sale of the ATV Catalog, certain products they’ve released, and most recently, the sale of half of Michael’s music catalog to Sony for $600 million. As fans, we know how much Michael valued owning music catalogs, especially his own. I fully supported Katherine Jackson’s attempt to stop this latest sale, so it felt like a real slap in the face to hear it was going ahead regardless.

What disturbs me even more is seeing some fans happily sharing articles praising Branca and the Estate, as if all is well. Don’t get me wrong — I respect everyone’s opinions. But as a Michael Jackson fan, I find it hard to understand this blind approval, especially when these same fans have repeatedly told us to “stick to the facts” since 2019. Did we not all watch the same Michael Jackson interviews where he passionately talked about his music? Did we not rally against anyone who publicly slandered him? Why does Lynn Nottage get a free pass? Why aren’t we angry at Branca for selling MIJAC? Why are some of us willing to cross moral lines just to gain recognition from the Estate? They are not Michael Jackson — so what’s the point?

I know the fan community is deeply divided regarding the Estate, but if we all ask ourselves the right questions and reflect on our moral compass, shouldn’t we arrive at the same conclusion?

With the upcoming biopic and the musical’s expansion into Germany and Australia, the sales figures will only continue to rise. It seems the Estate is focusing its efforts on appealing to the general public, rewriting HIS story to fit their narrative, while forgetting the fans who have been there from the start. A glaring example is the annual Las Vegas Birthday celebration, which has become a complete joke. Fewer and fewer fans are showing up, and those who do are often just there to curry favor with Branca and Langford. The event has turned into a Karen Langford show, with no consistency or thought put into the organization, offensively neglecting both the fans present and Michael’s own memory.

And let’s not forget: Branca takes a cut from every single deal he makes for the Estate. That should give you a sense of the gravity of the situation. What also concerns me is that Michael’s son, Prince Jackson, seems to be spending a lot of time with the Estate. I can only hope he is learning what to do — and more importantly, what not to do — in the name of his father’s legacy.

But here’s the headline: over $2 billion in ticket sales! Congratulations… MICHAEL JACKSON!

Saturday, September 7, 2024

This is the end of an era for us Michael Jackson Fans. Sony/ATV Music Publishing has rebranded to Sony Music Publishing, returning to its original name after 25 years. The rebrand comes with a new logo and mission statement which, according to a statement, “further aligns the business with Sony’s powerful entertainment brands”. “The central visual of the new brand identity is a refreshed logo, which is designed as an abstraction of sound waves – with resonance and vibrations that express infinitely expanding opportunities for songwriters. Complementing the symbol, the Sony Music Publishing ethos is ‘every voice matters’, elevating the vision and goals of songwriters,” the statement said.

Sony Music Publishing merged with the Michael Jackson-owned ATV Music in 1995. Jackson had acquired ATV in 1985, and by extension the Northern Songs catalogue which included the rights to songs written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney during their time with The Beatles. Sony acquired the Jackson estate’s share of Sony/ATV in 2016, making it a wholly-owned Sony company.

The rebrand was driven by Sony Music Publishing CEO Jon Platt.

“Since its inception, Sony Music Publishing has supported the careers of songwriters and continues to defend their rights,” Platt said.

“Returning to the Sony Music Publishing name reconnects us to our legacy and further unifies our mission and culture with the Sony Corporation. Our new brand embodies a modern vision to be an authentic reflection of the music and songwriters we represent.”

Sony Music Publishing’s catalogue includes artists such as Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Queen, Carole King, Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Kanye West, among others.