The eight remaining Jackson kids vary a lot in fame and talent, so it’s tough to get them all together for a series of gigs without running into complaints about different pay scales, air time, and perks. Janet, the only other Jackson who seems to have a solid career as a solo artist, will reportedly make $4 million if she does the tour. Compare that to Rebbie, who’s stuck with a comparatively paltry $250,000.

Will money and fame tear this family apart, or can they keep it together to pull off this tour? The Daily Beast has more:

The latest point of contention, these associates say, is a 10-city U.S. “Jackson Family Reunion Tour” involving all of Michael’s siblings. The Daily Beast has obtained a proposal from New Jersey-based AllGood Entertainment, a concert promoter that claimed it had a similar concert plan in place in June when it sued Michael for allegedly breaching that agreement, and my sources confirm that the Jackson family is seriously considering this new offer. The guaranteed collective payday for the clan: more than $12 million, including a $1 million advance upon acceptance. And it indicates that this new grouping—call it the Jackson 8—will have Janet fronting in her big brother’s place.

The biggest holdup with a concert tour, or other deals, are sibling rivalries, as each brother and sister weighs individual deals, while family matriarch Katherine Jackson preaches for a long-term family-size agreement which will provide security for everyone. The details of the proposed pay split among the family members illuminates both the opportunities for the surviving Jacksons following their famous brother’s death and their competing—and not equal—prospects.

The tour pay scale in the proposal is specifically broken out as follows:

Janet Jackson — $4 million
Jermaine Jackson — $1.5 million
Jackie Jackson — $1.5 million
Randy Jackson — $1.5 million
Marlon Jackson — $1.5 million
Tito Jackson — $1.5 million
La Toya Jackson — $500,000
Rebbie Jackson — $250,000

The Guardian reports that the insurance policy for Jackson’s planned 50-show concert covered a lot of things, like cancellation due to death, but it did not cover illicit drug use. So, if the tox reports show that Jackson had illegal drugs in his system, the Jackson estate won’t be able to cash in on the huge policy. Apparently, the insurers knew about Jackson’s history with prescription drug use. This could be a huge blow for the Jackson estate, which is still wading through the huge sums of debt that Michael Jackson accumulated while he was alive.

The insurance policy for Michael Jackson’s cancelled O2 residency will not apply if the late star is found to have taken illegal drugs, the Associated Press has confirmed. Though the policy covers cancellation resulting from death, the insurers are exempted if Jackson was involved in the possession or “illicit taking of drugs”.

The policy’s payout of millions of pounds may therefore hinge on Jackson’s autopsy results, which have twice been delayed. There are numerous reports linking Jackson’s alleged use of propofol, a powerful anaesthetic, with his death on 25 June.

According to the Associated Press, Jackson and AEG Live took out the insurance policy in April. The document only covers the first 13 gigs in the epic 50-show run – bolstering reports that promoters had been unable to insure the full residency. A March estimate showed the 50 concerts required more than £300m in insurance cover.

(Guardian)

The company paid a whopping $60 million for rights to over 100 hours of footage, which they will compile into a feature-length film. Columbia finally came to an agreement with Jackson reps and AEG Live following weeks of negotiations. We can’t wait to see it!

MTV reports the details:

Columbia Pictures has solidified its plans to bring a Michael Jackson film — complete with footage of his final rehearsals in preparation for a comeback tour — to theaters in the fall, according to The Associated Press.

After weeks of negotiations, Columbia, which is owned by Sony, agreed to pay $60 million for rights to the project. The agreement was reached Friday between Columbia, concert promoter AEG Live, Jackson’s representatives and others.

All that remains is for a Los Angeles judge to approve the deal at a Monday hearing, when Jackson’s mother, Katherine, will have an opportunity to raise any objections.

The deal includes the rights to more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage, clips that were intended to be used during Jackson’s comeback concerts at London’s O2 arena, as well as merchandising, special DVD editions and product tie-ins. Among the prohibited tie-ins are products related to alcohol, tobacco, gambling and pharmaceuticals, along with personal-hygiene products and firearms. Jackson’s company would receive 90 percent of the movie’s profits, and AEG would receive the rest.

The company had a $17 million insurance policy that covered an accidental death, which it might be able to claim, Mr. Phillips said. And he expected only 40 to 50 percent of fans to redeem their tickets for a refund, substantially reducing the company’s potential losses. AEG Live also owns the rights to audio and high-definition video that was created at the rehearsals, which Mr. Phillips said could earn millions. (source)

As long as Phillips’ estimation of nostalgic fans is correct, sales of rehearsal film footage could provide a huge financial boost for his company.