Katherine Jackson, the legendary mother of Michael Jackson, has been denied her appeal against the sale of half of her late son’s music catalog to Sony for $600 million. A Los Angeles judge ruled on August 21 that the sale was consistent with the terms of Michael Jackson’s trust agreement and dismissed Katherine Jackson’s appeals as meritless.

Katherine Jackson’s lawyers argued that before his death, Michael had expressed a wish for his assets to remain in the family. However, the judge pointed to Michael’s will, which gives his executors full control over his estate.

Court documents state: “The will gave the executors broad powers to sell, with no exceptions for the specific assets at issue in this case… The probate court did not err in concluding that it was Michael’s intent to allow the executors to sell all of the estate’s assets, including those at issue in the proposed transaction.”

This ruling is just the latest in the ongoing legal battle between Katherine Jackson and the co-executors of Michael Jackson’s estate, attorney John Branca and A&R manager John McClain. In early February 2023, it was reported that the estate was looking to sell half of the music catalog, with Sony Music among the potential buyers. Despite Katherine Jackson’s protests, the executors had received court approval to proceed with the sale.

According to Michael Jackson’s will, his estate will be left to the Michael Jackson Family Trust, with his three children – Prince, Paris and Bigi – as beneficiaries.

A lot of money is at stake. Things don’t seem to be going the way everyone wants them to.