The estate of Quincy Jones has reached a major deal with HarbourView Equity Partners, covering his publishing rights and his iconic compositions like “Soul Bossa Nova” and the Sanford and Son credits
Quincy Jones' family has sealed an acquisition deal with HarbourView Equity Partners covering large swaths of his legendary catalog — including his stake in three classic Michael Jackson albums.
The deal covers Jones' recorded music and publishing rights, including his participation in the three Jackson albums he produced (Off the Wall, Thriller And Bad), but also its flagship composition “Soul Bossa Nova” and George Benson's hit “Give Me the Night” (1980). The contract also includes Jones' ancillary rights to other assets, such as its interest in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aira series of which he was executive producer.
An unprecedented cultural heritage
Jones, who died in November 2024 at the age of 91, remains one of the most prolific and important figures in 20th century music. In a seven-decade career, he has been a trumpeter, composer, arranger, producer, conductor and author of original soundtracks. As her daughter, actress Rashida Jones, put it: “Long before anyone was talking about 'multi-platform,' he was building bridges across music, film, television, publishing, technology and culture, creating iconic juggernauts like Thriller, The Color Purple, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Vibe. »
From “Sanford and Son” to Kanye West: the breadth of a unique catalog
The acquisition reflects the immense breadth of Jones' work, as much as the scope of his legacy. It covers, for example, Jones' compositional part in “Good Life” by Kanye West, due to the sample of “PYT” by Jackson — title co-written by Jones with James Ingram. Likewise, “How Do U Want It” of Tupac features in the deal thanks to his use of “Body Heat” (1974) by Jones.
The agreement also includes the credits composed by Jones for the detective series Ironsides and the cult sitcom Sanford and Son. Clarke sees it as one of the most unique facets of this catalog, and proof of Jones' imprint on the collective consciousness of pop culture.
Michael Jackson albums at the heart of the agreement
Regarding Jackson's three albums, Jones presumably received a base royalty of 10% on those records—no small amount, given that they collectively sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. This figure, usually buried in the terms of a private contract, came to light during a dispute between Jones and the Jackson estate over unpaid royalties during the 2010s.
The intricacies of Jones' involvement in the Jackson catalog posed no particular complications during the negotiation, Clarke says. The Jackson estate was not involved in the transaction.
Protect the catalog, perpetuate the spirit
HarbourView and the Jones estate will continue to work together on initiatives related to the catalog, as well as Jones' name, image and likeness, although Clarke would not disclose upcoming projects. However, HarbourView will host a tribute event in Jones' honor on March 13 in Los Angeles, ahead of the Academy Awards.
