As if from a reality American B American was treated, it all started with a retired policeman opening the gate of a storage room. That was last December, when the former road agent Gregg Musgrove, 56, went to a storage space that a partner had just bought in Van Nuys, north of Los Angeles (California). I was going to take a look at what was inside and see if I found any treasure. And go if he found it. Musgrove took Bruces with a whole feast: objects that had belonged nothing less than Michael Jackson. The cherry cherry was a couple of cassette tapes with a dozen unpublished recordings The retired policeman told his journey on the storage room, who had belonged to the music producer Bryan Loren, in the, and this echoed the importance of some of some of some of some The recorded songs, dating from between 1989 and 1991. However, now the story has taken a step further, with an evening dispute that can even reach the courts.
The point is that those tapes found in the abandoned storage room of the San Fernando Valley are now the center of a millionaire sale. A auction house specialized in music, called Gotta Have Rock and Roll and based in New Jersey, east of the United States, this Wednesday, February 19. The starting price are estimated $ 85,000, but they foresee that it reaches $ 100,000, 150,000 and even 200,000 dollars. However, whoever gets these tapes will have to do it only as a collector, because the reproduction of music is prohibited. “There is an enormous interest, Michael Jackson fans are crazy about their memories. They would kill for unpublished material. Whoever takes it will be very lucky and happy, ”the president of the auction house assures El País. But as much as to spend more than $ 100,000 on a tape that cannot be heard in public?
Technically, the tapes cannot be heard publicly; That is, the owner could give the play In a private player, but I could not broadcast it on a radio, for example, or give it to listen massively. The auction website clarifies this: “We emphasize that this collection is sold only as an artifact. There are no copyright of any of the songs or materials in the cassettes in this lot. The reproduction of any content of these cassettes is strictly prohibited, and the buyer is acquiring it only as an artifact in the form of three separate cassettes. ” That special insistence also comes from the heirs of Michael Jackson: they disagree with the auction.
According to statements made to the environment, the managers of affirm that, in reality, the tapes are copies of some recordings (calls masters) that they possess. As the originals belong to them, and also their rights of public reproduction, who is done with the copies of this “long -obsolete format”, as they have called it in a somewhat derogatory tone, will not be able to reproduce them. They would not only need to have a specific device, but also with their permission. If those recordings were radiated or filtered, a crime against intellectual property could be committed and the case would reach lawyers.
However, that does not seem to be a problem for those responsible for Gotta Have Rock and Roll, which do not hay at the possible legal conflicts that may arrive. In fact, the president of the auction house, Dylan Kosinski, believes that the old tapes have more strength, being able to be used only for private use. For him, the fact that Michael Jackson heirs is true is that the fact that they have recognized him, who affirm that they are copies, implies that the material is actually authentic and unpublished. In addition, in the future the artist’s heirs have the right to launch it (), and then the tape holder would be the first to have been able to access their content.
Speaking to El País, the president of Gotta Have Rock and Roll ensures that they respect “to the maximum” the heirs: “I think they are acting cautiously because they do not want anyone to make these songs public,” Kosinski reflects in an email, Explaining that they will know the final result of the auction on March 7, when it closes. “I understand perfectly and respect it. We make it clear that whoever buys this artifact cannot reproduce, distribute or disseminate the content of the tapes. That said, it is an incredible artifact that we are going to auction. ”
The tapes will be auctioned next to a photograph of Jackson signed by himself, and among the songs are some as 7 digitsold acquaintance of fans but never launched, in an early and very long version. It lasts almost 16 minutes; In fact, the first part is recorded on face A and its continuation on face B. There are other issues never thrown or filtered, such as Serious Effect, Call It Off, All The Truth You Need o Don’t Believe It; Also others of which some pieces have been known, such as She Got It o Workwith his sister Janet Jackson. In a third cassette there is also a very short version, of just 15 seconds, of the classic theme San Francisco sung Capella By Jackson.
The enormous legacy of the musician is managed by a foundation. Although when he died he had millionaire debts, – judicial documents estimated last summer that about 500 million dollars – over time he has become one of the richest figures after his death. However. Young people, as well as, will have to wait until both their testamentar and the IRS, the US tax and tax collection agency, resolve a pending dispute for years about the value of their assets.
