With the experience of fighting for artists, John Branca has earned the title of the best lawyer in the entertainment industry. His focus and tenacity enabled him to get the best possible deals for his clients. With over forty years of experience in the music industry, attorney John Branca has won many battles for artists and songwriters. Continue reading to find out more.
The Michael Jackson Estate
Branca had been a part of Michael’s life even before the existence of the Michael Jackson estate. He guided Michael on some of the biggest moments such as the ‘Bad’ tour, and the ‘Thriller’ video. Michael also acquired the Beatles’ song catalog with the help of Branca. According to Branca, Jackson was history’s greatest entertainer, and together, they were quite the team.
Seven years after they fell out, Michael rehired Branca. At this time, Michael was rehearsing his ‘This Is It’ tour, and Branca went for a vacation in Mexico. Sadly, Michael died eight days later. John went back to America immediately to dig out Michael’s will, which named him and John McClain as co-executors.
Even after the death of the greatest pop star in the world, Branca would still have a huge role in his life. Michael left a debt of 500 million and a bad image due to his child molestation charges. However, by the end of 2016, the estate grossed over 1.3 billion. The estate was well run and Michael had managed to outearn every star when he was dead. To accumulate such an amount, Branca and the other executor sold Jackson’s stake in The Beatles and other songs which earned a huge profit. They also negotiated other deals with Sony which also had a role in the money.
Branca’s Role in the Music Industry
David Lande and David Bynes are Branca’s partners in representing huge icons such as Travis Scott, Beyonce, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Pharrell Williams, and Justin Timberlake. Together with his partners, they have enormous expertise in music publishing rights leading to huge catalog deals. They are also responsible for helping artists make money outside the normal music business. Branca has been at the forefront of negotiating deals for Alicia Keys, Blake Shelton, and Kelly Clarkson. John has also worked with many stars including the ones mentioned above and the Rolling Stones, Carlos Santana, The Doors, and Fleetwood Mac. However, the most defining part of his career is his relationship with Michael.
Branca’s Other Achievements
Branca has also had many other achievements which helped artists including;
- Don Henley was able to win back his work’s copyrights from the eagles.
- Ensured that John Fogerty reclaimed royalties from the Creedence Clearwater Revival catalog.
- Extricated artists such as Dr. Dre from huge contacts set them free for their future.
Road To Success in the Music Industry
When attorney John Branca was 13, he started his music career by starting a band. His music career never took off but he got to open up for the Doors. Down the line, he chose a different path and started studying Law at UCLA while still having the same passion for music. Branca started working as an estate planner after graduation. He then found his calling due to his passion for music and entertainment. He joined an entertainment law firm in 1977, which was the beginning of his successful journey. Branca specifically dealt with publishing rights and artist representation. With over 30 inductees in his list of representation, he has also managed to represent other celebrity clients.
John Branca also founded the Musicians Assistance Program and has worked as a chair of MusiCares, which helps music professionals. He has also assisted other charitable groups such as the Environmental Defense and the American Civil Liberties Union.
