Estate Admits Michael Jackson Stole This Is It Single | SPIKE

Is the King of Pop really a music thief? Recent reports are claiming that he is.
After the huge release of Michael Jackson’s first posthumous single "This Is It" yesterday, it has emerged that the song was actually recorded 18 years ago by the famous teen idol singer/songwriter Paul Anka. Anka, the co-author of the song, threatened to sue Jackson's estate for his share of the royalties, but the administrators of the estate quickly acknowledged Anka's claims and granted him 50% of the copyright. This dude just got paid.

Anka told TMZ that the Jackson estate is aware that it was mistake. “They realize it's my song, they realize it's my production of his vocal in my studio, and I am getting 50% of the whole project, actually, which is fair."

I guess Michael really isn’t a music thief, but the people running his estate were totally trying to pull a fast one on Mr. Anka. It’s funny because the song isn’t really that good to begin with.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images