Quincy Jones’ Estate Sells Catalog, Including Stake in Michael Jackson Classics

Quincy Jones Estate Cashes in Catalogue

The estate of Quincy Jones has sold select music and non music assets of the legendary entertainer to Harbour View Equity Partners, a global investment firm specializing in investment opportunities within the entertainment and media space the firm announced, March 12, 2026.

According to AfroTech, the sale of the catalog includes Jones’ production work with Michael Jackson, such as Thriller, Off the Wall, and Michael’s Bad album as well as his revenue stake in Fresh Prince of Belair, where he served as an executive producer per The Hollywood Reporter. The deal also includes a partnership covering Jones’s name, image, and likeness rights.

Quincy the Great and His Estate

Quincy Jones, an icon in entertainment history, built his career in music through his works in compositions, production, and arrangements, amongst many other roles. Jones’ work in entertainment includes collaborations with stars such as Arentha Franklin, Snoop Dogg, and Oprah Winfrey. Jones’s genre bending catalog extends across film, television, musical tours, and directing.

In a statement actress Rashida Jones remembers her father as an anomaly, “Our father was endlessly curious and always ahead of his time. While Sherrese Clarke, founder and CEO of Harbour View investment shared these kind words about the revolutionary artist, “Quincy Jones was not just a once-in-a-generation talent, he was a once-in-a-century architect of culture.’’

Quincy Jones and Other Artists Are Cashing In

The sudden sale of Quincy Jones catalogue is a part of a growing trend of superstar artists who have recently sold their rights to their music.

Grammy award winning artist Eve sold her entire catalog in September of 2024 for an estimated 8 figures according to Vibe Magazine, while Dr. Dre sold his catalog and artist royalties in 2023 for 200 million. At the same time through experience and free online platforms such as The World of Intellectual Property Organization artists have become more aware of their rights. Purchasing the rights of their masters, gaining back control of their music, all while holding the power to decide when and how their catalog is used.

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Quincy Jones Hand and Footprint Ceremony

HOLLYWOOD, CA  (L-R) Snoop Dogg, Quincy Jones and Dr. Dre attend the Hand and Footprint Ceremony honoring Quincy Jones at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on November 27, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Quincy Jones and Others: A Take On Catalog Sales

Artists often chose to sell their catalogs for several reasons.

Immediate large cash payments can often sway an artist to sell their rights rather than opting for long term royalty percentages that can fluctuate over time.

Estate planning can also play a major factor. Music rights can sometimes be complicated for heirs to manage, choosing to sell artist catalogs allows artists to settle their estates, avoiding the burden of families managing copyrights after death.

Additionally, choosing to sell your catalog reduces the risk of relying on sudden spikes in popularity. Selling allows artists to cash in immediately on their work rather than waiting on the uncertain future streaming revenue. #OhTikTok

Quincy Jones Gives Hope to the Future

Either way Quincy Jones, is one of the greatest to ever create.

“Our partnership with the Estate is rooted in deep respect for Quincy’s creative vision,” says Clarke, “and a long-term commitment to safeguarding his work, his likeness, and his influence for generations to come.”

Quincy Jones Biography

Quincy Delight Jones Jr. was born March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, and died November 3, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. He was an American musical performer, producer, arranger, and composer whose prolific career spanned more than 70 years, encompassing virtually all forms of popular music.

Jones began his remarkable career as a jazz prodigy, working as a trumpeter in bands led by Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie. He wrote musical arrangements for jazz legends including Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dinah Washington. In 1956, he became music director at Barclay Disques in Paris, and in 1960 he signed with Mercury Records, becoming one of the first African Americans to hold a top executive position at a major record label.

As music director and producer at Mercury Records, Jones produced his first major pop hit, Leslie Gore’s “It’s My Party” in 1961. During this period, he transitioned into film and television scoring, composing scores for motion pictures including “In Cold Blood,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and “The Pawnbroker,” as well as television series like “Ironside” and “Sanford and Son.”

Quincy Jones Greatest Achievements

Jones’s most legendary achievement came through his collaboration with Michael Jackson. He produced Jackson’s breakthrough album “Off the Wall” in 1979, followed by “Thriller” in 1982, which became the best-selling album of all time with approximately 25 million units sold. He also produced Jackson’s “Bad” in 1987. Together, these three albums sold over 130 million copies.

Beyond his work with Jackson, Jones organized “We Are the World,” the most successful benefit recording in music history, bringing together approximately thirty major artists to raise funds for African famine relief. He founded Qwest Records in 1980 and Vibe magazine in 1993. Jones won 25 Grammy Awards and was among a handful of EGOT winners. He also worked with the Jazz Foundation of America following Hurricane Katrina to support New Orleans jazz and blues musicians.