MJ Worth More Dead Than Alive

Legendary pop singer Michael Jackson has earned £675million ($1.2billion) since his death a year ago this week, when the "Moonwalker" was preparing for a 50-date tour in order to resurrect his once booming career.

According to American music bible Billboard, Michael's estate's income has exceeded his £340million ($700 million) debt. His albums are doing great business as around 24 million of his albums have been sold around the world since his sudden death. The sales of ringtone has added about £3.3million ($7million).

According to figures from Nielsen SoundScan, total album sales had swollen to nine million in the United States by this month. Jackson's popularity can be gauged from the fact that he now accounts for nine of the 17 best-selling R&B hits in digital history, including "Thriller," "Billie Jean" and "Beat It."

Jackson's death has also not halted his recording career. In March, John Branca and John McClain, the administrators of his estate, inked a deal with Sony Music Entertainment, which is expected to guarantee the Jackson estate as much as 250 million dollars. Under the deal, Sony will release Jackson's 10 albums over seven years until 2017.

"To this day there's interest in Elvis. And I think there will be enduring interest in Michael. It's our job to continue to expose Michael to new generations," Branca had said after signing the Sony deal. The publicity of the singer has increase manifold after his death and it seems that the late singer has now found new audiences.

Story courtesy of USA Newsweek