Anka Promised 50 Per Cent of This Is It Royalties

Wednesday 14th October 2009 - 06:30:10

Legendary singersongwriter Paul Anka will reap half the profits from Michael Jackson's first posthumous single This IS IT - after the King of Pop's estate conceded he co-wrote the track.

Anka spoke out against Sony's decision to use the song, which he co-wrote with Jackson back in 1983, following the track's midnight release on Monday (12Oct09).

This Is It is a rehash of Anka's song I Never Heard, and the late star's administrators quickly confirmed it is part owned by Anka.

We acknowledge that Michael and Paul wrote this song together

A rep for the estate said, "We acknowledge that Michael and Paul wrote this song together".

According to the New York Daily News, Jackson's administrators approached Anka's lawyers to offer him 50 per cent of the single's revenue after he threatened the estate with legal action.