John McClain Dies: Michael Jackson Estate Co-Executor & Veteran Music Exec Was 71
John McClain, the veteran music executive who served as a co-executor for the Michael Jackson estate, has died. He was 71. The former A&M and Interscope Records exec reportedly died of complications from a fall on Tuesday in Los Angeles, according to People, as his co-executo…
John McClain, the veteran music executive who served as a co-executor for the Michael Jackson estate, has died. He was 71.
The former A&M and Interscope Records exec reportedly died of complications from a fall on Tuesday in Los Angeles, according to People, as his co-executor John Branca paid tribute.
“I am profoundly grieved at the loss of my partner and ‘brother’ John McClain,” he said in a statement. “One of the great innovators in the world of music and music marketing, John was a visionary, seeing past the mundane and into the future.”
Branca added, “When we were named in Michael’s will, I knew that he would bring great insight into Michael’s music and that his friendship and dedication to Michael would underscore all the great projects that we could bring to the world. He brought a passion and sense of conviction to all that he did and was the most generous of friends. It is difficult to imagine a world without him.”
After Jackson’s death in 2009, McClain and Branca became executors of his estate, continuing to release projects around the late artist, including the 2009 documentary This Is It and the record-breaking biopic Michael, currently approaching $800M a the global box office.
In recent months, McClain and Branca have gone to court with Michael’s daughter Paris Jackson over unapproved bonus payments, which were ordered to be returned to the estate.
