We've already learned, morbidly enough, that Michael Jackson is far more popular — and likely more marketable — dead than alive, thanks to the folks who handily track these sorts of things. Now comes the first test, as merchandise from his never-to-be This Is It tour — which he was rehearsing for just before his death — goes on sale. There are shirts, belt buckles, mugs, barware, and collectors' plates so far, among other items. And while it feels a little ghoulish to me to buy stuff specifically from performances canceled due to his demise, I have to admit it's fairly classy-looking merch, from what I can tell. Certainly better than the shoddy tees street vendors down the block from the EW offices are displaying as we speak, and at least the This Is It items weren't made exclusively to benefit from his death. We're talking in lots of relative shades of grey here.
What do you think, PopWatchers? How much is MJ gear worth to you now? Do you think it'll increase in value over time? Would you want any of it? Or does it creep you out?
Nothing! I am so sick of the 24/7 coverage of MJ and the crazy Jackson family. I feel great sympathy for his kids and mother. But turning CNN into the Grieving Michael Jackson Channel is too much. Enough! Let him rest in peace–but I know that won’t happen.
To play devil’s advocate, all the merch was already manufactured long before the tour was supposed to begin (and as a result his death), so all that inventory would just be sitting in a warehouse collecting dust. Since it is official MJ merchandise, the revenue will rightfully go where it should (compared to bootleg shirts sold on the street). Other deceased recording artists have been merchandised and exploited posthumously (Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Kurt Cobain for example) and nobody has ever complained about whether it is in poor taste to do so. Personally I’m not interested in any MJ merch dead or alive.
Never. I will never buy anything of this stuff. He deserves respect, at least now that he’s dead!! I’d buy only new unreleased album staff, as money would go to his children.
Never. I will never buy anything of this stuff. He deserves respect, at least now that he’s dead!! I’d buy only new unreleased album staff, as money would go to his children.
I would be okay buying this, it was planned and made long before his death. The companies that made the merchandise would be sitting on a huge loss, so I think they deserve to make their money back. At least its official merchandise.
I am considering buying a shirt – they’re very well-designed and run the entirety of his career, which is cool.
The “Dangerous” tattooed-eyeliner-and-spit-curl sleep mask, however, I could DEFINITELY live without. Ca-reepy.
I personally wouldn’t buy anything, but I do think the merchandisers should have an opportunity to recoup some of their losses. This is official merchandise and not some ghoulish attempt to make money on his death.
Thanks for the tip! I just bought 3 shirts. This is what Michael would want; his fans, fame, and legacy were everything to him and this is the least I could do to pay him some form of respect. And frankly, he deserves every second of this hullabullo considering the crap he put up with in his short life. He was a gift to the world.
Also, buying from this store puts the money in the right place.
Thanks for the tip! I just bought 3 shirts. This is what Michael would want; his fans, fame, and legacy were everything to him and this is the least I could do to pay him some form of respect. And frankly, he deserves every second of this hullabullo considering the crap he put up with in his short life. He was a gift to the world and the world destroyed him.
Also, buying from this store puts the money in the right place.
Michael Jackson This Is It .com domain name for sale on ebay.Here is the link.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Michael-Jackson-This-Is-It-Final-Tour-Domain-Name_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a3Q7c66Q3a2Q7c39Q3a1Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem29ff345344QQitemZ180375278404QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f0QQsalenotsupported
I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t even think of buying any of this while he was alive (especially considering I wouldn’t have attended one of the concerts—not for lack of interest though), but I kind of would like a t-shirt I guess. But tour products are always too costly. Hopefully they license out some designs to brands that sell in Target for closer to $10.
Some of the T-shirts were pretty cool. That said, I think MJ’s music is what’s most important. I’m planning on buying the rest of the music I don’t already own, but that’s about it.
Let Michael Rest. He would be so upset with all of us right about now.
I think buying merchandise associated with the concert he was going to do is just wrong now. Just donate it to homeless shelters or something like that
Maybe they can donate the proceeds from these t-shirts, belts and playing cards to the city of LA so they don’t have to fire teachers. Just a thought.