Summer is officially over, and thankfully, so is the summer break for The Big MJ Debate!
Charlotte McLachlan and Pez Jax are back with a brand-new episode, and after a few months away, they clearly decided there was no point easing themselves back into things gently.
Episode 43 – “Back To B*tchin’ – The MJ Estate Has Gone Quiet Since The Biopic” does exactly what the title promises: Charlotte and Pez are back to b*tchin’ about the Michael Jackson Estate.
And, quite frankly, there is plenty to b*tch about.
The latest episode takes a critical look at what happened after the release of the Michael biopic, and more importantly, what didn’t happen.
The biopic put Michael Jackson firmly back into the public conversation. Millions of people were introduced to his story, his music and his legacy, including people who may not have thought about Michael in years. There was renewed interest, new fans and a genuine opportunity to bring an entire new generation into the world of Michael Jackson.
So what happened next?
According to Charlotte and Pez… not nearly enough.
As they point out, the success of the biopic should have been the starting gun for a much wider campaign around Michael Jackson. Releases, merchandise, projects, fan engagement and opportunities to capitalise on the renewed interest could have been lined up and ready to go.
Instead, things went rather quiet.
Very quiet.
Crickets.
And this isn’t simply about the biopic itself.
Charlotte and Pez get into what they see as a much bigger problem with the way the Estate has been handling Michael’s legacy, from missed opportunities around merchandise and releases to the relationship with the very fans who continue to keep Michael’s music, work and legacy alive.
Because while the Estate controls an enormous catalogue and one of the most recognisable entertainment legacies in the world, the fans are often the ones doing the heavy lifting.
Fan websites. Fan projects. Fan conventions. Fan events. Fan-created content. Fan communities.
Fans continue to promote Michael because they love Michael.
And that is really at the heart of this episode.
The question isn’t simply whether the Estate has made the most of the Michael biopic. The bigger question is whether it has made the most of the opportunities surrounding Michael Jackson at all.
Charlotte and Pez make some pretty strong points about where they believe the Estate has fallen short, with the biopic, with merchandise, with releases and, perhaps most importantly, with the fans.
Because ultimately, this isn’t just about a business opportunity being missed.
It’s about Michael.
There is a huge difference between simply owning and managing an incredible catalogue and actively building, protecting and celebrating the legacy of the person behind it.
And when you have millions of people who still care enough to buy, watch, listen, attend, collect, discuss and defend that legacy, perhaps ignoring those people isn’t the greatest strategy in the world.
So yes, after the summer break, The Big MJ Debate is back to b*tchin’.
And this time, the target is the Estate’s apparent post-biopic silence.
Charlotte and Pez don’t hold back, and whether you agree with everything they say or not, they certainly raise some questions that are worth discussing.
Because Michael Jackson’s legacy isn’t sitting quietly waiting for someone to remember it.
The fans certainly haven’t forgotten.
Watch Episode 43 – Back To B*tchin’ – The MJ Estate Has Gone Quiet Since The Biopic
And welcome back, Charlotte and Pez.
We’ve missed the b*tchin’.
