Nationwide — John McClain, co-executor of the Michael Jackson estate and longtime music executive, has died at 71 in Malibu. He played a key role in shaping major artists’ careers and helped rebuild Jackson’s estate into a global business empire.
McClain died in Malibu last Tuesday, according to TMZ. Reports said he had been dealing with illness for several years, but his exact cause of death has not been confirmed.
He built a long career in the music industry, working as an A&R executive at A&M Records. During that time, he helped guide the success of Janet Jackson, especially through her breakthrough album Control.
McClain also worked across several major acts in the industry. His credits and collaborations included projects linked to Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Michael Jackson. He also had involvement in early label decisions tied to Mark Wahlberg’s Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch era.
In 2009, McClain took on a major new role when he was named co-executor of Michael Jackson’s estate alongside John Branca. At the time, the estate was heavily in debt following Jackson’s death.
Together, McClain and Branca worked to stabilize and rebuild the estate’s finances. Over time, they helped grow it into a multibillion-dollar entertainment operation with global reach.
The estate later expanded into film, stage, and live productions, including the This Is It documentary, a Broadway show, a Cirque du Soleil production, and the planned Michael biopic. McClain also contributed to posthumous releases such as “Love Never Felt So Good” and “Much Too Soon.”