Jackson Fans Flock to eBay for Merch

PopEater

posted: 35 DAYS 22 HOURS AGO

comments: 2

filed under: Gut Reactions, Highbrow, Music News

PRINT|E-MAIL MORE

Text SizeAAA

Skip over this content

AP / Epic Records / Amazon

In the wake of Michael Jackson's sudden, tragic death, fans have flocked to eBay and other online merchandisers to purchase music and memorabilia, sparing little concern for cost when it comes to the price of nostalgia.

Everything from dolls to buttons to posters to original artwork are up for bid on eBay, with direct links on the auction site's homepage to memorabilia, music, autographs and records. More than 40,000 items are up for sale, including 4,000 items in the clothing section like T-shirts, authentic Jackson clothing or reenactment costumes.

While autograph reprints on photos and posters can be picked up by fans at fairly reasonable prices, under $15 or $20 dollars, rare or special edition pieces are selling for top dollar. Authentic, autographed photos of the legendary performer quickly sold for upwards of $1,000. Other autographs on albums, framed posters and even one on a black fedora are selling for anywhere from $1,000 to almost $10,000.

Skip over this content

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=643215&pid=643214&uts=1246499387

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/music/?s_channel=us.musicpop&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Michael Jackson Fans in Mourning

See Fans' Reactions From Around the World >>>

Julien Hekimian, WireImage

One autographed copy of a mounted record is going for $3,500, while some hopeful sellers have original, unopened records of 'Thriller' priced in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sealed, mint condition 25th Anniversary vinyl editions of 'Thriller' are up for sale from $149.99 to $800.

Some eBay bidders are shelling out five to 10 times the average cost of a newspaper for those with headlines surrounding Jackson's passing. One pre-order paper copy of Friday's New York Times sold for $152.50.

For the MJ fan planning to create a memorial Web site, domain names are advertised for millions of dollars. Package deals for URL's like 'michaeljacksonphotosite.com' and 'michaeljacksonphotosotre.com' are on sale for $10 million. Sites have the potential to receive countless hits in the coming weeks and months like 'Memoryofmichaeljackson.com' can be bought outright for $19 million.

Online music retailers are also seeing enormous profits from fans scouring the Web for Jackson nostalgia. The top seven albums on iTunes were all from Jackson, as were five of the top 10 songs and the top five music video downloads.

All 15 top selling albums on Amazon.com Friday were Jackson's, and 18 of the top 20 sales were from Jackson or The Jackson Five.

Skip over this content

Shaheen Jafargholi's Tribute Brooke's Teary Speech

Mariah Sings Gordy Speech Hudson Sings

Stevie Sings Queen Poem Mayer Plays

In Tribute: Top 10 Jackson Songs All MJ Radio

2009-06-29 11:41:23

PRINT|E-MAIL TWITTER FACEBOOK DIGG AIM MORE