Anka 'to receive royalties on Jackson song'

Paul Anka is to receive royalties from the Michael Jackson song 'This It It'.

The singer-songwriter had earlier claimed that the new single "ripped off" 'I Never Heard', a song co-written by he and the late King of Pop for R&B singer Safire in 1991.

Lawyers John Branca and John McClain, co-administrators of Jackson's estate, later admitted the song had been written by the pair together and would see to it that Anka was given recognition for the track.

The 68-year-old said that he was contacted by McClain, who apologised to him on Monday afternoon and said that he would receive due credit and royalties for the song, the New York Times reports.

Anka added that McClain had reportedly explained to him: "We took Sony 50 songs, and this was the best of all of them. My thought was that this one sounded different. Now I know why."

He added: "I said, 'It's fine if it's an honest mistake. These things happen'. "

Former Sony CEO Tommy Mottola recently said that fans can expect to enjoy new music from the popstar for "decades to come".