MUMBAI: Cyber-crooks, who infiltrated Sony Music archives illegally last year have apparently stolen King of Pop Micheal Jackson’s entire back catalogue, including an unreleased collaboration with Will.I.Am and Freddie Mercury.

The hackers downloaded more than 50,000 digital files that were worth 160 million pounds. The catalogue also included previously unreleased material from MJ’s sessions of 'Bad', 'Off The Wall' and 'Thriller.'

Sony Music paid the late singer's estate over $250 million (?158 million) for the back catalogue in 2010 and released the first swathe of tracks with the posthumous album 'Michael'.

"Everything Sony purchased from the Michael Jackson estate was compromised. It caused them to check their systems and they found the breach. There was a degree of sophistication. Sony identified the weakness and plugged the gap," a source told to daily.

The attack was discovered weeks after hackers targeted Sony’s PlayStation Network in April 2011. Sony Music have not commented on the leak or confirmed exact details.

Jackson died at the age of 50 due to an overdose of the anesthetic propofol. Last November, his physician Dr Conrad Murray was convicted of his involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison.