Jackson: Recording Industry Racist By Verena Dobnik Associated Press Writer Saturday, July 6, 2002; 4:40 PM NEW YORK –– Multiplatinum singer Michael Jackson, already feuding with his record company, charged Saturday that the recording industry was a racist conspiracy that turns profits at the expense of performers – particularly minority artists. "The recording companies really, really do conspire against the artists – they steal, they cheat, they do everything they can," Jackson said in a rare public appearance. "(Especially) against the black artists." Jackson, 43, who began his recording career as a child, spoke at the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network in Harlem. Sharpton and attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. recently formed a coalition to investigate whether artists are being financially exploited by record labels. He also singled out Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola, saying he was "mean, he's a racist, and he's very, very, very devilish." Jackson also accused Mottola of using "the n-word" when speaking about an unidentified black Sony artist. Sony Music issued a statement calling Jackson's comments "ludicrous, spiteful and hurtful. It seems particularly bizarre that he has chosen to launch an unwarranted and ugly attack on an executive who has championed his career ... for many, many years." Sony produced Jackson's last album, "Invincible," which has had disappointing sales despite an estimated $25 million in promotion. The singer's fans say Sony didn't do enough to launch the album. Others in the industry say sagging sales were indicative of Jackson's declining appeal. Jackson mentioned several black artists as victims of the industry, including James Brown, Mariah Carey and Sammy Davis Jr. Jackson alleged that Davis died penniless, although Davis' attorney said in 1990 that the "Rat Pack" member left an estate worth more than $6 million when he died. "If you fight for me, you're fighting for all black people, dead and alive," Jackson said, adding: "We have to put a stop to this incredible injustice." Outside Sony's Manhattan headquarters, about 150 fans gathered later Saturday, hoisting signs reading "Please Sony, stop killing the music," "Terminate Tommy Mottola," and "Invincible is Unbreakable." Jackson arrived at the Midtown building on a double-decker city tour bus that twice circled the block. He stood in the open top deck and, raising his fists, joined the crowd in chanting "Down with Tommy Mottola!" Jackson held up a poster with three boxes marked "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" – with an image of himself in the "The Good" box and Mottola's face with devilish horns in "The Bad" box, while Mottola's real image adorned "The Ugly" box. © 2002 The Associated Press
What race is he again? The history of the "Big Industry Oligarchy" screwing artists out of their fair share of the profits have been notorious. It trancends race. But MJ's sales have been slumping lately for various reasons. The reporter doesn't seem to buy his latest accusation either. I'm surprised he hasn't attacked MP3s and online file sharing...
Is this a joke? Michael Jackson is whiter than Martha Stewart! The sad truth is he simply isn't the viable recording artist he once was. A string of personal scandals, reclusive behavior and so-so records have all contributed to a steep decline in his popularity. I find it interesting that he neglected to mention mega-star artists like Destiny's Child and his own sister, Janet, who has one of the largest recording deals in the industry.
I get so tired of people complaining about race issues when they are so single-minded about it they fail to grasp one of the key issues: It's not a race thing, it's a MONEY thing! Poor black people are repressed and have lower chances to succeed. Guess what? The same goes for poor mexican people and poor white people. I'm not saying that there aren't legitimate issues there - there are. However, they ignore the fact that the classes in America (elite, middle-class, and poor) are divided by money as much as by race. The judicial system? If you want justice, you'd better be able to afford a good lawyer - OJ could. Schooling? Better hope that you can afford to live in the right neighborhood or can pay for private schooling. Work? If you were born in America and can't speak english well, fuggedaboutit. Of course in this case, as someone else mentioned, it's not about race either - it's about the publicity. =)
This is a case of Jackson no longer having appeal and refusing to believe it..so sad I remember as a teeny-bopper, he was hotter than mollases, no he is bantha fodder...
It's obvious Jackson is not knowledgable when it comes to the music industry. For one, he didn't mention Toni Braxton, who was totally screwed by her record company.
Poor Michael! This breaks my heart. If he only still had the millions in hush money that he paid his young boy "friends", then he could make a difference to the exploited artists of the world. Damn the bad luck! He needs to be careful attacking these powerful people in his industry though. A sensitive man like Michael needs friends, and he does not want to alienate Elizabeth Taylor, Webster, or the Chimp. I guess Johnny Cochran will be his friend as long as the Beatles' portfolio is producing cash.
Wah Wah Wah! I get so tired of hearing that everything that goes against black people has to be racially motivated. That excuse has become a crutch to use as an excuse for not trying. As much money as Jackson has, why doesn't he start is own recording company? If, what he's saying is true, then wouldn't it make sense that the vast majority of black artists would join his label? Shut up you child molester!!!
That's a pretty offensive set of generalizations. We are discussing ONE man's opinion of race relations in the record industry. I'm sure not all African Americans share his opinion.
I didn't communicate my point very well. I didn't mean to imply that all African Americans use racism as a crutch. However, I've personally known more that do use the race card, than don't. Add to that, all the stories you hear in the news & read in print, & maybe you can start to see where my frustration comes in, everytime I hear the excuse. Don't get me wrong, I've got several Black friends & I've also told some of them on various occasions that they were using racism as a crutch for not trying. Jackson made a bold statement of racisim against all recording companies & only offered 3 black recording artists as his proof. I guess that means that no white, hispanic, or any other culture received bad treatment? The article left me with the impression that the whole issue, is just a conflict between him & Mottola. As for his statement "The recording companies really, really do conspire against the artists – they steal, they cheat, they do everything they can," Jackson said in a rare public appearance. "(Especially) against the black artists.", what he calls cheating & stealing, I call negotiating the best possible deal for their employer. Screaming racism is a very serious claim & should only be used with proof, not to better position one's self in business negotiations.
Interesting... I was wondering myself how much of this actually has to do with ATV Music Publishing... MJ had purchased the publishing rights to the ATV catalog a while back for like $45M, then sold a 50% stake to Sony for over double that amount. Now if I understand all this correctly, Jackson borrowed $200M+ during the 1990's, using his stake in ATV as surety. Sony supposedly wants to collect on those loans now, and may be able to take the remaining 50% of ATV if he defaults. Thing is, Jackson's half is now worth around $400M. If Sony wants to collect on these loans, there's nothing wrong with that. If he chose to put up his stake in the company as collateral, that was his decision. Now that he can't pay, he wants to cry foul? Doesn't sound like racism to me Mike, sounds like you took a big risk and made a bad deal of your own free will...
What does a rich guy like him need a $200 million dollar loan for? A reenactment of the civil war by uniformed chimpanzees??
I think it is also about the Beatles catalog besides only way to get a good deal at sony is toe sleep with Tony Matolla . . or even marry him [See Mariah Carey] Mike last album *was* good. . . but sony did not pub and back it properly. . . . . . If you want to take something from someone . .and you can hamstring them . . .into a position where they are vunerable. . . THEN BEST BELEIVE UNSCRUPULOUS FOLX WILL DO IT. . . . SEE SONY!!! I won't make this a race issue. .. . though it may play some part of it . .. I'm just gonna lump all of it into general EVIL VILE SICK SAD SORRY SONS OF B*TCHES !! Don't have time to seperate the evil. Rocket River
Like OJ, Micheal Jackson rediscovers his race when he gets in trouble. Michael doesn't sell as much records anymore because he is still making New Jack Swing records circa 1991 when his fans really want the Michael circa 1981 (hell, the Jackson Five sound infinitely fresher than any solo MJ record released in the 90's). Tommy Mottola did force him to make these lame albums, or force him to have so much plastic surgery that he looks like a melted candle, and he certainly did force him to reach a multi-million dollar settlement with a child accusing MJ of sexual abuse even while he has sleep overs with child actors. And, please, anybody who demands that he be called the king of pop and has a *statue* of himself boated up the Thames to promote an album probably isn't quite in touch with reality.
