Jacko 'launches war on record companies'

Michael Jackson has reportedly 'declared war' on record companies, accusing them of forcing artists into "slavery."

The star has recruited a lawyer and a civil rights activist to spearhead his attack, which is targeted at his own label Sony.

Madonna, Sting, Eric Clapton, REM, Neil Diamond and Elton John are among stars reported to be backing the campaign.
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Jackson said: "Record companies have to start treating their artists with respect and financial justice."

He is demanding "emancipation" from unfair recording contracts that allegedly squeeze the profits out of artists by claiming spiralling costs, reports the London Evening Standard.
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Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton said: "Economic servitude, no matter how comfortable the slave is, is still slavery."

Lawyer Johnnie Cochran Junior added: "This is a problem the record companies should be ashamed of. Artists have made billions for them."

Jackson's attack follows claims by Sony that he owes them "something like $200 million for studio time and promotion".

Jackson has replied by stating: "For Sony to make a false claim that I owe $200 million is outrageous and offensive."

Sony have declined to comment.

Story filed: 11:24 Friday 7th June 2002

sup fam

a-yo...i dont kno why fam is always expectin for tha music industry to get P a shout...yall need to stop sweatin every peep to see if somebody mentions P...damn! its disgusting to a certain extent...

P kno what tha hell he doin and if he cared to be gradified by everyone he would have moved to Hollywood and become as fake as most of tha "stars" there...

P has done some career Russian Rulette, sometime he won, sometime he lost, but that's Poplife...full of up and downs...but he's never down for tha count remembah dat...

how rich is this??
mj is no different from bstreetboys,britney or any other corporate bullshit...his music is so souless this is a fucking insult to any real musician...
one can only imagine what he would do if he won..he can play jack shit..what are ya gonna do employ more faceless sessionplayers???fuck off into obsucerity you palefaced kiddiefiddler.

translation?

This is a reply to Johnny Lawson or whatever ya name is, and all other people who hate so dang much:

1. Michael Jackson does not deserve being spoke of that way. He is a person too ya know. May not play a guitar like Prince, but Michael is a talented musician in his own right. You can't compare the two. Mike is a vocalist and an entertainer...Prince is a REAL musician (still mad at him for canceling the show in my home town btw).

2. I'm so sick of everyone dissing everyone all the time, and that goes for myself. I mean, let everyone be, and let them do their thing ie: Britney. I don't like her music but man I don't cry about it--JUST DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO EM! And if you're upset that other deserving artists don't get the recognition they deserve when "wack" ones do---well that's the industry...must know how to work it...not let it work you.


We need to just let everyone be and do our own thing, and if what someone is doing in their life affects yours in some way, negatively, juss bless em and move on cause hatred and fighting will get us absoluetly no where! I mean look at all the wars we've been through and are going thru and what has changed or is changing? NOTHING! Wars create wars.

Let's love one another!

(Although I still am mad that Prince canceled his show here!) haha

Take care

Prince isn't the only artist to get stung by the record industry. Artist have been fighting companies for years. Waaayyy before Prince changed his name to a symbol. The Jacksons were fighting with Motown back in the seventies over their switch to CBS. Everything doesn't start and end with Prince...duh!

Jacko echoes Prince... yet Prince gets no mention.

Jacko 'launches war on record companies'



why does he have to mention prince??

Christopher said:

He didn't mention Courtney Love either, and she's been at least as high-profile as P. about taking on record companies.

C'mon everyone, all of these ppl r already paid! Yeah, an artist should make a big stink when money that's due 2 them, isn't. On that same note, I think there r more important issue that should b backed by M.J., Madonna and whoever else cuz music aint everything, especially the one's that r not in what the truth is and can distort one's thoughts! Goodness. I must admit, if I were muscian and knew what they were making, I'd probably trip 2.My thought is, is that all of the music biz takes all 4 a ride when it comes 2 the ol mighty dollar. I don't no, Don't listen 2 me.
Klick2me

Look at all of the artists willing to support Jackson & how basically no one wanted anything to do with Prince. It's quite telling.

Irish

What does it tell??? That back when Prince started protesting the situation people in the industry did not stand behind him. Now almost ten years later it has become chic to speak against the music industry. Prince just ahead of himself. Yes, I know he was not the first person to speak out about the music industry but, I think he may have been the first to make his situation so public.

He should get some props for speaking out.

Jacko doesn't exactly have an ace in his pocket anymore to be trying to wage a war on anybody, his music isn't all that great where he can use it as leverage against these huge record companies. They rather keep all these teeny boopers who are more profitable that is content with doing what they are told and who are not trying to make any waves.

With the best will in the world, it's funny how these artists always moan about how badly their record companies treat them when their careers are on the wane, not when they're at their peak and raking in the money. Is that because they're just not as popular anymore or because their record companies aren't doing all they can to promote them? I don't know. Certainly when an artist or band is starting out they do all they can to promote a new album, do tours, tv, interviews etc. Then when they get big they do as little as possible, "Hey, I'm too big to do TV and interviews and tours now, let the record company do all the work!"

The great thing about Prince is that he didn't just moan, he went and did something about it, in a way he's traded fame for artistry and independence. What he's doing with his career and on the internet is so innovative and pioneering, I reckon it will become a template for bands and artists in the future, he's working all the wrinkles out as he goes, Prince is gonna do all the work and others will probably capitalise on that, but in the future I'm sure he will be remembered as a leader.

Christopher said:

Hear, hear.
Other people take a much more active stand on this.

PAY ATTENTION TO ONE THING
Michael only talks about MONEY. He is not complaining against the lack of freedom to create, but only with money.
While I agree that all artists (including the real ones) should fight for a higher percentage, this article shows what are Michael´s true intentions...not art, but money.

GustavoRibas said:

but...isnt that what its all about? surely your not suggesting that prince is fighting his battle for moral reasons? noo way...its all about the bills...too...


prince can make whatever music he wants...he just wants to be rich off of the tunes...same for mj and love...i'd much prefer it when artist didnt assume they would get paid for making their work..they just created because they had a desire...

Metalorange said

The great thing about Prince is that he didn't just moan, he went and did something about it, in a way he's traded fame for artistry and independence. What he's doing with his career and on the internet is so innovative and pioneering, I reckon it will become a template for bands and artists in the future, he's working all the wrinkles out as he goes, Prince is gonna do all the work and others will probably capitalise on that, but in the future I'm sure he will be remembered as a leader.
---

I could not have said this any better. I hope you are right and people do look at Prince as being a leader.

SkletonKee said:

- Yes, unfortunately. But Prince used to battle WB because they didnt allow him to release all the stuff that he wanted to.
MJ is different...it´s REALLY all about the money

metalorange said:

alot of truth to that...but Prince was not too far removed from the success of The Most Beautiful Girl in the World song before waging his battle. I'm sure he would have had more hits would he have stayed under Warner Brothers.

I'm beginning to notice a trend in the music business.An artist puts out an album that doesn't sell well,and so they start a "war" against the record label.I wonder,would MJ be complaining if 'Invincible' had sold 15 million copies? Would he even be concerned about other artists who are done wrong by the majors? Don't get me wrong,MJ (and others) have some legitimate gripes against the music biz.But in Michael's case,the timing is suspect,imo.

Again a word of advice for Mike, If your willing to roll the dice and spend 20 million dollars plus to produce an album, you should be award of the consequences if the album doesn't sell that well. Again you weren't complaining when your records were selling. Next time use your own money to front your album. I bet then that you would spend a little more wiseley. you jackass..

Davideye, You hit the nail on the head..No one was complaining when the albums were selling and they were out buying their mansions.

mr. jackson? congratulations, you've just won a trip 2 my chuck taylor upside your damn head!!!

ketchupheaded™ pop starz...and slow ones, at that...

Artists know what there in for before they sign a contract, so where's the issue?
If artist want to sell more, they need to do the work, and that is tour, interviews, the web, etc.. Artists when they were big did this, hence being big, the artists mentioned in the proposed fight at big artists who don't tour much, nor do the rest I mentioned.
Boycott the record companies, and get these people together and make a company that will make things on the artists terms.

That's my opinion.

Buttadee said:

Michael plays guitar, piano and drums. He is a talented guy. Prince and M.Jackson seem to be different but I think they have same feelings for music.

T.HAN

HAN said:

___

please, prince will kick Mchaels ass all over the place-and I don't feel sorry for any of these people, boohoo, i'm filthy rich and still complain about money-who gives a rats ass!


___

gabeez said:

TO T.HAN:

I HIGHLY DOUBT MIKE PLAYS INSTRUMENTS LIKE PRINCE...

PEECE!

I find it quite interesting that Michael Jackson would align himself with the likes of Messrs. Sharpton and Cochran in his fight with Sony Records. Mr. Jackson has turned his back on his community for the longest time, and I find it quite disengenuous to recruit these two gentlemen in his fight. Given Mr. Jackson's penchant for outlandish self-promotion, lavish lifestyle and 30 million dollar Invinsible budgets, I would say that he has brought a great deal of his financial woes upon himself. I did not hear any of this talk when Thriller was flying of the shelf, or when he was floating statues of himself up the Thames.