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Michael Jackson · S7 E5
The Sony War
Michael Jackson vs. Tommy Mottola — the ugliest fight in the music business
July 2002, Harlem, New York. Michael Jackson stands on top of a double-decker bus alongside Al Sharpton, holds up a sign that reads "Sony Kills Music," and publicly calls the head of Sony Music "the devil."
You Rock My World, Michael Jackson (2001). The lead single from Invincible, featuring Marlon Brando in one of his final screen appearances and Chris Tucker as Michael's sidekick. The 13-minute short film is set in a nightclub. Sony allegedly refused to promote it properly, and this is where the war began.
You Rock My World, Michael Jackson (2001)
Produced by Michael and Rodney Jerkins, "You Rock My World" is a throwback to the smooth pop-R&B that made Off the Wall a classic. The production is warm and bouncy, with a bassline that recalls "Rock with You" and a vocal that sounds relaxed for the first time in years. Marlon Brando appears in the video in one of his final screen roles, delivering lines with the casual authority only he could manage. The single reached number 10 on the Hot 100 but received minimal promotion from Sony, fueling Michael's fury.
Sources
Invincible album credits, Epic/Sony Records, 2001
Billboard Hot 100 chart history, 2001
The Dispute
The war between Michael and Sony was about ownership. Michael wanted full control of his master recordings, which Sony held. He believed the label was deliberately under-promoting Invincible to weaken his bargaining position and force him to sell his 50% stake in the Sony/ATV publishing catalog. The catalog, which included the Beatles songs he bought in 1985, was now worth billions.
Sources
Michael Jackson, Inc., Zack O'Malley Greenburg, 2014
Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson, Randall Sullivan, 2012
TAP TO REVEAL: What was Sony really after?
The Accusation
In July 2002, Michael appeared at rallies in Harlem and London, publicly accusing Sony Music chairman Tommy Mottola of racism and exploitation. The accusations were incendiary, and many in the music industry distanced themselves from Michael's campaign. Mottola departed Sony Music in January 2003. The publishing catalog, the real prize, remained in Michael's hands.
Sources
Michael Jackson, Inc., Zack O'Malley Greenburg, 2014
New York Times, Mottola departure coverage, January 2003
The Sony War: The Facts
Unbreakable, Michael Jackson ft. The Notorious B.I.G. (2001)
The opening track of Invincible, featuring a sampled verse from The Notorious B.I.G. The song is Michael's statement of defiance: no matter what anyone throws at him, he will not break. The production by Rodney Jerkins is dense and aggressive, layering vocal samples, percussion, and synthesizers into something that hits harder than almost anything else on the album. In the context of the Sony War, it sounds like a battle cry.
Unbreakable, Michael Jackson ft. The Notorious B.I.G. (2001)
The lyrics are a direct response to everyone who counted Michael out: media, prosecutors, label executives. Biggie's sampled vocal adds a posthumous edge, as if two artists under siege are making common cause across decades. The word "unbreakable" repeats like a mantra, and by the end you almost believe it.
What was Michael Jackson's primary dispute with Sony Music about?
The war with Sony leaves Michael exhausted, but the album that started it all deserves its own story. Invincible cost $30 million, took four years, and then vanished.
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