Quincy Jones, a legendary composer and producer who worked on Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, Bad and Thriller, was awarded $9.4 million in the trial against Jackson’s estate on the claims that he was cheated out of royalties after King of Pop’s death.
Jones initially hoped for $30 million, but that was based on his beliefs of what he should be paid.
Jones shared a statement for The Hollywood Reporter saying: “As an artist, maintaining the vision and integrity of one’s creation is of paramount importance. I, along with the team I assembled with Michael, took great care and purpose in creating these albums, and it has always given me a great sense of pride and comfort that three decades after they were originally recorded, these songs are still being played in every corner of the world.
This lawsuit was never about Michael, it was about protecting the integrity of the work we all did in the recording studio and the legacy of what we created. Although this judgment is not the full amount that I was seeking, I am very grateful that the jury decided in our favor in this matter. I view it not only as a victory for myself personally, but for artists’ rights overall.”
