Iconic composer and music mogul Quincy Jones, who produced Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad, was calm and cool on Wednesday as a Los Angeles courtroom jury awarded him $9.4 million in the trial against Jackson’s estate, claiming he was cheated out of royalties after the King of Pop died in 2009.
The award is not the $30 million the legendary producer was hoping for, but the amount reflects more than what the Jackson estate believed they should pay him. Jones, dressed in a gray suit and wearing a lavender dress shirt, looked at a verdict form and paid close attention during the verdict reading.
In a statement given to The Hollywood Reporter, Jones said, “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.”
He added: “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.” The deliberations, which began Monday afternoon after the closing arguments ended, cappped the three-week trial after Jones’ years-long fight to prove that he was denied at least $30 million in royalties. - Hollywoodreporter.com