Michael Jackson

=== Label dispute and ''Invincible'' (1997–2002) ===
From October 1997 to September 2001, Jackson worked on his tenth solo album, ''[[Invincible (Michael Jackson album)|Invincible]]'', which cost {{Nowrap|$30 million}} to record, making it the [[List of most expensive albums|most expensive album]] of all time.<ref name="Burkeman">{{cite news |first=Oliver |last=Burkeman |title=Jacko gets tough: but is he a race crusader or just a falling star? |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 7, 2002 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jul/08/oliverburkeman |archive-date=July 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702105224/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jul/08/oliverburkeman |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 1999, Jackson joined [[Luciano Pavarotti]] for a [[War Child (charity)|War Child]] benefit concert in [[Modena, Italy]]. The show raised a million dollars for refugees of the [[Kosovo War]], and additional funds for the children of [[Guatemala]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Others to Join Pavarotti for Benefit |publisher=[[VH1]] |date=May 5, 1999 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1426933/19990505/carey_mariah.jhtml |archive-date= October 18, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111018125558/https://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1426933/19990505/carey_mariah.jhtml}}</ref> Later that month, Jackson organized a series of "[[MJ & Friends|Michael Jackson & Friends]]" benefit concerts in Germany and [[Korea]]. Other artists involved included [[Slash (musician)|Slash]], [[Scorpions (band)|The Scorpions]], [[Boyz II Men]], [[Luther Vandross]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[A. R. Rahman]], [[Prabhu Deva]] Sundaram, [[Shobana]], [[Andrea Bocelli]] and Luciano Pavarotti. The proceeds went to the [[Nelson Mandela Children's Fund]], the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|Red Cross]] and [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Slash, Scorpions, Others Scheduled for "Michael Jackson & Friends" |publisher=VH1 |date=May 27, 1999 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1429785/19990527/guns_n_roses.jhtml |archive-date= February 21, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100221074225/https://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1429785/19990527/guns_n_roses.jhtml}}</ref> In 1999, Jackson was presented with the "Outstanding Humanitarian Award" at [[Bollywood Movie Awards]] in New York City where he noted [[Mahatma Gandhi]] to have been an inspiration for him.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fisher |first=Mark |title=The Resistible Demise of Michael Jackson |publisher=[[John Hunt Publishing]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-84694-348-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mBRjfsqXvbsC&pg=PA154 |page=154 |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311050428/https://books.google.com/books?id=mBRjfsqXvbsC&pg=PA154 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Solihun |first=Soleh |title=The King is Dead |publisher=PT Mizan Publika |isbn=978-602-8579-13-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-IWaOxAFlUC |page=157 |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311050424/https://books.google.com/books?id=q-IWaOxAFlUC |url-status=live }}</ref> From August 1999 to 2000, he lived in New York City at 4 [[74th Street (Manhattan)|East 74th Street]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Tracie |last=Rozhon |title=Big Deal; An Old Chagall Haunt, Repainted |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 16, 2000 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/16/garden/big-deal-an-old-chagall-haunt-repainted.html |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604022016/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/16/garden/big-deal-an-old-chagall-haunt-repainted.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At the turn of the century, Jackson won an American Music Award as Artist of the 1980s.<ref name="MTV">{{cite news |first=David |last=Basham |date=January 18, 2000 |title=Lauryn Hill, Backstreet Boys, DMX Honored With American Music Awards |publisher=MTV |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425174/.jhtml |archive-date=September 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925171014/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425174/.jhtml |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2000, ''Guinness World Records'' recognized him for supporting 39 charities, more than any other entertainer.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Maureen |last=Orth |title=Losing His Grip |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=April 2003 |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2003/04/orth200304 |archive-date= March 6, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080306064036/https://www.vanityfair.com/fame/features/2003/04/orth200304}}</ref>

In September 2001, [[Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special|two concerts]] were held at Madison Square Garden to mark Jackson's 30th year as a solo artist. Jackson performed with his brothers for the first time since 1984. The show also featured [[Mýa]], [[Usher (singer)|Usher]], [[Whitney Houston]], [[Destiny's Child]], [[Monica (singer)|Monica]], [[Liza Minnelli]] and Slash. The first show was marred by technical lapses, and the crowd booed a speech by [[Marlon Brando]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Aiese |title=Billboard: Michael Jackson Concert Review |website=Classicwhitney.com |access-date= April 7, 2019 |url=https://www.classicwhitney.com/review/music/live/mjconcert_07sep2001.html |archive-date= June 20, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190620031227/http://www.classicwhitney.com/review/music/live/mjconcert_07sep2001.html |url-status= dead}}</ref> Almost 30{{nbsp}}million people watched the television broadcast of the shows in November.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Jackson's CBS Special Moonwalks Over Rivals |magazine=Billboard |date=November 15, 2001 |access-date=April 7, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77730/jacksons-cbs-special-moonwalks-over-rivals |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308153319/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/77730/jacksons-cbs-special-moonwalks-over-rivals |url-status=live }}</ref> After the [[September 11 attacks]] (in which Jackson narrowly avoided death by oversleeping and missing a scheduled meeting at the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]]<ref>{{Citation |title=Was Michael Jackson almost in WTC on 9/11? |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/was-michael-jackson-almost-wtc-9-11-2D80555837 |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |date=September 14, 2011 |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622183610/http://www.today.com/popculture/was-michael-jackson-almost-wtc-9-11-2D80555837 |url-status=live }}</ref>), Jackson helped organize the [[United We Stand: What More Can I Give]] benefit concert at [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Stadium]] in Washington, D.C., on October 21, 2001. Jackson performed "[[What More Can I Give]]" as the finale.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=614–617}}

The release of ''Invincible'' was preceded by a dispute between Jackson and his record label, Sony Music Entertainment. Jackson had expected the licenses to the masters of his albums to revert to him in the early 2000s, after which he would be able to promote the material however he pleased and keep the profits, but clauses in the contract set the revert date years into the future. Jackson sought an early exit from his contract.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=610–611}} ''Invincible'' was released on October 30, 2001. It was Jackson's first full-length album in six years, and the last album of original material he released in his lifetime.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=610–611}} It debuted at number one in 13 countries, and went on to sell eight{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide, receiving double-platinum certification in the US.<ref name="Certifications" /><ref>{{cite press release |first=Devin |last=Leonard |title=Michael Jackson Is Worth More Than Ever, and the IRS Wants Its Cut |agency=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=January 2, 2017 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-02-01/michael-jackson-is-worth-more-than-ever-and-the-irs-wants-a-piece-of-it |archive-date=February 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208103025/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-02-01/michael-jackson-is-worth-more-than-ever-and-the-irs-wants-a-piece-of-it |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first1=Sheila |last1=Marikar |first2=Emily |last2=Friedman |title=Michael Jackson, King of Pop, Dead at 50 |work=[[ABC News]] |date=June 29, 2009 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/story?id=7932509&page=1 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126112748/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/story?id=7932509&page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On January 9, 2002, Jackson won his 22nd American Music Award for Artist of the Century.<ref>{{cite news |title=Keys, Destiny's Child, McGraw win at American Music Awards |newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |date=January 10, 2002 |access-date=June 16, 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Oc40AAAAIBAJ&pg=5669,889435 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225211311/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Oc40AAAAIBAJ&pg=5669,889435 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Neva |last=Chonin |title=Awards recognize popular success / Keys, Destiny's win as expected |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=January 11, 2002 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Awards-recognize-popular-success-Keys-2885603.php |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124047/https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Awards-recognize-popular-success-Keys-2885603.php |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Anchor|PrinceII}}Later that year, an anonymous [[surrogacy|surrogate mother]] gave birth to his third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed "Blanket"{{refn|Blanket changed his name to "Bigi" in 2015.|group=nb}}), who had been conceived by [[artificial insemination]].{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=599–600}} On November 20, Jackson briefly held Blanket over the railing of his Berlin hotel room, four stories above ground level, prompting widespread criticism in the media. Jackson apologized for the incident, calling it "a terrible mistake".<ref name="Vineyard" /> On January 22, promoter Marcel Avram filed a breach of contract complaint against Jackson for failing to perform two planned 1999 concerts.<ref>{{cite news |first=Joe |last=D'Angelo |title=Jackson sued by promoter for attempting world tour without him |publisher=MTV |date=February 4, 2002 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1452133/michael-jackson-sued-by-promoter-for-attempting-world-tour-without-him/ |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626180833/http://www.mtv.com/news/1452133/michael-jackson-sued-by-promoter-for-attempting-world-tour-without-him/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In March, a Santa Maria jury ordered Jackson to pay Avram $5.3{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news |first=William |last=Overend |title=Officials Revisit Tax Break for Jackson's Neverland as Cattle Ranch |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=March 21, 2003 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-21-me-jackson21-story.html |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414141532/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-21-me-jackson21-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Jackson's Legal Troubles |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=June 13, 2005 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111783026976850589 |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817101829/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB111783026976850589 |url-status=live }}</ref> On December 18, 2003, Jackson's attorneys dropped all appeals on the verdict and settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Stephen M. |last=Silverman |title=Jackson Settles Old Lawsuit Against Him |magazine=People |date=May 10, 2004 |access-date=June 12, 2019 |url=https://people.com/celebrity/jackson-settles-old-lawsuit-against-him/ |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815175041/https://people.com/celebrity/jackson-settles-old-lawsuit-against-him/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 24, 2002, Jackson performed at [[Apollo Theater]]. The concert was a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and former President Bill Clinton.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackson fans celebrate at Apollo |work=BBC News |date=July 1, 2009 |access-date=May 28, 2020 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8127971.stm |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804023733/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8127971.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The money collected would be used to encourage citizens to vote. It raised $2.5{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite news |first=Christine |last=Haughney |title=For the DNC, It's Showtime at the Apollo |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 25, 2002 |access-date=May 28, 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/04/25/for-the-dnc-its-showtime-at-the-apollo/af00ce7a-e0fd-452d-8e58-5bed3cdffd26/ |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121233944/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2002/04/25/for-the-dnc-its-showtime-at-the-apollo/af00ce7a-e0fd-452d-8e58-5bed3cdffd26/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The concert was called [[Michael Jackson: Live at the Apollo 2002|Michael Jackson: Live at the Apollo]] and was one of Jackson's final on-stage performances.<ref>{{cite news |first=André |last=Wheeler |title=HBO's The Apollo: 'The story of how black America lifted itself through music' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=November 2, 2019 |access-date=May 28, 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/02/apollo-theater-documentary-hbo-roger-ross-williams |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321103647/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/nov/02/apollo-theater-documentary-hbo-roger-ross-williams |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2002, Jackson called Sony Music chairman [[Tommy Mottola]] "a racist, and very, very, very devilish," and someone who exploits black artists for his own gain, at [[Al Sharpton]]'s [[National Action Network]] in Harlem. The accusation prompted Sharpton to form a coalition investigating whether Mottola exploited black artists.<ref name="Mottola">{{cite magazine |title=Michael Jackson Brands Recording Industry as Racist |magazine=Billboard |date=July 8, 2002 |access-date=July 21, 2019 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75178/michael-jackson-brands-recording-industry-as-racist |archive-date=November 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110131219/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75178/michael-jackson-brands-recording-industry-as-racist |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson charged that Mottola had called his colleague [[Irv Gotti]] a "fat [[nigger]]".<ref>{{cite interview |first=Jermaine |last=Jackson |subject-link=Jermaine Jackson |interviewer=[[Connie Chung]] |title=Interview with Jermaine Jackson |work=[[Connie Chung Tonight]] |publisher=CNN |date=December 31, 2002 |access-date=July 2, 2008 |url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0212/31/cct.00.html |archive-date=December 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207131359/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0212/31/cct.00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Responding to those attacks, Sony issued a statement calling them "ludicrous, spiteful, and hurtful" and defended Mottola as someone who had championed Jackson's career for many years.<ref name="Mottola" /> Sony ultimately refused to renew Jackson's contract and claimed that a {{Nowrap|$25 million}} promotional campaign had failed because Jackson refused to tour in the US for ''Invincible''.<ref name="Burkeman" />