Top News Online
Chris Pizzello
Quincy Jones is suing the King of Pop’s estate, claiming that he’s owed millions in back royalties.
Music legend Quincy Jones is suing Michael Jackson’s estate saying he’s far from thrilled with the royalties he’s received since the King of Pop’s death.
Jones, 80, claims he is owed millions in back royalties on some of the superstar’s biggest hits and was improperly deprived of a producer credit on music used in the “This Is It” film.
PHOTOS: MICHAEL JACKSON’S LIFE IN PHOTOS
Jones’ lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles seeks at least $ 10 million in damages from the Gloved One’s estate and Sony Music Entertainment.
Doug Pizac/AP
Michael Jackson (left) with Quincy Jones at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 28, 1984. A lawyer for Jackson’s estate says that Jones has been ‘appropriately compensated over approximately 35 years for his work with Michael.’
The suit claims Jackson’s estate re-worked music he produced on Jackson’s hit albums “Off The Wall,” “Thriller” and “Bad” and then used it in new ventures including the movie and a pair of Cirque du Soleil show without awarding him appropriate compensation.
RELATED: MICHAEL JACKSON TOPS FORBES LIST OF TOP-EARNING DEAD CELEBRITIES
Jones is asking a judge to force the estate to fork over a full accounting of its proceeds to determine the full scope of his claim.
A lawyer for Jackson’s estate said he did not believe the executors did anything wrong.
Getty Images/Getty Images
The suit claims Jackson’s estate re-worked music Jones produced and then used it in new ventures such as the “This Is It” film. Here, Jackson (center) rehearses for his planned shows in London at the Staples Center on June 23, 2009, in Los Angeles, two days before his death.
RELATED: JACKO DOC FILES PETITION TO GET MEDICAL LICENSE BACK
“The Estate of Michael Jackson was saddened to learn that Quincy Jones has filed a lawsuit seeking money from Michael’s estate,” Howard Weitzman said in a statement.
“To the best of (the estate’s) knowledge, Mr. Jones has been appropriately compensated over approximately 35 years for his work with Michael,” he said.
RELATED: QUINCY JONES DENIES TELLING JOE FRANCIS ABOUT ALLEGED DEATH THREAT
With News Wire Services
