Quincy Jones was awarded $9.4 million on Wednesday (July 26) following a dispute with the late Michael Jackson‘s estate regarding unpaid music royalties.
The 84-year-old record producer says he was underpaid for music used in Michael‘s documentary This Is It, as well as two Cirque du Soleil shows, Variety reports.
The royalties and production fees arise from some of Michael‘s biggest hits like “Thriller” and “Billie Jean.”
In the lawsuit filed around four years ago, Quincy sought $30 million, according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Michael’s estate claimed the number was around $392,000.
“As an artist, maintaining the vision and integrity of one’s creation is of paramount importance,” Quincy said in a statement. “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,” he added. “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.”
Michael and Quincy worked together on Michael‘s albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.
