Contents
Michael Jackson
Making Thriller and redefining the pop music video.
The Jackson 5 · Moonwalk
- Born
- 29 August 1958
- Birthplace
- Gary, Indiana, United States
- Died
- 25 June 2009
More people
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter and dancer whose recordings and tightly choreographed performances reached a worldwide audience. From childhood stardom with his brothers, he developed a solo career that linked pop music with ambitious visual storytelling.
Early life
Gary childhood
Grew up in a large musical family in Indiana.
Family group
Rehearsed and performed with his brothers from childhood under their father’s management.
Career
- 1960s–1970s
The Jackson 5
Rose to fame with the family group after its signing to Motown.
- 1979–1987
Solo expansion
Worked with producer Quincy Jones on Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad.
- 1990s
New collaborators
Expanded his production partnerships and international touring.
- 2009
Final rehearsals
Prepared the This Is It concert series but died before its London opening.
Selected work
Off the Wall
Joined disco, funk and pop in a major adult solo breakthrough.
Thriller
An album spanning pop, rock and R&B that became a global commercial landmark.
Billie Jean at Motown 25
A televised performance made his moonwalk a signature image.
Beyond work
Charitable work
Co-wrote We Are the World with Lionel Richie for the 1985 famine-relief recording.
Buying the songs
Bought ATV Music in 1985 for $47.5 million, acquiring publishing rights to many Beatles songs. These rights earned royalties from the compositions, rather than ownership of the original recordings.
The Sony partnership
Combined ATV with Sony’s publishing business in 1995, retaining half of Sony/ATV. In 2016, his estate sold that stake to Sony in a $750 million transaction.
Mijac Music
Founded in 1980 to hold his songwriting rights, Mijac also acquired songs made famous by other artists. In 2024, Sony reportedly agreed to pay at least $600 million for a half interest in his publishing and recorded-music assets, including Mijac.
Allegations and trial
Faced allegations of child sexual abuse, which he denied; a jury acquitted him of all charges at his 2005 criminal trial.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Thriller recording ↗ATV purchase and investment ↗Sony/ATV sale completed ↗Mijac Music background ↗Reported 2024 catalogue deal ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.