Music industry experts say Jackson could make comeback
When his success as a child wunderkind fronting The Jackson Five was waning, some doubted whether he could make it as an adult star. And when he had hits again with his brothers as part of The Jacksons, others questioned whether he could become a solo success.
After Jackson became one of the most popular entertainers in history — and saw his image tarnished by a 1993 allegation of child molestation. He did.
After being charged with molesting a young cancer patient and a seamy, graphic trial featuring an avalanche of porn and allegations of sex with young boys, can Jackson’s career withstand this latest blow, even with Monday’s acquittal on all counts?
According to industry analysts, the answer is of course.
“He can have success,” said Antonio “L.A” Reid, chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam. “I would say that he has to just make great music and concentrate on nothing else but making great music and making great live performances.”
The public hasn’t concentrated on Jackson as a musical figure for a long time. His last album, a greatest hits project, was released the day of his arrest on child molestation charges in 2003. For the past year and a half, news around Jackson has centered on allegations of sex with children, giving them alcohol, and other questionable behavior at Neverland Ranch.
“People have been fascinated with Michael as a celebrity,” says Jack Isquith, head of label relations at AOL Music, which premieres the latest videos, concerts and singles by the nation’s top pop acts.
“He has declined in terms of his record sales and his musical standing … there’s no question that Michael has been perceived on the wane,” Isquith said. “(But) if Michael Jackson were to play the Apollo and it was monumentally brilliant … I think that would really register a lot of focus on Michael as a musical (figure).”
Las Vegas might be a possibility for him to make that great live performance. On Tuesday, Jack Wishna, who has a minority interest in Trump’s New Frontier Hotel and Casino, said he had been in talks with Jackson before the trial to perform on the Strip, and hopes to continue those negotiations.
“I am still interested in bringing his talents to Las Vegas,” he said in a statement.
Even before the trial, Jackson’s musical career had taken a backseat to his increasingly bizarre behavior. And his career was seriously damaged by the 1993 child molestation accusation.
That case went away when Jackson paid a multimillion-dollar settlement while maintaining his innocence, and no criminal charges were filed. Since then, Jackson has released just two albums that have sold about 2 million copies each.
He had retained his star power.
“To sell two million records says a lot,” Reid noted. “By the way, I’m not sure how many records Madonna sold, but I don’t think it’s very much more than that, probably about that.”
Actually, it was less.
There is a considerable “ick” factor when it comes to Michael Jackson. Though acquitted of child molestation, most people have been repulsed by his admission to sleeping in the same bed with children, even if it was non-sexual. He also carries plenty of baggage given his eccentric behavior over the years and plastic surgery that has reduced him to a disturbing visual image.
Negative publicity doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a career anymore.
Take R. Kelly. In 2002, videotapes circulated showing a man bearing a striking resemblance to Kelly having sex with what appeared to be an underage girl. Later that year, he was charged with child pornography, and pundits declared his career over.
A year later, he released the critically acclaimed “Chocolate Factory.” Since then, he has released two other platinum projects, and worked with several top acts, including Britney Spears and Jay-Z.
DJ Paul Cubby Bryant, of New York City pop radio station Z100, said that if Jackson put out new music, he would let the audience decide its fate. “I think we would test the waters, and play it and see what the reaction was,” Bryant said.
Of course, Jackson faces plenty of challenges in making a comeback. First, he doesn’t have a label home.
Reid has said he would sign him, and Jackson already has at least one top producer willing to work with him.
One pundit said his criminal case has been a career boost, and predicted a public rehabilitation of his reputation, a la Martha Stewart.
As far as refurbishing his tarnished image? Reid said that should be the last of Jackson’s worries. “That’s how he got in trouble, by changing his image… Let the music do the talking, leave the rest of it alone.”