Michael Jackson Ad Infinitum

Thanks to the intertubes, there's actually some stuff worth learning. From Taplin again. (Taplin was Dylan's road manager before his real life began, so he speaks with some authority one could not expect from, say, Paul Krugman. Or Charlie Rose, that tool. One of his MJ interview subjects had only actually spoken to MJ twice in his life and the last about two years ago. I mean, that's just embarrassing.)
Taplin:

Michael Jackson’s greed singlehandedly wrecked the music business. In the 60’s and 70’s, even the most popular artists were simply advanced the cost of their recording sessions, which were then deducted from their first royalty payments. After Thriller was such a hit in 1982, Jackson asked Epic Records for a $50 million advance against his next 5 records. They foolishly agreed and the music business which had been totally fiscally sane, took on the characteristics of the movie business with outrageous star salaries with no risk on the part of the artists. That of course led to a “winner takes all” crowding effect, in which record companies had to make very large bets and could no longer afford the small bets (Bob Dylan’s first record sold 5000 copies) that might nurture true artistry.

Taplin commenter:

...he is unique and the only comparison I can think of is Beethoven. Take a puppy and chain it to the doghouse, then every time you give it food, hit it with a board. Beethoven was ripped from his bed at night, splashed with water and made to practice and then beaten about the ears if he didn’t perform perfectly. Jackson’s life had that and then when he became the golden child for all the Jackson fortunes until Janet, he lived a life where little was denied him and he denied himself little.