Michael Jackson, Inc.
The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of a Billion-Dollar Empire
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Prime members: New to Audible?Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Michael Jackson, Inc.
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Kaleo Griffith
About this listen
The surprising rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches story of how Michael Jackson grew a billion-dollar business.
Michael Jackson is known by many as the greatest entertainer of all time, but he was also a revolutionary when it came to business. In addition to famously buying the Beatles' publishing catalogue, Jackson was one of the first pop stars to launch his own clothing line, record label, sneakers, and video games - creating a fundamental shift in the monetization of fame and paving the way for entertainer-entrepreneurs like Jay Z and Diddy. All told, Jackson earned more than $1.1 billion in his solo career, and the assets he built in life have earned more than $700 million in the five years since his death - more than any other solo music act over that time.
Michael Jackson, Inc. reveals the incredible rise, fall, and rise again of Michael Jackson's fortune - driven by the unmatched perfectionism of the King of Pop. Forbes senior editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg uncovers never-before-told stories from interviews with more than 100 people, including music industry veterans Berry Gordy, John Branca, and Walter Yetnikoff; artists 50 Cent, Sheryl Crow, and Jon Bon Jovi; and members of the Jackson family. Other insights come from court documents and Jackson's private notes, some of them previously unpublished. Through Greenburg's novelistic telling, a clear picture emerges of Jackson's early years, his rise to international superstardom, his decline - fueled by demons internal and external, as well as the dissolution of the team that helped him execute his best business moves - and, finally, his financial life after death.
Underlying Jackson's unique history is the complex but universal tale of the effects of wealth and fame on the human psyche. A valuable case study for generations of entertainers to come and for anyone interested in show business, Michael Jackson, Inc. tells the story of a man whose financial feats, once obscured by his late-life travails, have become an enduring legacy.
©2014 Zack O'Malley Greenburg (P)2014 Audible Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
-
You Are Not Alone
- Michael, Through a Brother's Eyes
- By: Jermaine Jackson
- Narrated by: Jermaine Jackson Jr.
- Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 200
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 177
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 175
Jermaine Jackson—older than Michael by four years—offers a keenly observed and surprisingly candid memoir tracing Michael’s life starting with their shared childhood and extending through the Jackson 5 years, Michael’s phenomenal solo career, his loves, his suffering, and his tragic end which sparked worldwide grief. It is a sophisticated, no-holds-barred examination of the man, aimed at fostering a true and final understanding of who he was, why he was, and what shaped him.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Not credible
- By Jeff42 on 08-07-20
By: Jermaine Jackson
-
Michael Jackson: The Real Story
- An Intimate Look into Michael Jackson's Visionary Business and Human Side
- By: Dieter Wiesner, Yusuf Jah
- Narrated by: Yusuf Jah
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 35
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 34
Influenced by a sense of obligation, Mr. Wiesner shares intimate information about Michael Jackson, the visionary business genius, the loving father, and family man. What sets this apart from the large amount of other Michael Jackson narratives available are the primary source documents, which include transcripts of over 15 voicemail messages that listeners will have access to for the first time.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book
- By James B Cunningham on 06-22-20
By: Dieter Wiesner, and others
-
Remember the Time
- Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days
- By: Bill Whitfield, Javon Beard, Tanner Colby - contributor
- Narrated by: Neal Ghant, Brad Raymond, Brian Troxell
- Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 394
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 345
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 345
Hounded by the tabloid media, driven from his self-made sanctuary at Neverland, Michael Jackson spent his final years moving from city to city, living with his three children in virtual seclusion - a futile attempt to escape a world that wouldn’t leave him alone. During that time, two men served as the singer’s personal security team: Bill Whitfield, a former cop and veteran of the security profession, and Javon Beard, a brash, untested rookie, both single fathers themselves. Stationed at his side nearly 24/7, their job was to see and hear everything that transpired.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing Book! I didn't feel dirty listening to it
- By MObetta on 06-11-14
By: Bill Whitfield, and others
-
MJ
- The Genius of Michael Jackson
- By: Steve Knopper
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 58
Rolling Stone contributing editor Steve Knopper delves deeply into Michael Jackson's music and talent. From the artist's early days with the Jackson 5, to his stratospheric success as a solo artist, to "Beat It" and "Thriller", "Bad", and "The Man in the Mirror", to his volatile final years, his attempted comeback, and his untimely death, Knopper explores the beguiling and often contradictory forces that fueled Michael Jackson's genius.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
It is ok but no details of his creativity in here
- By Jay on 02-25-16
By: Steve Knopper
-
Michael Jackson Conspiracy
- By: Aphrodite Jones
- Narrated by: Ann Russek
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 9
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8
Michael Jackson was the pop icon the media loved to hate. Tremendously wealthy, inarguably eccentric, and one of the most famous people in the world, Jackson was the unenviable target of constant public humiliation. The media poked fun at his skin, his features, his sexuality, and his lifestyle. Here, seasoned crime reporter Aphrodite Jones condemns the media for perpetuating hateful rumors and innuendoes, recounting just the sordid details, and reporting only the most despicable accusations and grisly charges made against Michael Jackson during his criminal trial.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book
- By Gi_Da on 07-08-24
By: Aphrodite Jones
-
Untouchable
- The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson
- By: Randall Sullivan
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 28 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 141
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 123
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 125
Beginning with his final departure from Neverland, Untouchable takes listeners through Jackson's final four years, as he shuttled from California to the Middle East, Ireland, Asia, the East Coast, and Las Vegas, planning to recapture his wealth and reputation with a comeback album and a series of 50 mega-concerts, for which he was rehearsing until the day before his death. Sullivan has never-before-reported information about Jackson's business dealings and the pedophilia allegations that irreparably marked his reputation, and he had exclusive access to inner-circle figures.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Don't expect a definitive biography
- By Scott on 11-15-13
By: Randall Sullivan
-
You Are Not Alone
- Michael, Through a Brother's Eyes
- By: Jermaine Jackson
- Narrated by: Jermaine Jackson Jr.
- Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 200
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 177
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 175
Jermaine Jackson—older than Michael by four years—offers a keenly observed and surprisingly candid memoir tracing Michael’s life starting with their shared childhood and extending through the Jackson 5 years, Michael’s phenomenal solo career, his loves, his suffering, and his tragic end which sparked worldwide grief. It is a sophisticated, no-holds-barred examination of the man, aimed at fostering a true and final understanding of who he was, why he was, and what shaped him.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Not credible
- By Jeff42 on 08-07-20
By: Jermaine Jackson
-
Michael Jackson: The Real Story
- An Intimate Look into Michael Jackson's Visionary Business and Human Side
- By: Dieter Wiesner, Yusuf Jah
- Narrated by: Yusuf Jah
- Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 35
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 34
Influenced by a sense of obligation, Mr. Wiesner shares intimate information about Michael Jackson, the visionary business genius, the loving father, and family man. What sets this apart from the large amount of other Michael Jackson narratives available are the primary source documents, which include transcripts of over 15 voicemail messages that listeners will have access to for the first time.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book
- By James B Cunningham on 06-22-20
By: Dieter Wiesner, and others
-
Remember the Time
- Protecting Michael Jackson in His Final Days
- By: Bill Whitfield, Javon Beard, Tanner Colby - contributor
- Narrated by: Neal Ghant, Brad Raymond, Brian Troxell
- Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 394
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 345
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 345
Hounded by the tabloid media, driven from his self-made sanctuary at Neverland, Michael Jackson spent his final years moving from city to city, living with his three children in virtual seclusion - a futile attempt to escape a world that wouldn’t leave him alone. During that time, two men served as the singer’s personal security team: Bill Whitfield, a former cop and veteran of the security profession, and Javon Beard, a brash, untested rookie, both single fathers themselves. Stationed at his side nearly 24/7, their job was to see and hear everything that transpired.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing Book! I didn't feel dirty listening to it
- By MObetta on 06-11-14
By: Bill Whitfield, and others
-
MJ
- The Genius of Michael Jackson
- By: Steve Knopper
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 58
Rolling Stone contributing editor Steve Knopper delves deeply into Michael Jackson's music and talent. From the artist's early days with the Jackson 5, to his stratospheric success as a solo artist, to "Beat It" and "Thriller", "Bad", and "The Man in the Mirror", to his volatile final years, his attempted comeback, and his untimely death, Knopper explores the beguiling and often contradictory forces that fueled Michael Jackson's genius.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
It is ok but no details of his creativity in here
- By Jay on 02-25-16
By: Steve Knopper
-
Michael Jackson Conspiracy
- By: Aphrodite Jones
- Narrated by: Ann Russek
- Length: 11 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 9
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8
Michael Jackson was the pop icon the media loved to hate. Tremendously wealthy, inarguably eccentric, and one of the most famous people in the world, Jackson was the unenviable target of constant public humiliation. The media poked fun at his skin, his features, his sexuality, and his lifestyle. Here, seasoned crime reporter Aphrodite Jones condemns the media for perpetuating hateful rumors and innuendoes, recounting just the sordid details, and reporting only the most despicable accusations and grisly charges made against Michael Jackson during his criminal trial.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book
- By Gi_Da on 07-08-24
By: Aphrodite Jones
-
Untouchable
- The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson
- By: Randall Sullivan
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 28 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 141
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 123
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 125
Beginning with his final departure from Neverland, Untouchable takes listeners through Jackson's final four years, as he shuttled from California to the Middle East, Ireland, Asia, the East Coast, and Las Vegas, planning to recapture his wealth and reputation with a comeback album and a series of 50 mega-concerts, for which he was rehearsing until the day before his death. Sullivan has never-before-reported information about Jackson's business dealings and the pedophilia allegations that irreparably marked his reputation, and he had exclusive access to inner-circle figures.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Don't expect a definitive biography
- By Scott on 11-15-13
By: Randall Sullivan
-
Michael Jackson
- The Final Years: A Selection from Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story, 1958-2009
- By: J. Randy Taraborrelli
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 1 hr and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 47
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 39
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 39
In this production, author J. Randy Taraborrelli who spent more than 35 years researching his biography, reflects on the death of Michael Jackson. What if Michael Jackson was never accused of molestation? Why did the Santa Maria molestation trials destroy Michael? What was Michael's life like in his final years? So much has how been said and written about the life and career of Michael Jackson that it has become almost impossible to disentangle the man from the myth.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Not As Thorough As I'd Have Expected
- By TheGirlFromBama on 08-13-10
-
3 Kings
- By: Zack O'Malley Greenburg
- Narrated by: Matt Amendt
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 153
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 128
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 126
Diddy, Dr. Dre, and Jay-Z lifted themselves from childhood adversity into tycoon territory, amassing levels of fame and wealth that not only outshone all other contemporary hip-hop artists, but with a combined net worth of well over two billion dollars made them the three richest American musicians, period. Yet their fortunes have little to do with selling their own albums: between Diddy's Ciroc vodka, Dre's three billion dollar sale of his Beats headphones to Apple, and Jay-Z's Tidal streaming service and other assets, these artists have transcended pop music fame to become moguls.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Current
- By Nathaniel Gallegos on 03-25-18
-
Empire State of Mind
- How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office
- By: Zack O'Malley Greenburg
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 676
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 563
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 561
Some people think Jay-Z is just another rapper. Others see him as just another celebrity/mega-star. The reality is, no matter what you think Jay-Z is, he is first and foremost a business. And as much as Martha Stewart or Oprah, he has turned himself into a lifestyle. This audiobook explains just how Jay-Z propelled himself from the bleak streets of Brooklyn to the heights of the business world.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
It was ok
- By Michelle M. on 01-03-17
-
Being Henry
- The Fonz . . . and Beyond
- By: Henry Winkler
- Narrated by: Henry Winkler
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,667
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,533
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,533
Henry Winkler, launched into prominence as “The Fonz” in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is. Brilliant, funny, and widely regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wowww what a life, what a man
- By Paul Schabes on 10-31-23
By: Henry Winkler
-
Lucky Me
- A Memoir of Changing the Odds
- By: Rich Paul, Jesse Washington - contributor, LeBron James - foreword
- Narrated by: Rich Paul, Dennis Logan
- Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 894
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 847
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 846
There’s a story about Rich Paul that everyone knows: A twenty-one-year-old kid from Cleveland who sells sports jerseys out of his car meets a high school basketball phenom named LeBron James at an airport—the two become friends and forge a decades-long partnership that reinvents the business of sports. That random meeting might seem like the lucky break that changed Paul’s life. But a moment of good fortune means nothing without the struggle that gets you there. And the truth is, Paul had always been lucky.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Bad choices made this man
- By Lynn Gibson on 10-18-23
By: Rich Paul, and others
-
Man in the Music
- The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson
- By: Joseph Vogel
- Narrated by: Keith Sellon-Wright
- Length: 16 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 26
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 24
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 24
The first book dedicated solely to exploring his creative work, Man in the Music guides us through an unparalleled analysis of Jackson’s recordings, album by album, from his trailblazing work with Quincy Jones to his later collaborations with Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Rodney Jerkins. Drawing on rare archival material and on dozens of original interviews with many who helped bring the artist’s music into the world, Jackson expert and acclaimed cultural critic Joseph Vogel reveals what gave rise to an immortal body of work.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Full of inaccuracies, hearsay and sensationalism
- By Carl on 07-14-20
By: Joseph Vogel
-
Before You Judge Me
- The Triumph and Tragedy of Michael Jackson's Last Days
- By: Tavis Smiley, David Ritz
- Narrated by: Leo Coltrane
- Length: 5 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 85
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 74
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 73
With the insight and compassion that he brought to his best-selling telling of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s final year, Tavis Smiley provides a glimpse into the superstar's life in this emotional, honest, yet celebratory audiobook. Listeners will witness Jackson's campaign to recharge his career - hiring and firing managers and advisors, turning to and away from family members, fighting depression and drug dependency - while his one goal remained: to mount the most spectacular series of shows the world had ever seen.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Beautiful book
- By Jai Dev Singh on 07-09-16
By: Tavis Smiley, and others
-
My Friend Michael
- An Ordinary Friendship with an Extraordinary Man
- By: Frank Cascio
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 106
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 94
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 93
Everyone knows Michael Jackson - the myth. This is the revealing true story of Michael Jackson - the man. To Frank Cascio, Michael Jackson was many things - second father, big brother, boss, mentor, and teacher, but most of all he was a friend. Though Cascio was just a few years old when he first met Jackson in 1984, at the peak of the pop star’s career, Jackson was at the center of his life for the next twenty-five years.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A Love Story
- By Kathleen on 02-14-18
By: Frank Cascio
-
A Song for You
- My Life with Whitney Houston
- By: Robyn Crawford
- Narrated by: Robyn Crawford
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,190
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,793
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2,795
Whitney Houston is as big a superstar as the music business has ever known. She exploded on the scene in 1985 with her debut album and spent the next two decades dominating the charts and capturing the hearts of fans around the world. One person was there by her side through it all - her best friend, Robyn Crawford.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent!!! Thank you Robyn!!!
- By Aaron on 11-13-19
By: Robyn Crawford
-
Visionary: An Interactive Look into Michael Jackson's MJ Universe
- MJU, Book 1
- By: Dieter Wiesner, Yusuf Jah
- Narrated by: Yusuf Jah
- Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
Listeners will learn about Michael Jackson’s keen sense of the historical challenges faced by African-American entertainers, and Michael’s feelings toward the inequitable relationship between entertainers and the professionals (i.e., lawyers, accountants) that often gain more financially than the artists themselves. And most compelling, listeners will gain an appreciation for Michael’s business genius and the visionary purchases and partnerships he conceived, including with Marvel Comics and Disney.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Facts with MJ Voice
- By Constantinos on 11-25-22
By: Dieter Wiesner, and others
-
Tupac Shakur
- The Authorized Biography
- By: Staci Robinson
- Narrated by: Jamal Joseph, Staci Robinson
- Length: 14 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 194
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 187
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 187
Tupac Shakur is one of the greatest and most controversial artists of all time. More than a quarter of a century after his tragic death in 1996 at the age of just twenty-five, he continues to be one of the most misunderstood, complicated, and prolific figures in modern history. Drawing on exclusive access to Tupac’s private notebooks, letters, and uncensored conversations with those who loved and knew him best, this estate-authorized biography paints the fullest and most intimate picture to date of the young man who became a legend for generations to come.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Biography!
- By Passionate Book Reader on 11-18-23
By: Staci Robinson
-
The Book of Jose
- A Memoir
- By: Fat Joe, Shaheem Reid
- Narrated by: Fat Joe
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,860
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,689
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,689
Fat Joe is a hip-hop legend, but this is not a tale of celebrity; it is the story of Joseph Cartagena, a kid who came of age in the South Bronx during its darkest years of drugs, violence, and abandonment, and how he navigated that traumatizing landscape until he found—through art, friendship, luck, and will—a rocky path to a different life. This memoir, written in Joe’s own intensely compelling voice, moves with the momentum of pulp fiction, but underneath the tragicomedy and riveting tales of the streets and the industry is a thought-provoking story about a generation of survivors.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
INCREDIBLE AND INSPIRATIONAL STORY
- By Anonymous User on 05-26-23
By: Fat Joe, and others
Related to this topic
-
Allen Klein
- The Man Who Bailed Out the Beatles, Made the Stones, and Transformed Rock & Roll
- By: Fred Goodman
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 50
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 50
Allen Klein was like no one the music industry had seen before. The hard-nosed business manager became infamous for allegedly catalyzing the Beatles' breakup and robbing the Rolling Stones, but the truth is both more complex and more fascinating.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The Beatles' & Rolling Stones' Big Bad Manager
- By tru britty on 07-05-15
By: Fred Goodman
-
MJ
- The Genius of Michael Jackson
- By: Steve Knopper
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 58
Rolling Stone contributing editor Steve Knopper delves deeply into Michael Jackson's music and talent. From the artist's early days with the Jackson 5, to his stratospheric success as a solo artist, to "Beat It" and "Thriller", "Bad", and "The Man in the Mirror", to his volatile final years, his attempted comeback, and his untimely death, Knopper explores the beguiling and often contradictory forces that fueled Michael Jackson's genius.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
It is ok but no details of his creativity in here
- By Jay on 02-25-16
By: Steve Knopper
-
Empire State of Mind
- How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office
- By: Zack O'Malley Greenburg
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 676
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 563
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 561
Some people think Jay-Z is just another rapper. Others see him as just another celebrity/mega-star. The reality is, no matter what you think Jay-Z is, he is first and foremost a business. And as much as Martha Stewart or Oprah, he has turned himself into a lifestyle. This audiobook explains just how Jay-Z propelled himself from the bleak streets of Brooklyn to the heights of the business world.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
It was ok
- By Michelle M. on 01-03-17
-
Cowboys and Indies
- The Epic History of the Record Industry
- By: Gareth Murphy
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 42
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 39
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 39
Cowboys and Indies is the definitive record-business bible, chronicling the pioneers who set the stylus on the most important labelsand musical discoveries of the last century. The narrative follows all the musical trends and developments from the phonograph to the Internet age as it delves behind the big business of corporate hit machines and the diligent industry of small, curated labels.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Epic, yet incomplete.
- By Rob G. on 10-14-14
By: Gareth Murphy
-
Respect Yourself
- Stax Records and the Soul Explosion
- By: Robert Gordon
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 126
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 109
The story of Stax Records unfolds like a Greek tragedy. A white brother and sister build a record company that becomes a monument to racial harmony in 1960’s segregated south Memphis. Their success is startling, and Stax soon defines an international sound. Then, after losses both business and personal, the siblings part, and the brother allies with a visionary African-American partner. Under integrated leadership, Stax explodes as a national player until, Icarus-like, they fall from great heights to a tragic demise.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great narration
- By A. K. Moore on 10-29-14
By: Robert Gordon
-
The Story of Motown
- By: Peter Benjaminson, Greil Macus - foreword
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden
- Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 67
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 57
In January 1959, Berry Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and founded the Detroit-based record company that in less than a decade was to become the largest Black-owned business in the United States. It also became one of the most productive and influential producers of popular music anywhere in the world. The Story of Motown is the story of Berry Gordy's triumph over powerful, established financial interests, entrenched popular taste, bigotry, and racism.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Check Your Facts
- By Marie on 11-24-18
By: Peter Benjaminson, and others
-
Allen Klein
- The Man Who Bailed Out the Beatles, Made the Stones, and Transformed Rock & Roll
- By: Fred Goodman
- Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 50
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 50
Allen Klein was like no one the music industry had seen before. The hard-nosed business manager became infamous for allegedly catalyzing the Beatles' breakup and robbing the Rolling Stones, but the truth is both more complex and more fascinating.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
The Beatles' & Rolling Stones' Big Bad Manager
- By tru britty on 07-05-15
By: Fred Goodman
-
MJ
- The Genius of Michael Jackson
- By: Steve Knopper
- Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer
- Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 63
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 58
Rolling Stone contributing editor Steve Knopper delves deeply into Michael Jackson's music and talent. From the artist's early days with the Jackson 5, to his stratospheric success as a solo artist, to "Beat It" and "Thriller", "Bad", and "The Man in the Mirror", to his volatile final years, his attempted comeback, and his untimely death, Knopper explores the beguiling and often contradictory forces that fueled Michael Jackson's genius.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
It is ok but no details of his creativity in here
- By Jay on 02-25-16
By: Steve Knopper
-
Empire State of Mind
- How Jay-Z Went from Street Corner to Corner Office
- By: Zack O'Malley Greenburg
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 5 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 676
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 563
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 561
Some people think Jay-Z is just another rapper. Others see him as just another celebrity/mega-star. The reality is, no matter what you think Jay-Z is, he is first and foremost a business. And as much as Martha Stewart or Oprah, he has turned himself into a lifestyle. This audiobook explains just how Jay-Z propelled himself from the bleak streets of Brooklyn to the heights of the business world.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
It was ok
- By Michelle M. on 01-03-17
-
Cowboys and Indies
- The Epic History of the Record Industry
- By: Gareth Murphy
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 42
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 39
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 39
Cowboys and Indies is the definitive record-business bible, chronicling the pioneers who set the stylus on the most important labelsand musical discoveries of the last century. The narrative follows all the musical trends and developments from the phonograph to the Internet age as it delves behind the big business of corporate hit machines and the diligent industry of small, curated labels.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Epic, yet incomplete.
- By Rob G. on 10-14-14
By: Gareth Murphy
-
Respect Yourself
- Stax Records and the Soul Explosion
- By: Robert Gordon
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 126
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 109
The story of Stax Records unfolds like a Greek tragedy. A white brother and sister build a record company that becomes a monument to racial harmony in 1960’s segregated south Memphis. Their success is startling, and Stax soon defines an international sound. Then, after losses both business and personal, the siblings part, and the brother allies with a visionary African-American partner. Under integrated leadership, Stax explodes as a national player until, Icarus-like, they fall from great heights to a tragic demise.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great narration
- By A. K. Moore on 10-29-14
By: Robert Gordon
-
The Story of Motown
- By: Peter Benjaminson, Greil Macus - foreword
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden
- Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 67
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 57
In January 1959, Berry Gordy borrowed $800 from his family and founded the Detroit-based record company that in less than a decade was to become the largest Black-owned business in the United States. It also became one of the most productive and influential producers of popular music anywhere in the world. The Story of Motown is the story of Berry Gordy's triumph over powerful, established financial interests, entrenched popular taste, bigotry, and racism.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Check Your Facts
- By Marie on 11-24-18
By: Peter Benjaminson, and others
-
Never a Dull Moment
- 1971 - the Year That Rock Exploded
- By: David Hepworth
- Narrated by: David Hepworth
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 216
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 203
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 200
On New Year's Eve, 1970, Paul McCartney told his lawyers to issue the writ at the High Court in London, effectively ending The Beatles. You might say this was the last day of the pop era. The following day, which was a Friday, was 1971. You might say this was the first day of the rock era. And within the remaining 364 days of this monumental year, the world would hear Don McLean's "American Pie", The Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar", The Who's "Baba O'Riley", Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven", and more.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A blast from the past
- By Amazon Customer on 07-30-16
By: David Hepworth
-
Uncommon People
- The Rise and Fall of The Rock Stars
- By: David Hepworth
- Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 57
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 51
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 51
The age of the rock star, like the age of the cowboy, has passed. Like the cowboy, the idea of the rock star lives on in our imaginations. What did we see in them? Swagger. Recklessness. Sexual charisma. Damn-the-torpedoes self-belief. A certain way of carrying themselves. Good hair. Interesting shoes. Talent we wished we had. What did we want of them? To be larger than life but also like us. To live out their songs. To stay young forever. No wonder many didn't stay the course.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
INSIGHTFULL!
- By CLAUDIA R KENNEDY on 02-18-18
By: David Hepworth
-
Bright lights dark shadows
- The real story of Abba
- By: Carl Palm
- Narrated by: Adrian Mulraney
- Length: 26 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 122
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 102
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 100
An exploration of all aspects of the Abba member’s lives and careers. Amazingly detailed, it examines the group member’s family backgrounds, the pre-Abba days, the legendary 70s, the marriages, the divorces, the business ups and downs, and the post-Abba solo careers.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Awesome! -- All the Swedish words pronounced!
- By Howard_a on 06-18-12
By: Carl Palm
-
Tearing Down the Wall of Sound
- The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector
- By: Mick Brown
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 17 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 282
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 192
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 190
Phil Spector, born in the Bronx in 1940, grew up an outsider despised by his peers. But he formed a band, and had a number-one hit with "To Know Him Is to Love Him". He quickly became the top producer of early rock and roll and the originator of such girl groups as the Ronettes. Hit followed hit, and for all of them he used a new recording style called the "wall of sound". But the reign of the boy-man who owned pop music was doomed, and Spector spiraled into paranoid isolation and peculiar behavior.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Descent Into Madness
- By Chris on 06-11-12
By: Mick Brown
-
Fire and Rain
- The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost Story of 1970
- By: David Browne
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 490
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 424
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 423
January 1970: the Beatles assemble one more time to put the finishing touches on Let It Be; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are wrapping up Déjà Vu; Simon and Garfunkel are unveiling Bridge Over Troubled Water; James Taylor is an upstart singer-songwriter who's just completed Sweet Baby James. Over the course of the next twelve months, their lives---and the world around them---will change irrevocably.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Fascinating information, easy to listen
- By NCKitkat on 07-28-11
By: David Browne
-
Razzle Dazzle
- The Battle for Broadway
- By: Michael Riedel
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 16 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 190
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 172
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 171
Razzle Dazzle is a provocative, no-holds-barred narrative account of the people, money, and power that reinvented an iconic quarter of New York City, turning its gritty back alleys and sex shops into the glitzy, dazzling Great White Way - and bringing a crippled New York from the brink of bankruptcy to its glittering glory.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Too long and boring in spite of a vibrant subject
- By harry rohme on 03-04-18
By: Michael Riedel
-
Thelonious Monk
- The Life and Times of an American Original
- By: Robin DG Kelley
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden
- Length: 25 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 174
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 146
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 146
Thelonious Monk is the critically acclaimed, gripping saga of an artist's struggle to "make it" without compromising his musical vision. It is a story that, like its subject, reflects the tidal ebbs and flows of American history in the 20th century. To his fans, he was the ultimate hipster; to his detractors, he was temperamental, eccentric, taciturn, or childlike. His angular melodies and dissonant harmonies shook the jazz world to its foundations, ushering in the birth of "bebop" and establishing Monk as one of America's greatest composers.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
The definitive bio of Monk
- By ricardo on 12-27-17
By: Robin DG Kelley
-
The Never-Ending Present
- The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip
- By: Michael Barclay
- Narrated by: George Stroumboulopoulos
- Length: 17 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 55
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 45
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 44
From our talent-rich neighbor to the north comes this biography of one of the most successful Canadian rock bands, The Tragically Hip, which announced a year-long tour after sharing the news of lead singer Gord Downie’s inoperable cancer. Now available to US listeners, The Never-Ending Present details what led up to the memorable night when music fans all over the world watched Downie’s heroic final performance.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Hometown Heroes
- By Tommy Garou on 12-13-18
By: Michael Barclay
-
Mr. & Mrs. Hollywood
- Edie and Lew Wasserman and Their Entertainment Empire
- By: Kathleen Sharp
- Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
- Length: 18 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 35
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 32
Ever wonder why so many B actors wind up as A-grade politicians? Or how the casting couch worked? Acclaimed author Kathleen Sharp traces the influence of show business through the lives of its first power couple. Edie and Lew Wasserman built the world’s largest talent agency, MCA, created the multibillion-dollar Universal Studios, and helped shape Washington, DC.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Best Book I Have Heard In A Long Time!!!
- By James M. Patton on 09-25-16
By: Kathleen Sharp
-
The History of Rock & Roll
- Volume 1: 1920-1963
- By: Ed Ward
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 15 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 129
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 107
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 105
Ed Ward covers the first half of the history of rock & roll in this sweeping and definitive narrative - from the 1920s, when the music of rambling medicine shows mingled with the songs of vaudeville and minstrel acts to create the very early sounds of country and rhythm and blues, to the rise of the first independent record labels post-World War II, and concluding in December 1963, just as an immense change in the airwaves took hold and the Beatles prepared for their first American tour.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Author's blindspots mar this book
- By Mark Clark on 03-28-17
By: Ed Ward
-
Let’s Go Crazy
- Prince and the Making of Purple Rain
- By: Alan Light
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 521
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 464
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 460
Purple Rain is a song, an album, and a film - each one a commercial success and cultural milestone. How did this semiautobiographical musical masterpiece that blurred R&B, pop, dance, and rock sounds come to alter the recording landscape and become an enduring touchstone for successive generations of fans?
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
A Must-Read For Any PRINCE Fan
- By Bryan K. Chavez on 05-06-16
By: Alan Light
-
Sing to Me
- My Story of Making Music, Finding Magic, and Searching for Who's Next
- By: LA Reid
- Narrated by: Dion Graham
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 623
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 547
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 548
Legendary music producer LA Reid - the man behind artists such as Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Kanye West, Rihanna, TLC, Outkast, Pink, Justin Bieber, and Usher - changed the music business forever. Now he tells his story, taking fans on an intimate tour of his life. Sing to Me is a fascinating journey from Reid's small-town R&B roots in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his work as a drummer to his fame as a Grammy Award-winning music producer and his gig as a judge on the hit reality show The X Factor.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Wow!! What a journey!!!
- By Marty Cohn on 02-06-16
By: LA Reid
What listeners say about Michael Jackson, Inc.
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- John Branca
- 06-07-20
Excellent compelling book
This is an excellent compelling book. A must read for anyone interested in celebrity, the music business, intellectual property, or Michael Jackson
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mux
- 06-05-20
Wonderful!
Well written. Meticulously researched. First hand information! Anyone can learn something about MJ and this book is one good way.
Well narrated too. I love the voices😂😂😂.
Writer needs to update it though. A lot has happened in and to MJ Inc. since then.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- countess
- 12-25-22
king of pop
loved it!
I am big fan of Michael Jackson!
His music and legend will live forever!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 12-28-19
Absolutely an Amazing written story.
We listened from Florida to Mass. Great Story for sure. Tastefully written and documented
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-25-22
MJ forever
Really detailed book about Michael's entire life from Gary, Indiana to his last hours. and really good narration.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 06-22-17
The King Lives...Life,Legacy and Love
We true fans are so used to hearing the lies and filth written about MJ that somehow we forgot his was only human, with a vision of a better world for all mankind. This inside story of MJ's business Is fascinating. I've been a Michael Jackson Fan & Follower since 1972 and highly recommend this book to each and every person that wanted to know the making of the Worlds Best Entertainer and what a true treasure we lost.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Tony Ortiz
- 09-08-16
Solid listen for MJ fans.
If you haven't read a proper autobiography of MJ, this does a good job of addressing most of his major milestones and adds insight on his perspectives about them. However, if you were reading this hoping for a detailed explanation of the business machinations that drove his financial empire, this book only does that about half of the time, and only to highlight the outcomes of his career choices.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- Jim Fulton
- 10-28-17
was not very good
I kept reading this book thinking it would get better, but it did not.
It was rather booring
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful