Whenever I discuss Michael Jackson with other people, whether it’s online or to someone in person, the first thing I hear from them is, “I’m sick of the MJ coverage, there are more important things to worry about”. I get that a lot. If you really think that you’re sick of MJ and if you think there are better things to worry about out there, that just shows that you know nothing about music that you all think. Sorry, but it’s true.

Let me explain again on how MJ makes the news like crazy everytime something controversial happens to his life. I will also explain how famous musicians become icons and legends, and to explain how they attract the media… the truth may hurt, but it needs to be explained. You ready for this?

Lets start by saying that, when a musician becomes famous…gets signed a record deal…sells millions of records…going platinum, being all over the billboard, winning a handful of awards at award shows, being tabloid friendly…that’s how a musician becomes a well known icon. A musician is considered a legend if you’ve been into the music business for like over 20 years or longer. It could happen to any musician not just MJ.

Michael Jackson has been in the music business for the major label industry ever since he was 10 years old. He pretty much lived his entire life on fame and fortune. So that means he was pretty much born into the world of fame.

You see, it doesn’t really matter if you like or hate that certain legendary musician…love ’em or hate ’em…it could be anybody like Prince, Madonna, Neil Young, Springsteen, Elton John, etc. who ever it is. As long as you are paying attention to what they are doing in their careers, it is you that made them the most powerful person on this planet.  

Since they are well known people, the news media writes about them everywhere to help attract more TV ratings and more website views. Even if you’re not a fan of that legendary musician and not buying their records, you still helped them become big in some way. Talking trash and being negative about a legendary musician is what helps make their news spread. Controversy helps make a musician get more popularity. Negativity toward a musician sells.

I’ve said it once before in a past blog that if Madonna, Ozzy, Elton John, Mick Jagger or Bono of U2 ever dies one day in the future, they will get non stop media coverage too just like MJ. Why? It’s because they are legendary icons.

Why did the media ignore Farrah Fawcett’s death when MJ died the same day? Hmmmm…while Farrah is a legend, not everybody knows who she is, that is probably why. How come Billy Mays didn’t get that much coverage? Probably because MJ is bigger.

When Ozzy dies someday, do you think the Prince of Darkness will get massive media coverage way worse than Michael Jackson? You can betcha that will happen for sure.

The reason people get sick of Michael Jackson death news is I believe, we aren’t used to seeing a world icon dying, when we haven’t had a huge musical legend die in a long time. I believe the last big music legend that died that everybody knows, was either James Brown or Bo Didley. We had a lot of famous musicians died, yes, but they weren’t big legendary icons.

As long as a musician is a huge legend, they will get non stop media coverage, doesn’t matter if you’re a fan or a hater. The more you pay attention to them, the bigger they will get. TMZ will never stop posting about MJ ’cause it drives traffic to their site.

The news media is never going to stop writing about these legendary musicians, it’s not only they attract TV ratings and more website views…it’s just that these news reporters are too obsessed with writing about fame. These news reporters are loving the attention they are writing about someone that is a well known figure all over this world.

If you were a true music lover, then you would understand why icons and legends gets media coverage. It’s how they market their careers and promote their music.

Kev