Dick Clark vs. Michael Green In $10 Million Lawsuit

Dick Clark, whose Dick Clark Productions produces the American Music Awards, filed a $10 million lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on December 19 against Michael Greene, president/CEO of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which produces the Grammys.

Clark's suit alleges that for years, Greene has kept artists who appear on the Grammys from appearing on his show and says there is "a long list" of artists who have been barred form appearing on the American Music Awards. Specifically, Clark claims that Jackson was kept from performing on the upcoming Jan. 9 American Music Awards show, where he was to receive a special "artist of the century" award. According to the lawsuit, Greene contacted Jackson's management and said that he could not perform on the upcoming Grammy Awards if he also performed on Clark's show Jan. 9.

In addressing the charges, NARAS put out a statement that in part, says it "stands behind its legitimate business practices 100% and absolutely denies any wrongdoing. It clearly is the nature of the entertainment business to offer your audience something exclusive. We do nothing outside normal industry business practices."