The King of Pop is still winning awards and setting records doing it.
But while Michael Jackson won a record four posthumous awards at Sunday night's American Music Awards (AMA), he couldn't beat Taylor Swift for top honours.
The 19-year-old country music star was named the year's favourite artiste, giving Jackson his only loss of the night, and giving her five trophies in all.
"Music has never been ultimately about competition," she said as she accepted the top prize via satellite from London, where she performed yesterday. "To even be mentioned in a category with Michael Jackson, who we will miss and love forever, is an unimaginable honour."
The victories came during a performance-filled show that closed with an S&M-themed, sexually charged performance by former 'American Idol' contestant Adam Lambert.
Swift was also named Favourite Female Pop/Rock and Country Artiste and Favourite Adult-Contemporary Artiste. Her album, Fearless, won Favourite Country Album. Jackson was voted Favourite Male Artiste in the Pop/Rock and Soul/R&B categories. His 2003 greatest-hits album, Number Ones, also won favourite album in both categories, bringing his career AMA total to 23, making him the most honoured artiste in AMA history.
Jackson's victories were among the highlights of the evening, which also featured an eye-popping performance by Lady Gaga, a special award for Whitney Houston and that jaw-dropping number from Lambert, who traded in his glam 'Idol' image for sex, leather and chains Sunday.
Elaborate set
On an elaborate set filled with stairs and platforms, Lambert fondled a female dancer, kissed an androgynous band mate and led two leather-clad men across the stage on leashes as he sang the title track from his new CD, For Your Entertainment, out this week.
Lady Gaga, wearing an Alien-inspired headdress and vest filled with lights, performed songs from her new album, The Fame Monster, also due in stores this week. She used her microphone to break into a glass case where a grand piano stood. It caught fire when she sat down to play.
Whitney Houston made a resplendent return to the AMA stage with an elegant performance of I Didn't Know My Own Strength. The 46-year-old entertainer also received the International Award of Excellence for her musical and philanthropic contributions. She dedicated the honour to her daughter, music mogul Clive Davis and "everybody who supported me".
Jackson's trophies were accepted by his brother Jermaine, who paid tribute to his late brother by wearing a glittery white glove. He thanked "Allah for blessing my entire family" and named each of his brothers and sisters.
He said the message of Michael, who died in June at age 50, is more important than any award.
"The message that Michael had will live on forever," he said. "He saw good in everyone and he wanted everyone to do good. He always started with love."
The American Music Awards honours the year's top-selling artistes in eight popular genres. Fans voted for the winners online. But even more than awards, the AMAs are about performances, and more than a dozen of them filled Sunday's show.