By 1997 Janet Jackson was one of pop’s biggest megastars. In the mid ’80s she’d broken out of the shadow of her brother Michael and transformed her safe child-star image into one of a woman handling her own destiny. Blockbuster albums like Control and Rhythm Nation put her in the realm of Madonna, Prince and George Michael. Like them she was a star who used innovative music videos, sleek live choreography and brilliantlycrafted songs to cement her legacy.
Jackson wasn’t just a pop superstar; she was big business investment too. In 1992 she signed a then-unprecedented $40million deal with Virgin Records. In 1996 she signed a new deal with Virgin for a four-album deal worth $80 million.