Jackson no show at Grammys

Michael Jackson is a Grammy 2002 nominee

Pop superstar Michael Jackson has resolved a long-standing dilemma of whether to perform at the Grammys after pulling out of rival ceremony American Music Awards (AMA) by deciding not to appear at all.

Rivalry between the two awards ceremonies has led to legal action with American Music Awards (AMA) producer Dick Clark accusing the Grammys of blacklisting artists who appear at his ceremony.

In January, Jackson opted not to appear at the AMA ceremony with most observers speculating he had agreed to perform instead at the Grammys, where he has been nominated for best single.

As a compromise Jackson was set to give a video of himself to be shown at the American Music Awards in the hope he would not be barred from playing at the prestigious Grammys.

Eight nominations for Bono and U2

But his representatives dropped the video from the event at the last minute.

It is not known if Jackson will be in the audience to collect his award, if he were to win.

A spokesman for the Grammys said he did not know if Jackson had declined an invitation to sing at the Grammys or whether he had been invited at all.

The dispute between the AMAs and the Grammys has been raging since the AMAs were moved to a month before the prestigious Grammys, leading to a battle to sign big names.

Mr Clark filed a $10m (£6.9m) lawsuit against the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which is behind the Grammys, for unfair business practices.

Lenny Kravitz, 'NSync and Janet Jackson were the big winners at the AMAs last month.

Rock band U2 lead the race for the Grammys 2002, with nominations for eight awards.

Soul singer India Arie has seven nominations, while R&B star Alicia Keys and classical conductor Pierre Boulez are up for six awards each.