Artist of the Millennium? MTV says Jackson didn't receive award at VMAs

<br>NEW YORK (AP) _ Michael Jackson has received so many awards during his career, he apparently mistook a birthday gift from MTV as another accolade. <br><br>Britney Spears presented Jackson with a birthday

Friday, August 30th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Michael Jackson has received so many awards during his career, he apparently mistook a birthday gift from MTV as another accolade.

Britney Spears presented Jackson with a birthday cake at Thursday night's Video Music Awards. Before introducing him, the 20-year-old Spears gushed that she considered Jackson to be the ``artist of the millennium.''

When Jackson came out, he was presented with a cake and a statuette in the shape of a treble clef. He then said he never dreamed he'd be getting an ``Artist of the Millennium'' award, and went on to thank several people, including his mother.

``When I was a little boy in Indiana, if someone had told me as a musician I would be getting the artist of the millennium award, I wouldn't have believed it,'' Jackson said.

Well, turns out, he didn't get one.

The statuette was just a token of appreciation for Jackson's 44th birthday, which coincided with the awards show, MTV spokesman Graham James said Friday.

Host Jimmy Fallon alluded as much when Jackson left the stage. Fallon said he had his own artist of the millennium award, ``because they're giving them backstage to everyone.''