28.02.2008
New Loan Will Save Michael Jackson's Neverland
Michael
Jackson will avoid foreclosure on his Neverland Ranch property with a new loan,
a Jackson insider told CNN Wednesday. Documents show that Neverland Ranch in Los
Olivos, California, is scheduled for a public auction on March 19 at Santa
Barbara’s downtown courthouse. But the Jackson source said that won’t happen.
“Michael Jackson’s ranch is not going to be auctioned off at the courthouse,”
the Jackson insider said. “The financing is all being worked out. There are
plenty of lenders willing to work with him. The real estate market is very bad
right now and Jackson is being affected just like many other Americans,” the
source said.
Source: CNN, MJBaltic.Com
20.02.2008
Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition Enters US Albums Charts At No.2!
Michael
Jackson has missed the top spot on the Billboard Album Charts coming in at No.2.
The King Of Pop has shifted just over 155,000 copies of Thriller25 missing out
to Jackson Johnson selling 170,000. Not bad for an album 25 (cough 26) years
old.
All we can say is - roll on for the next brand new studio album! :: Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition New Track “Got The Hots”
Brand New old Michael Jackson,
Thriller25
Japanese release “Got The Hots”:
Source:
MJBaltic.Com, MJSTAR
13.02.2008
Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition 2008 Heading For US Top 10!
Early reports show Sony Legacy’s 25th
Anniversary re-release of Michael
Jackson’s deluxe Thriller is over performing, with a first-week sales prognosis
that could put it in the 80-90k range, which would seemingly be good enough for
a Top 5 in the United States. :: Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition Heading For UK Top 10!
In United Kingdom The King Of Pop is about to go
to Top 10 with Thriller 25th
Anniversary Edition as well! Midweek figures put Michael Jackson at No.4 on the
official UK Album Charts.
:: NEW ALBUM UPDATE:
American R&B
sensation NE-YO and Akon confirmed that they are both working on new Michael Jackson's
album. Michael is keeping everything secret, so
we just have to wait for the album release late this year.
Source:
SONY / THE OFFICIAL CHART COMPANY,
MJBaltic.Com, MJSTAR
The Girl Is Mine 2008 Enters Official UK Singles Charts
The official CD release of Michael Jackson & Will.I.Am “The Girl Is Mine”
has entered the UK singles charts at No.32, moving up 16 places from last weeks
No.48.
::
RadioBigBoy.com Meets Michael Jackson in Las Vegas
01.02.2008
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 Enters Billboard Hot 100
BILLBOARD CHART BEAT: 'STARTIN'' ALL OVER AGAIN
After an absence
from the Hot 100 of four years, one month and one week, Michael Jackson returns
with "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008," an update of a song that was originally
a No. 5 hit a quarter of a century ago. It is Jackson's first title to appear on
the chart since "One More Chance" peaked at No. 83 in 2003. Since "Wanna Be
Startin' Somethin' 2008" bows at No. 81, it is Jackson's highest entry since
"Butterflies" flew to No. 14 in 2002.
Back in 1983, the Epic single "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was a solo effort by
Jackson. The remake teams Michael with Akon and is the 47th Hot 100 hit (away
from the Jackson 5) for the former and the 19th entry for the latter. Of course, Akon has only been charting since June 2004 and Jackson had his first solo chart
entry on the chart dated Oct. 30, 1971, a year-and-a-half to the day before Akon
was born.
While "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" is the first chart entry for Akon in
2008, he had an abundant nine chart entries in 2007. Jackson's most prolific
year was 1983, when the original "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was one of six
chart entries.
27.01.2008
Michael Jackson Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award
Michael Jackson's Video Message To NRJ Music Awards 2008 in France
The King
of Pop and Music Icon Michael Jackson was honored with the NRJ Lifetime
Achievement Award in France last night.
Although Michael could not be there to accept the award, he sent in an
acceptance video. We are providing you with the video and transcript of the
speech:
Hello to all my friends in France! Though I couldn't be there in person
tonight to accept this prestigious award, I'm so happy to have the chance to
send this message to let all my French fans know how much your support has meant
throughout the years.
It's hard to believe that 25 years ago, Quincy Jones and I embarked on an album
named "Thriller." To be able to say that "Thriller" still holds the record as
the biggest selling album of all time, is just mind blowing. I have you my fans
through out the world to thank for this achievement.
Though this award tonight honors me for my lifetime achievements, there is still
much more to come from Michael Jackson. My passion for music has never stopped.
And for those who don't know, I've been in the studio recording Thriller 25th
Anniversary album, with a lot of surprise guests. It's my hope that "Thriller"
continues to live on for each new generation to discover.
So thank you TF1 and NRJ for this very special award. It means so much to me to
be honored by you. And thank you to my fans. I love you from the bottom of my
heart and I hope to see you very soon. I love you. God bless you.
Source: TF1, NRJ Music Awards,
MJJCommunity News, MJBALTIC
17.12.2007
REVEALED:
New Solo Michael Jackson Tour 2008
Michael Jackson Tour 2008 Update: Spring Tour Discussed
It looks like Michael is being lined up for a Prince-style residency at London’s
O2 Arena.
AEG Live has been talking to Jackson about doing a tour. The proposal is to do a
series of shows just at the O2 Arena outside of London, the same venue where Led
Zeppelin just played. The shows would run from March through April 2008, all at
O2 Arena. Word is that the basis of the show would co-incide with the 25th anniversary
re-creation of “Thriller” to go along with the soon to be released Sony CD and
video package.
AEG’s Randy Phillips, who used to co manage Rod Stewart, is behind the plan.
Sources say he and Jackson have met several times, and that Michael “is in good
shape.”
This is just in the talking stages and you never know what will happen,” says a
source.
Stay tuned for more updates…
Source: MJSTAR, Fox News
06.12.2007
Sony BMG Press Release - Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition
OFFICIAL RELEASE: 'Thriller - The 25th
Anniversary' Will Be Released In
February 11, 2008
Sony BMG
have released the following official press release for Michael Jackson’s
Thriller 25th Anniversary album - including the full track listing of all the
new material.
THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
OF MICHAEL JACKSON’S THRILLER
THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SELLING ALBUM OF ALL TIME
Newly Expanded Deluxe Edition of Multi-Platinum Grammy-Winning Album
With New & Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks
Including Remixes By Akon, will.i.am & Kanye West
+ Bonus DVD Featuring Digitally Restored Short Films
& Michael Jackson’s Historic Breakout Performance
From “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” Television Broadcast
Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition
Available Worldwide Week Of February 11, 2008
Epic/Legacy
Recordings proudly celebrates the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s
Thriller, the world’s biggest-selling album of all time, with a newly expanded
deluxe edition of the phenomenal record-breaking pop culture touchstone,
available worldwide the week of February 11, 2008.
The Michael Jackson Thriller 25th anniversary celebration kicks off in December
2007 and continues throughout 2008 with the release of a new single and a
multi-faceted global marketing campaign featuring high-profile television, radio
and online events around the world.
The Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition will include the original album in its
entirety as well as eight bonus tracks and a DVD featuring Michael Jackson’s
groundbreaking short films from Thriller (”Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “Billie
Jean”) and the artist’s Emmy-nominated breakout performance of “Billie Jean”
from the legendary “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” television special
(first broadcast on NBC on May 16, 1983).
The newly expanded version of Thriller premieres five tracks previously
unreleased in any form: a new Kanye West remix of “Billie Jean”; a new 2008
version of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” with Akon and will.i.am; will.i.am
remixes of “The Girl Is Mine” and “P.Y.T.”; and “For All Time,” a rare
unreleased cut from the original Thriller recording sessions, newly mixed and
mastered by Michael Jackson.
Additional bonus material on the Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition includes
“Someone In The Dark,” “Carousel,” and Michael Jackson’s original demo recording
of “Billie Jean.”
The deluxe Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition packaging contains a personal
greeting from Michael Jackson to his fans penned exclusively for this special
release.
Originally released 25 years ago early December 1982 by Epic Records, Thriller,
Michael Jackson’s sixth solo album and second with producer Quincy Jones,
rocketed the former child-star lead singer for the Jackson 5 into the
stratosphere of international superstardom. Introducing the “robot” and the
“moonwalk” into the international lexicon of clubland dance moves via the
pulsing sounds of Thriller, Michael Jackson revolutionized all aspects of
mainstream pop culture — from radio airwaves to the newly emerging art form of
music videos — becoming the world’s most popular entertainer in the process.
The original Thriller spent an astounding 80 consecutive weeks in the American
Top 10, 37 of those at #1. Seven of the album’s original nine tracks became Top
10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 while Individual singles from Thriller
reached #1 chart positions in the US, the UK, France, Italy, Australia, Denmark,
Belgium, South Africa, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand and Canada.
Thriller made history as the first and only record to be America’s top-selling
album two years running (1983 and 1984).
Thriller has been certified 27x platinum by the RIAA, giving it Double Diamond
Award status in the US. In addition, the album has achieved Diamond or
Multi-Platinum status in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Finland,
France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain,
Switzerland and the UK. Thriller was named the Best Selling Album of All Time by
the Guinness Book of Records in 1985.
In February 1984, Michael Jackson held a record-breaking 12 Grammy nominations,
going on to win eight, which stands as the record for most Grammy Awards to be
won by anyone in a single year. Seven of Michael’s Grammys that year were for
Thriller: Album of the Year; Record of the Year (”Beat It”); Best Male Pop Vocal
Performance (”Thriller”); Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical (Thriller);
Best Male Rock Vocal Performance (”Beat It”); Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
(”Billie Jean”); Best R&B Song (”Billie Jean”). (Michael’s eighth Grammy that
year was in the Best Recording For Children - Single or Album, Musical or Spoken
category for “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”). That same year, Michael Jackson took
home eight American Music Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards. The following
year, “The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller” took home the Best Video Album
trophy at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards.
Named the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time” by the Guinness World
Records, Michael Jackson is among the most highly acclaimed and influential
artists in pop culture. He was named the World Music Award’s Best-Selling Pop
Male Artist of the Millennium and received the American Music Award’s Artist of
the Century Award. He has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice:
in 1997 as a member of the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist in 2001.
THRILLER - 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Thriller - original track listing - US Billboard Chart Peaks:
1. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” - (#5 Hot 100, #5 R&B)
2. “Baby Be Mine”
3. “The Girl Is Mine” (with Paul McCartney) - (#2 Hot 100, #1 R&B, #1 Adult
Contemporary)
4. Thriller” - (#4 Hot 10, #3 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks)
5. “Beat It” - (#1 Hot 100, #1 R&B)
6. “Billie Jean” - (#1 Hot 100, #1 R&B, #9 A/C)
7. “Human Nature” - (#7 Hot 100, #2 Adult Contemporary)
8. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” - (#10 Hot 100)
9. “The Lady in My Life”
Bonus Material:
10. Someone In the Dark
11. Billie Jean (Michael Jackson’s original demo recording)
12. Carousel
Previously Unreleased Tracks For 25th Anniversary Edition:
13. The Girl Is Mine 2008 with will.i.am*
14. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008 with Michael Jackson and will.i.am*
15. Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008 with Michael Jackson, Akon and will.i.am*
16. Billie Jean 2008 with Kanye West*
17. For All Time (unreleased track from original Thriller sessions)* Bonus DVD:
1. Thriller
2. Beat It
3. Billie Jean
4. Billie Jean performance from Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever
25th Anniversary Executive Producer: Michael Jackson
Original Album Produced by Quincy Jones for [Quincy Jones Productions logo]
Source:
Sony BMG
08.11.2007
Michael Jackson To Appear On The Cover Of Ebony
Twenty five years after the record-breaking Thriller album was released, Michael
Jackson still reigns as the King of Pop. EBONY magazine offers readers a rare
glimpse into the world of the internationally recognized icon. The talented
dancer, singer and songwriter sat down in a New York hotel suite with EBONY to
conduct his first U.S. magazine interview and cover story in a decade.
In this
special collector’s edition, Michael shares a unique view into his creativity,
where he’s been and where he’s headed next. “I always want to do music that
influences and inspires each generation. Let’s face it, who wants mortality? You
want what you create to live, and I give my all in my work because I want it to
live.” Harriette Cole, the creative director of “Ebony” magazine, said that
was the impression she got after spending a day and a half with Jackson while he
was being photographed and interviewed for a story that will appear in the
periodical’s Nov. 12 issue. But Cole insisted it’s true.
“From the time that I spent with him, what I got is that he’s a man,” Cole said.
“He’s 49. He’s a grown-up. If you learn from your challenges, then you become
stronger. He certainly seemed like that. His voice is a bit lower. He came
across really as kind of normal.”
When Meredith expressed incredulity that the word could be used to describe
Jackson, Cole replied, “Honestly, Meredith, he was normal.”
Cole further observed that the man who was once photographed dangling his infant
son from a balcony is a very good father.
“A few days ago when we were with him, he was with his youngest son,” she said,
referring to Prince Michael Jackson II. “They call him ‘Blanket’ — he’s 5 years
old. He is a regular 5-year-old boy. The interesting thing to me was, Michael
was parenting him. Very quietly, with very few words, he was able to communicate
with his son what was appropriate to do and what not. I observed Michael being a
great parent.”
Jackson has been interviewed for a documentary by the BBC in Great Bower, but,
Cole said, the “Ebony” profile is the first interview he’s done with an Americanpublication
in a decade. She said she believes the reclusive and controversial
star chose “Ebony” because the magazine has had a long relationship with him,
first profiling him on its cover when he was taking America by storm as the
6-year-old star of The Jackson 5.
Check out the latest video of Michael Jackson appearing in Ebony, listed as the
number one linked video in Entertainment today on YouTube: WATCH
VIDEO
