12-20-01: Third Single Still Undecided
Sony Music and Michael Jackson haven't decided yet which single will follow "Cry" internationally.
The third single will either be "Butterflies" or "Unbreakable."
The release is slated for late January.
Source: Planet Jackson
12-19-01: Dick Clark's AMA's Suing Michael Greene's Grammys
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (Reuters) - Proclaiming he was ``mad as hell,'' music industry veteran Dick Clark, whose company produces the American Music Awards, on Wednesday filed suit claiming the head of the group that sponsors the Grammy Awards engaged in unfair competition against his rival show.
The suit seeks $10 million in damages from Michael Greene, president and chief executive of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which produces the Grammys (news - web sites). In the suit filed in federal court in Los Angeles, Clark's Dick Clark Productions Inc. claimed Greene kept pop star Michael Jackson from performing on the Jan. 9 American Music Awards show, where he was to receive a special ``artist of the century'' award. Clark claims that the practice of keeping artists from performing on both the American Music Awards and the Grammys has been going on for years, and said there is ``a long list'' of artists who have been barred from appearing on his show. Borrowing a phrase from the movie ``Network,'' Clark said, ''I'm mad as hell, and I won't take this anymore.'' Clark said Greene's practice constitutes ``tort and unfair competition'' between the American Music Awards and the Grammys, which take place Feb. 27. A Grammy spokeswoman said the Recording Academy would decline to comment until it had a chance to review the lawsuit. Asked whether Jackson was slated to appear at the next Grammy Awards, she said, ``I don't know of anybody who's been asked or invited (to appear on the show). Until we announce our nominees, we don't announce or confirm who's going to be on the show.'' Nominees for the 44th annual Grammys, the recording industry's top honors, are to be announced on Jan. 4.Source: Reuters
12-10-01: Michael Jackson To Talk With Rick Dees
On December 17th, Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM will air a one-hour Michael Jackson special including an interview with the King of Pop. Michael Jackson granted an exclusive interview to radio icon Rick Dees during which he made a special announcement.
Rick Dees hosts a popular radio program every weekday morning in Los Angeles on KIIS-AM/FM. He also hosts the syndicated radio show “Rick Dees Weekly Top 40.”
For more information on the event and the internet broadcast, visit www.kiisfm.com
Michael Jackson will also appear at the KIIS Jingle Ball concert at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on December 19th, with performances by Alicia Keys, Shakira, Craig David, Sugar Ray, Lifehouse, LFO, Five For Fighting and Michelle Branch. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.com
Source: Planet Jackson
12-07-01: Michael Releases Statement Regarding George Harrison
George Harrison, one of the four members of the sixties group the Beatles, died of cancer at the age of 58 last week, on November 29, 2001.
Michael Jackson issued a statement the following day, expressing his sadness:
"The world has lost a great spirit in George Harrison, a great musician, songwriter, and friend. He was an inspiration to me, and I will miss him a great deal."- Michael Jackson
Harrison was the Beatles' lead guitarist who was also instrumental in introducing Indian musical influences into the group's musical style. Some of the Beatles most memorable songs, such as "Here Comes The Sun", were written by Harrison.
Source: Billboard Magazine
12-06-01: "Butterflies" Remixed By Track Masters
Track Masters have just completed the official remixed version of Michael Jackson's single "Butterflies." It will be released to clubs and radios stations in the USA very shortly.
Track Masters is a team of edgy American Hip-Hop producers, led by dynamic duo Samuel "Tone" Barnes and Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier. Their first collaboration with the King of Pop happened in 1996 when they created remixes for "They Don't Care About Us."
Source: Planet Jackson
12-05-01: "Butterflies" Video Is Coming
MJ News International has learned that a short film is currently being filmed for "Butterflies", the second US single off "Invincible".
The song is currently bulleting up the American pop charts and has been a staple at R&B radio since its release in October.
It has also been reported that female rap superstar Eve will be featured on one of the re-mixes of the song, to be serviced to radio in the next two weeks.
A commercial single is due January 15, 2002. No date has been set for the video's release.
Source: MJNI
12-04-01: POPonline Digs Through The Tabloid Garbage
There is alot of news going around the Internet about Michael Jackson that people are falling for as truthful news. POPonline wishes to comment that nothing on the net is true about Michael Jackson unless a proven OFFICIAL source states this. That means, if it's not from Sony Music, Michael Jackson, michaeljackson.com, MJNI, or Planet Jackson, it's probably untrue. The following news "stories" are untrue at this time.
These are just some of the news articles going around on the Internet that POPonline finds bogus and untrue. Until it is proven true, POPonline will stand by it's standards and not post this tabloid created garbage.
Thank you.
- POPonline
11-30-01: POPonline Remembers George Harrision
LOS ANGELES (AP) - George Harrison, the ``quiet Beatle'' who added both rock 'n' roll flash and a touch of the mystic to the band's timeless magic, has died. He was 58.
Harrison died at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a friend's Los Angeles home following a battle with cancer, longtime friend Gavin De Becker told The Associated Press late Thursday. Harrison's wife, Olivia Harrison, and son, Dhani, 24, were with him.
``He left this world as he lived in it, conscious of God, fearless of death, and at peace, surrounded by family and friends,'' the Harrison family said in a statement. ``He often said, 'Everything else can wait but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another.'''
With the death of Harrison, the band's lead guitarist, there remain two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. John Lennon was shot to death by a deranged fan in 1980.
``I am devastated and very, very sad,'' McCartney told reporters outside his London home Friday. ``He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humor. He is really just my baby brother.''
In a statement, Starr said: ``George was a best friend of mine. I loved him very much and I will miss him greatly. Both (wife) Barbara and I send our love and light to Olivia and Dhani. We will miss George for his sense of love, his sense of music and his sense of laughter.''
It wasn't immediately known if there would be a public funeral for Harrison. A private ceremony had already taken place, De Becker said. He wouldn't release details.
In 1998, Harrison, who was once a heavy smoker, disclosed that he had been treated for throat cancer. ``It reminds you that anything can happen,'' he said at the time. The following year, Harrison survived an attack by an intruder who stabbed him several times. In July 2001, he released a statement asking fans not to worry about reports that he was still battling cancer.
Source: Associated Press
11-29-01: "Butterflies" Single Release Pushed Back
The American commercial release of the "Butterflies" CD single has been pushed back to January 15th 2002.
Source: Planet Jackson
11-16-01: "Butterflies" To Be Release Commercially
Michael Jackson's "Butterflies" will be released as a commercial CD single in the USA on December 18th.
Source: Planet Jackson
11-15-01: Michael Jackson Concert Scores Top Ratings
Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary concert special draw a record 25.7 million American viewers this Tuesday, November 13th, on CBS.
The King of Pop's tribute concert was TV's most-watched music special since ABC's Beatles Anthology in 1995. Thanks to Michael Jackson, CBS won the night and scored its best Tuesday night ratings since 1994, despite fierce competition from other networks.
Source: Planet Jackson
11-13-01: "HIStory- Greatest Hits Vol 1" Album Released
At long last, Michael Jackson & Sony Music have released "HIStory- Greatest Hits Vol 1".
The release features 15 greatest hits by Michael Jackson. It is the original track listing from the first release of "HIStory" in 1995, but contains new liner notes, and photos. The release is a single disc release.
Source: POPonline
11-09-01: "Butterflies" Single Storms Up The Charts
Michael Jackson's USA single release "Butterflies" is on the Billboard Magazine charts this week. On the Hot 100, Michael is at number 60. The single is doing even better on the R&B / Hip Hop charts, at number 13.
For more chart updates, you can visit Billboard Magazine
Source: POPonline & Billboard Magazine
11-07-01: Michael Reclaims The Music Throne As "Invincible" Debuts At Number 1
At long last, the reign of teen pop and hip hop is over. The King Of Pop, Michael Jackson, has reclaimed his right-full place on top of the Billboard Magazine Album Charts at number 1 with his new album "Invincible". It is the first time since 1995's "HIStory: Past Present & Future Book 1" that Michael has been number 1 on the album charts.
Michael is in New York today to take part in an album signing session at Virgin Records Store. Michael will also be making a special guest appearance on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL).
For more chart updates, you can visit Billboard Magazine
Source: POPonline & Billboard Magazine
11-02-01: Entire "Invincible" Album Lyrics Now Available
POPonline has obtained all lyrics to Michael Jackson's brand new album. You can get the lyrics by going here: "Invincible" Lyrics
Source: POPonline
11-02-01: "Invincible" Makes HIStorical Debut- Sales
Less than a week after its release, Michael Jackson's "Invincible" album is already making history.
The King of Pop's new album has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide in just 4 days! Even by Michael's standards, it is huge.
In France, Switzerland, Norway, Italy and Spain, "Invincible" has even broken Michael's previous records and has become his fastest-selling album ever.
Source: Planet Jackson
11-02-01: Michael Jackson To Appear On MTV TRL
Michael Jackson is set to make a special appearance at MTV's Total Request Live with VJ Carson Daly on November 7th. The show is filmed live from the MTV studio in Times Square, New York City.
The same day, following his appearance on TRL, Michael Jackson is also set to attend a special album signing at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square. A limited number of fans will have the unique opportunity to have their copy of the "Invincible" album signed by the King of Pop in person.
Source: Planet Jackson
10-31-01: King of Pop To Release Song With Indian Artist
A.R. Rahman, one of India's most talented and successful film composers told Music Pulse, a music industry column, that he has recorded a song with Michael Jackson. The track is titled "Ekam Satyam" (The One Truth) and is sung partly in English and partly in Sanskrit. A.R. Rahman said the song will be released sometime toward the end of the year.
Michael Jackson and A.R. Rahman first worked on the song when they got together for the "Michael Jackson & Friends" concert in Munich in June 1999.
Source: Planet Jackson
10-30-01: "Cry" Single To Feature Exclusive Bonus Material
On December 3rd, Sony Music International will release "Cry" as the second commercial single from the "Invincible" album.
The CD maxi-single edition of "Cry" will feature exclusive bonus material, including a CD-Extra section with free multimedia.
Here is the detailed content of the CD maxi-single to be released internationally:
Note: this CD maxi-single edition of "Cry" is currently not scheduled to be released in the USA
Source: Planet Jackson
10-30-01: "Unbreakable" To Break All
Michael Jackson has more than one trick up his sleeve for "Invincible".
After the great "You Rock My World" video, the King of Pop will return in early 2002 with a ground-breaking new short-film.
Michael Jackson has been working since last August on the video to accompany "Unbreakable", tentatively scheduled to be the third commercial single from the "Invincible" album.
Michael Jackson wants the "Unbreakable" short-film to shock the world. Work on the video has already been achieved at George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic studios.
Source: Planet Jackson
10-30-01: The Wait Is Over! "Invincible" Album Released- UPDATED
After 6 years of silence, the King Of Pop Michael Jackson is back. On October 29th, the 16 track album was released worldwide. It was finally released in the United States today. It is the first full length studio album by Michael with no previously released material since the highly successful 1991 album "Dangerous"
Source: POPonline