Apr 18, 2001: New Album - Release Date Update

Sony Music and Michael Jackson have rescheduled the release of Michael Jackson's new album.

The album is now tentatively slated for a release in the USA on September 18th 2001. (A release date for Europe is yet to come.)

With regards to the HIStory - Greatest Hits compilation, the release is still planned for August 7th in the USA.

[Source: Planet Jackson]




Apr 17, 2001: Michael Jackson Live At Madison Square Garden

Today, Michael Jackson's Public Relations firm issued the following press release:

An All-Star Salute to The King Of Pop
Michael Jackson: The Solo Years 30th Anniversary Celebration

Set for September 7, 2001 at Madison Square Garden, Jackson's first live U.S. performance in eleven years will include reunion with Jackson 5.
An all-star salute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson: the Solo Years 30th Anniversary Celebration has been set for September 7, 2001 at Madison Square Garden at 7:45 pm.

According to David Gest, producer of the event, "Michael Jackson will make his first live performance on a US stage in fifteen years, debut a new single from his first Epic Records release in more than five years and for this very special occasion reunite with his brothers, the Jackson 5 for the first time in twenty years. The Jacksons will perform a medley of their Motown and Epic Records hits as well as sing a Jackson 5 classic with pop super group 'N Sync. Michael will choreograph all the numbers as well as perform some of his greatest hits. Michael will also perform two separate duets, one with the legendary Whitney Houston and the other with teen superstar Britney Spears."

Among the other twenty guest stars performing on the show are Marc Anthony, Shaggy featuring Ricardo "Rikrok" Ducent, Jill Scott, Mya, Tamia and Deborah Cox, and numerous others to be announced during the coming month, including forty top pop, R&B and country legends singing together in a special tribute to Jackson. The evening will feature an orchestra, background singers, a gospel choir, a children's choir and a dance ensemble.

Michael Jackson said, "I am very excited to celebrate my 30th anniversary as a solo artist with such a distinguished array of talent, friends and fans. I look forward to performing live and reuniting with my brothers on this special night."

Chairmen for the event, who will be present for the concert and a special dinner following the performance are: Elizabeth Taylor, Veronique and Gregory Peck, Kathy and Anthony Quinn, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Natasha Richardson and Liam Neeson.

Tickets will go on sale to the public the first week in June. The evening, a World Events LLC production, will be filmed as a two-hour television special and shown throughout the world.

[Source: Planet Jackson]

MJ News International


PLANET JACKSON:  European Release Date For New Album Plus Two  New Records

Planet Jackson reported on their website on 20th December that Sony Music
state that a European release date for the new album has been scheduled
for Monday March 26th 2001.  The US release date for the album has already
been planned for March 27th 2001. 

Reportedly, "This working schedule is subject to modifications depending
on Michael Jackson's progress in finalizing the album."

Also, Sony Music has rescheduled the release of two new records, according
to Planet Jackson, "On February 13th 2001, 'HIStory - Greatest Hits -
Volume I' will be released in the USA. The repackaged compilation will be
available as a single disc. The planned cover for the CD is a close-up
picture of Michael's feet.  On April 24th 2001, Thriller' (expanded
version with bonus) will be released in the USA.  (Please note that
release dates are subject to change.)"

To visit Planet Jackson's website go to http://www.planetjackson.com.


With respect,

MJ News International
Keepers Of The Dream
http://www.mjni.com

Boost for Michael.

 Michael Jackson is suddenly getting a big boost from pop music's creative community.
This is the word from songwriter Carol Bager Sayer. Sager ----- a Best Song Oscar nominee with David Foster for Celine Dion's " The Prayer" --- is currently creating songs with Kenny ( BabyFace) Edmonds for Jackson's next, yet untitled album. According to her, " Anyone I respect who has great talent, when I tell them I 'm writing for Michael, says ' Cool! I 'd like to work with him , too. ' More and more people want to work on the album."

Jackson's soiled reputation and the controversies that surrounded him do not faze Carol. " All I can know is my direct experience with someone----- and my experience with Michael is of a kind, compassionate, sweet man. I 've seen him with his son, and seen the kind of fatherly love and responsibility you wish any child could have. Anything else, for me, is just rumors and gossip. "

Foster and " The Boy is Mine" producer Rodney Jenkins are also contributing their talents to the new Jackson album, which is " about a third finished, " says Carol. She adds, "Whatever I can do to help him make this album great, I ' ll gladly do."

Grammy Maestro Mottola See's a Jax Comeback

It was a big night for Tommy Mottola, and the Sony honcho could not contain his excitement as he waited at Jimmy's in Beverly Hills for the arrival of his three biggest Grammy winners - Lauryn Hill, Celine Dion and Will Smith.

" We won 24 Grammys, " and elated Mottola said proudly. " This is the biggest year in the history of Sony."

And he's even managed to achieve this with nary a contribution from Sony's most reclusive star, Michael Jackson. But that's about to change.

" Michael has been recording in New York and Los Angeles, working with producers like David Foster and Rodney Jenkins, " Mottola says. " I 've heard some of the music, and it's unbelievable. This is some of the best music Michael's ever made." The Jackson album will be released this Christmas, he added.

Mottola was basking in the Grammy glow Wednesday night, seemingly happy with single life.
He said he spends his working days living in Manhattan and his weekends in Bedford, in Westchester County, where he resided with Mariah Carey until their break up in 1997.

Mottola said he feels very grateful to be past that period of his life, and the media attention that accompanied the divorce. " I don't want to be in the papers anymore, " he said. " That was then. This is now. Today I have a life. "

[Source: New York Daily News, by Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith]

  Jackson hires super-producer for new CD

Michael Jackson has enlisted the talents of superhot producer Rodney Jenkins for his upcoming album, the first since his 1995 " HIStory " CD. Jenkins who's nominated for four Grammys, is the mastermind behind Brandy and Monica's megahit " They Boy is Mine," as well as Monica's single " Angel of Mine, currently the No.1 song in the country. We 're told that Michael and Jenkins are racing to put the finishing touches on the Jackson disc.

[Source: USA TODAY PEOPLE]

   JACKSON ON A 'QUEST' FOR MILLENNIAL ANTHEM'

MICHAEL JACKSON is working with DAVID FOSTER and CAROLE BAYER SAGER, Oscar nominated for "The Prayer,"on a millenium-themed anthem for his new album.

"A song to take us into the year 2000 with hope," Bayer Sager said Monday. But they won't do it"if the three of us can't come upwith a song that is truly,truly good,beyong good."

Jackson called Bayer Sager after he heard she and Foster had won a Golden Globe for "The Prayer, a duet by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli from"The Quest for Camelot." Bayer Sager hadn't spoken with him in a couple of years, and she didn't believe it was Jackson until he sang a duet they had done for her album with Burt Bacharach in 1991.

Bayer Sager had hooked up Jackson with producer/songwriter RODNEY JERKINS ("The Boy is Mine"),but Jackson wanted to try for the anthem with her and Foster. They've had two sessions,and Bayer Sager has hopes their song will be a reality by next month.

Jackson has kept a low profile in this country lately. Bayer Sager attributes this to his being "very involved as a father. His 2-year old (Prince Michael) is so adorable, he didn't want to leave his side. Michael was very wise, he took a rest, he's gathering himself together. When he comes back,it'll be in a way that's undeniable. There's not a radio station in the country that can NOT play him. He left as the King of Pop, he faded out a little, but he'll come back as the King of Pop. He didn't lose that title."

Jackson, she said, is "looking for some peace in his life,and I think he's found it. He seems much more content and at esae with himself," and she attributes this to being a dad of two.

Bayer Sager,who also is producing an album with Carole King,says,"Just when you think you've kind of done it (all),out of ther blue comes Michael. It gets your juices going to try to do a better job."

[Source: USA Today]