Monday, December 19, 2011

Judge approved a pay bump for Execs of Michael Jackson's Estate

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge approved a pay bump Monday for the executors of Michael Jackson's estate who turned the debt-ridden singer's portfolio into a business that has earned hundreds of millions of dollars since his death.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff allowed attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain to bill the estate separately for their professional services, which include entertainment-related legal counsel and use of a recording studio founded by Marvin Gaye.


Attorneys for Branca and McClain sought the change, saying the executors spend an increasing amount of time on Jackson's estate and have been paying legal expenses to Branca's firm out of their share of the earnings.

The men agreed in February 2010 to accept 10 percent of the gross entertainment-related earnings of the estate, minus money generated by Jackson's 50 percent interest in the Sony-ATV music catalog and earnings from "This Is It," a film compiled from the singer's final rehearsals.

The exclusions are huge revenue generators for the estate — the Sony-ATV catalog includes publishing rights to music by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and other stars. The executors also have been excluded an interest in Jackson's music, which has sold briskly since his death June 25 at age 50.

Since then, the estate has earned more than $310 million.

Branca and McClain have been earning closer to 7 percent of the estate's entertainment-related earnings, as the estate has become a "massive entertainment business enterprise," court filings state.

Branca and McClain said they are spending more time developing Jackson projects than anticipated, including music, video games and a touring Cirque-du-Soleil show that will eventually become a Las Vegas fixture.

Under the deal approved Monday, Branca's firm Ziffren Brittenham LLP will now receive 3 percent of entertainment-related income generated by Jackson's estate.

Estate attorney Howard Weitzman said the firm was performing work that would cost more than $2 million a year if it was being handled by another firm, and court filings state that a traditional entertainment estate would include additional managers and attorneys who would receive up to 30 percent of the estate's overall revenue.

There was no estimate for how much McClain's billings may be. He bought and restored Gaye's former Los Angeles studio in 1997, christening it Marvin's Room, and Jackson and other top singers have recorded music there.

The estate benefits Jackson's mother, Katherine, and the singer's three children, Prince, Paris and Blanket. They received an initial $30 million payment on the estate's proceeds earlier this year.

Attorneys for Katherine Jackson and the children had no objection to augmenting the compensation for Branca and McClain. Meg Lodise, who represents the children's interest, said, "It is quite clear that what they're proposing is going to be fair to the estate."

Weitzman told Beckloff that the estate has recently resolved creditors' claims worth at least $11 million and is working to resolve any other valid outstanding debts. Jackson died with an estimated $400 million in debts, but renewed interest in his music and career have fattened the estate's accounts, which listed $90 million in cash on hand in a September court filing.

Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Judge-approves-pay-bump-for-Jackson-estate-execs-2412642.php#ixzz1h150FHQc

Monday, December 12, 2011

Why Michael Jackson Is The Top Touring Act In America.

Another GREAT review. Im so proud.  I find it so awesome that a MJ concert without his physical presence still by passes all the top Artists today.  I attended last weeks performance on Dec 4th and was thrilled and delighted by all the sights and sounds. The show was amazing and I could feel Michael's presence through out the whole show.  He would have been so proud. ~ Qbee      

Why Michael Jackson Is The Top Touring Act In America


Sammy Davis, Jr. once said that “everything Michael Jackson does on stage is exactly right.” The King of Pop indeed left some big leather loafers to fill, but judging by the crowd’s reaction at MGM’s Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour is doing an admirable job.

Among those in attendance for Saturday night’s performance: Cee Lo Green, as well as Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles. Seated within view of the reporters assembled to chronicle the show, the couple laughed and smiled as acrobats and dancers swirled across the stage–zombies popping out of coffins, contortionists emerging from giant books, even a performer dressed as a giant white glove–all while a live band blasted out the soundtrack beneath Jackson’s soaring vocals.

“We have all done our best to make this a celebration of his essence in his absence,” musical director Greg Phillinganes told me shortly after the show’s debut. “His passion for humanity … his commitment to excellence, his flair for the big show, we’ve tried to incorporate all those factors.”


Immortal is the highest-grossing live show in the country for the second week in a row, bringing in just shy of $2 million per night in Vegas. That’s over half a million dollars more than the next-highest earner, Taylor Swift, according to concert data provider Pollstar.It’s all the more impressive given that the Jackson show has been parked at the 8,500-seat Mandalay Bay Theatre for much of December; Swift has been playing arenas more than twice that size, as Immortal will soon be doing when resumes its trek across the North America.

An international leg is set to follow in late 2012. A joint venture between the Michael Jackson estate and Cirque du Soleil, Immortal opened in October and is already approaching $100 million in ticket sales. That should come as no surprise, given the extraordinary spectacle that audiences witness with each performance.

The show begins with a spotlight illuminating a mime clad in all white; his shell-toed sneakers and backwards hat make him look more b-boy than sad clown. As he cozies up to an image of Michael Jackson that fills a giant video screen at the back of the stage, the pictures melts away to reveal the band, and a troupe of dancers streams onto the stage.The mime serves as a guide throughout the performance, starting with Jackson’s early years and the song “Have You Seen My Childhood.” There’s a miniature hot air balloon and a Jackson Five montage complete with dancers dressed as Marlon, Tito, Jermaine, Jackie and Michael–oversized afros included. As the show continues, a replica of the Neverland gates rolls out, followed by performers dressed as Bubbles the Chimp and some of the other animals that once resided in Jackson’s private zoo.

Next comes the “Smooth Criminal” segment. The screens behind the stage turn black-and-white, revealing a video of Jackson outsmarting a series of detectives as they try to track him down. All the while, tommy gun-toting dancers decked out in fedoras and pinstriped suits mimic and elaborate upon Jackson’s moves, culminating in a flurry of pyrotechnics and mock gunfire that leaves only one dancer standing.

Perhaps the most impressive is the scene that comes next. The surviving gangster rips off her white suit to reveal nothing more than a shimmering bikini–and proceeds to ascend a slim tube that extends 30 feet or so into the air. Upon reaching the top she launches into an aerial pole-dance, contorting herself into positions that would seem impossible even on solid ground. At some point, she manages to hold herself perpendicular to the structure, supported by nothing besides her own strength.

Pushing the boundaries of the human body are trademarks of Cirque du Soleil, and that’s one of the many examples in which Immortal lives up to its lofty expectations (There’s also a scene where one acrobat lifts a partner into the air using only a strap hanging from his mouth; in another, a green dancer folds herself into a pretzel-shape and walks on her hands). There’s a bit of tongue-and-cheek humor, too: at one point, Michael Jackson’s trademark black loafers appear as Mini Cooper-sized characters, each manned by a single dancer.

Though Immortal pays homage to Jackson’s biggest hits–”Thriller,” “Billie Jean” and “Man in the Mirror,” to name a few–it also showcases some of Jackson’s later work, including the environmental anthem “Earth Song” and the oddly prescient “They Don’t Care About Us.” The latter of features scores of stomping robots with dollar signs emblazoned on their metallic chests, an idea dreamed up years before the birth of Occupy Wall Street.

Immortal features quite a few mashups of Jackson’s music, so it’s only fitting that the show ends with a parade of dancers hoisting flags that bear the combined symbols of various nations.

The production’s narrative arc does jump around a bit, as one might expect given the diverse nature of Jackson’s oeuvre. But Immortal’s architects managed to connect everything in a generally coherent manner–quite an achievement, given the staggering array of individual songs and mashups that made the final cut.

At any rate, the show has clearly passed the necessary tests in Vegas. Plans are already in the works to renovate the Mandalay Bay Theatre, which currently houses the Lion King, to accommodate a modified version of Immortal in time for a 2013 opening. If this month’s run is any indication, it should be a bonanza for MGM, Cirque du Soleil and the Jackson estate.

Though Jay-Z and Beyonce ducked out as the performers were taking their final bows on Saturday night, it’s clear that another superstar–Michael Jackson–will be staying in Las Vegas for quite some time.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Judge Pastor Calls Dr. Murray's Treatment "Medical Madness" as he sentences him the Maximum Penalty

Judge Pastor Sentences  Murray the Maximum Sentence he can give under the law and his reasons for doing so.  He calls  Dr Murrays  treatment of Michael Jackson  among other things

 "Medical Madness"




Murray gets 4-year sentence, tongue-lashing from judge

LOS ANGELES — It was clear that Michael Jackson's doctor was going to get the maximum four-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter before the judge even finished speaking.


In a nearly half-hour tongue lashing, Dr. Conrad Murray was denounced as a greedy, remorseless physician who committed a "horrific violation of trust" and killed the King of Pop during an experiment.

"Dr. Murray created a set of circumstances and became involved in a cycle of horrible medicine," Judge Michael Pastor said in a stern voice.
Pastor said Murray sold out his profession for a promised fee of $150,000 a month when he agreed to give Jackson a powerful anesthetic every night as an unorthodox cure for insomnia.

Murray will likely serve less than two years in county jail, not state prison, because of California's overcrowded prisons and jails. Sheriff's officials said he will be housed in a one-man cell and be kept away from other inmates.

The tall, imposing Murray, who has been in jail for three weeks, was allowed to change into street clothes — a charcoal gray suit and white shirt — for court. But he wore prison issue white socks and soft slippers.

Jackson's family said in a statement read in court that they were not seeking revenge but a stiff sentence for Murray that served as a warning to opportunistic doctors. Afterward, they said they were pleased with the judge's sentence.

"We're going to be a family. We're going to move forward. We're going to tour, play the music and miss him," brother Jermaine Jackson said.

After sentencing, Murray mouthed the words "I love you" to his mother and girlfriend in the courtroom. Murray's mother, Milta Rush, sat alone on a bench in the courthouse hallway. "My son is not what they charged him to be," she said quietly. "He was a gentle child from the time he was small." Of her son's future, she said, "God is in charge."

Murray, 58, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after a six-week trial that presented the most detailed account yet of Jackson's final hours, a story of the performer's anguish over being unable to sleep.

Pastor was relentless in his bashing of Murray, saying the physician lied repeatedly and abandoned Jackson when he was at his most vulnerable — under the anesthesia that Murray administered in an unorthodox effort to induce sleep.

"It should be made very clear that experimental medicine is not going to be tolerated, and Mr. Jackson was an experiment," he said.

Propofol is supposed to be used in hospital settings and has never been approved for sleep treatments, yet Murray acknowledged giving it to Jackson then leaving the room on the day the singer died.

As for defense arguments that Jackson tempted his own fate when he demanded propofol, Pastor said, "Dr. Murray could have walked away and said no as countless others did. But Dr. Murray was intrigued with the prospect of this money for medicine madness."

Pastor said Murray was motivated by a desire for "money, fame and prestige" and cared more about himself than Jackson.

The doctor was deeply in debt when he agreed to serve as Jackson's personal physician for $150,000 a month during his comeback tour. The singer, however, died before Murray received any money.

"There are those who feel Dr. Murray is a saint and those who feel he is the devil," Pastor said. "He is neither. He is a human being who caused the death of another human being."
 .
Defense attorney Ed Chernoff implored Pastor to look at Murray's life and give him credit for a career of good works. "I do wonder whether the court considers the book of a man's life, not just one chapter," Chernoff said.

The judge responded: "I accept Mr. Chernoff's invitation to read the whole book of Dr. Murray's life. But I also read the book of Michael Jackson's life, including the sad final chapter of Dr. Murray's treatment of Michael Jackson."

Chernoff suggested that Murray is being punished enough by the stigma of having caused Jackson's death. "Whether Dr. Murray is a barista or a greeter at Walmart, he is still the man that killed Michael Jackson," he said.

A probation report released after sentencing said Murray was listed as suicidal and mentally disturbed in jail records before his sentencing. However, Murray's spokesman Mark Fierro said a defense attorney visited the cardiologist in jail last week and found him upbeat.

The judge said one of the most disturbing aspects of Murray's case was a slurred recording of Jackson recovered from the doctor's cellphone. His speech was barely intelligible and Murray would say later Jackson was under the influence of propofol.

Pastor suggested Murray might have been planning to use it to blackmail Jackson if there was a falling out between them. "That tape recording was Dr. Murray's insurance policy," Pastor said.

Defense attorneys never explained in court why he recorded Jackson six weeks before his death. In the recording, Jackson talked about the importance of making his shows on the comeback tour "phenomenal."

Jackson's death in June 2009 stunned the world, as did the ensuing investigation that led to Murray being charged in February 2010. Murray declined to testify during his trial but did participate in a documentary in which he said he didn't consider himself guilty of any crime and blamed Jackson for entrapping him into administering the propofol doses.


"Yikes," the judge said. "Talk about blaming the victim!"
Murray's attorneys presented 34 letters from relatives, friends and former patients to win a lighter sentence. They described Murray's compassion as a doctor, including accepting lower payments from his mostly poor patients.

In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors cited Murray's statements to advocate for the maximum term. They also want him to pay restitution to the singer's three children — Prince, Paris and Blanket.
 .
The exact amount Murray has to pay will be determined at a hearing in January.

In the meantime, sheriff's officials said Murray will serve a little less than two years behind bars. A recent change in California law requires Murray to serve his sentence in county jail rather than state prison.

District Attorney Steve Cooley said he was considering asking Pastor to modify the sentence to classify the crime as a serious felony warranting incarceration in state prison.

"This is going to be a real test of our criminal justice system to see if it's meaningful at all," Cooley said.

SOurce http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45468611/ns/today-entertainment/t/murray-gets--year-sentence-tongue-lashing-judge/



Saturday, November 26, 2011

Michael Forever Tribute organiser GLE put on administration

Didn't we all see this coming. I find it very telling the article states Global Events was only set up in March by film producers Michael Henry and Chris Hunt and both men left the partnership on October 8, the day the concert took place.  Latoya Jackson introduced these producers and the concept for the tribute to her Family. Seems they always get caught up with shady business partners and everything they try to do goes spiraling down deep dark hole.  That's what happens when $$$ signs blind  you and your main objective is Money instead of honoring  the wishes of Michael Jackson ~ Qbee
 


Jackson show organiser put into administration
Martin Shipton, Western Mail
walesonline.co.uk
November  26, 2011


THE firm that staged last month’s Michael Jackson memorial concert in the Millennium Stadium has gone into administration owing thousands of pounds.

Bristol-registered Global Events LLP organised the event, which was boycotted by some members of the Jackson family and which saw a number of announced acts pulling out before the night.

A spokesman for London-based insolvency practitioners RSM Tenon confirmed yesterday that Global Events had gone into administration, adding: “We are currently conducting our initial review of the business.”

Global Events was only set up in March by film producers Michael Henry and Chris Hunt. Documents filed at Companies House show that both men left the partnership on October 8, the day the concert took place.

Yesterday Mr Henry, who runs a film financing company called Limelight Film Finance from an office in London, said: “All enquiries about Global Events should be made to the administrators.”


David Donovan, Wales officer of the broadcasting union Bectu, said: “A number of my members are owed money by the company. We can’t do much to help them because the business has gone into administration.”

 A spokesman for the Millennium Stadium said: “We are not among the creditors. We were paid up-front by the company at the time of booking.”

Up to 50,000 fans attended the Cardiff venue for the Jackson family’s tribute to the Thriller star, who died in June 2009.


The run-up to the concert was beset with difficulties, including a planned ticket ballot based on charitable contributions – later scrapped – and uncertainty over the line-up.

Some family members thought it was inappropriate that the event was staged midway through the trial of Jackson’s personal physician, Dr Conrad Murray, for involuntary manslaughter. He was subsequently convicted.


 In a joint statement, Jackson’s brothers Jermaine and Randy said in advance of the concert: “While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of a tribute that honours our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael’s death.

“In light of this, we feel it is inappropriate to be involved with such an ill-timed event and its promoter Global Live.”


 The Michael Jackson Fan Club agreed with the two brothers, issuing a similar statement. Jackson fans posted messages on the concert’s Facebook page questioning ticket prices and the process for buying them.


 There was also controversy over the inclusion and subsequent removal from the list of bands playing of Kiss, whose leader Gene Simmons spoke publicly at the time of Jackson’s death of his suspicions that the star was a paedophile. Jackson was acquitted of child molestation in 2005.


On top of this, Jackson’s estate said at the time the concert was announced that the promoters had never sought or obtained permission from the estate’s executors to use the singer’s name or image.

American hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas pulled out of the show days before it went ahead citing “unavoidable circumstances”.

 But the three brothers who did attend the concert insisted it was a fine tribute to the man known as the King of Pop.

 Explaining why they had chosen Cardiff as the venue, Jackie Jackson said three days before the event: “We wanted to have the event somewhere we could make sure everyone could come and join the festivities.

“I hear it’s a really nice stadium. It’ll be my first time there and I’m really looking forward to going to Cardiff and saying hello to all our fans there and seeing what it looks like because I’ve never been there before.”


Source walesonline.co.uk

Sunday, November 20, 2011

IMMORTAL: Michael Jackson's Greatest Recordings Reimagined for Cirque du Soleil

Epic Records in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson, releases
Michael Jackson's Greatest recordings reimagined for Cirque du Soleil



Michael Jackson was a genius of unrivaled artistic grace who gave the world a story that may never be fully absorbed. Eccentric to the point of painful isolation, yet deeply loved by myriad fans of many different stripes, Jackson embodied the extremes of America's glittering, punishing popular culture. His music ranks among its highest achievements, while the details of his life and death, at age 50 in 2009, confound us.

Michael Jackson: Immortal adds another dimension to the Jackson omnibus. He's the third pop star to earn his own Cirque du Soleil production — after The Beatles and Elvis Presley — but he probably should have been the first. No contemporary pop star identified more with the flash and magic of old-time entertainment, which Cirque has so artfully brought into the age of new technologies. And none have been as open as Jackson was to the dark side of the circus arts — to the pomp and tomfoolery, the weirdness of the freak show, the god-defying hubris of the acrobats.

This soundtrack album crafts a new version of Jackson's life story through remixes of his biggest hits and a few obscurities, as well as his own stated favorite songs. The final product forms a brightly colored backdrop specifically designed to suit Cirque's candy-coated acid-trip style. Musical director Kevin Antunes, who's worked with glossy acts like Madonna and Justin Timberlake, uses touchstones from Jackson's life — his childhood as a member of his era's most famous family band, speeches he gave about his love of nature and dedication to helping needy children, the fascination with horror that produced "Thriller" — to form a sonic narrative that's both instantly familiar and sometimes jarring. It's a fitting complement to the Cirque method of dazzling its audiences while also aiming to unsettle them

Medleys like the one devoted to Jackson 5 hits or the hit-strewn "Immortal Megamix" offer a new way into very familiar material ("Billie Jean," "ABC") without really altering the basic ingredients. Sometimes the songs break up as if someone had turned the knob on an old radio; sometimes Antunes throws a snippet of Jackson's speaking voice into his mash-ups. The effect is startling — instead of absorbing the music in the habitual way, you're forced to pay attention, as if you've just walked in on somebody else's listening experience.

It's a fun new way to take on Jackson's music — not offering a ton of new insights, but helping us hear more clearly what we thought we knew so well. Removed from the Cirque production (which is likely on its way to a city near you soon), this soundtrack becomes a kind of Zen stick — it gives your ears a slap and reminds you how fresh these great songs sounded when you first discovered them.

There are some moments of great beauty, too: the voice of the young Michael, ringing like a glass bell, in a minimalist remix of "I'll Be There," or the impeccable, iridescent "Human Nature" given a soft new introduction. Mostly, though, this is music meant to inspired Cirque's body artists and dancers. Lesser-known Jacksons songs like "This Place Hotel" and late-career highlights like "They Don't Care About Us" feature big beats: You can just see the Spandex-clad chorus line busting some smooth criminal moves.

Michael Jackson: Immortal joins a burgeoning number of posthumous releases inviting new listeners (children, for example) and old fans into this classic body of work through a new door. It's always good to go back to the music. The recent trial and conviction of Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, for his part in the singer's death took the world's attention away from his art again, a problem that will always plague his legacy. Jackson was our tragic object lesson, our golden boy genius, our angelic messenger and our most heartbreaking fallen star. But, above all, he was pop's magician. Like the sequined costumes he loved to wear, Jackson's music reflected in seemingly infinite directions, melding elements of jazz, soul, pop, hip-hop, rock, schmaltz, rage, raw eroticism and seraphic spirituality.

Jackson himself compared his gift to the world-creating force of nature itself. "When I create my music, I feel like an instrument of nature," he once said. "I wonder what delight nature must feel when we open our hearts and express our God-given talents. The sound of approval rolls across the universe, and the whole world abounds in magic, wonder fills our hearts, for what we've glimpsed, for an instant, the playfulness of life." Antunes samples part of that speech on Immortal. For a moment, Jackson seems to be right here with us. It's a trick, of course. Michael Jackson, that illusionist, would have loved it






















Immortal buy from Amazon.com

Tracklisting:
 1.Working Day and Night (Immortal Version)
2.The Immortal Intro (Immortal Version)
3.Childhood (Immortal Version)
4.Wanna Be Starting Something (Immortal Version)
5.Dancing Machine/Blame It On The Boogie (Immortal Version)
6.This Place Hotel/Smooth Criminal/Dangerous (Immortal Version)
7.J5 Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save (Immortal Version)
8.Human Nature/Speechless (Immortal Version)
9.Is It Scary/Thriller/Ghost/Somebody’s Watching Me (Immortal Version)
10.You Are Not Alone/I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (Immortal Version)
11.Beat It/Jam/State Of Shock (Immortal Version)
12.Earth Song/Planet Earth Poem (Immortal Version)
13.They Don’t Really Care About Us/Tabloid Junkie (Immortal Version)
14.Immortal Mega mix: Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough/Billie Jean (Immortal Version)
 15.Man In The Mirror (Immortal Version)

Deluxe edition





















Immortal Deluxe  buy from Amazon.com

Tracklisting:
 1.Working Day and Night (Immortal Version)
2.The Immortal Intro (Immortal Version)
3.Childhood (Immortal Version)
4.Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Immortal Version)
5.Shake Your Body Down To The Ground (Immortal Version)
6.Dancing Machine/Blame It On The Boogie (Immortal Version)
7.Ben (Immortal Version)
8.This Place Hotel/Smooth Criminal/Dangerous (Immortal Version)
9.The Mime Segment: I Like The Way/Speed Demon/Another Part Of Me (Immortal Version)
10.J5 Medley: I Want You Back/ABC/The Love You Save (Immortal Version)
11.Human Nature/Speechless (Immortal Version)
12.Is It Scary/Thriller/Ghost/Somebody’s Watching Me/Threatened (Immortal Version)
13.You Are Not Alone/I Just Can’t Stop Loving You (Immortal Version)
14.Beat It/Jam/State Of Shock (Immortal Version)
15.Earth Song/Planet Earth (Immortal Version)
16.Scream/Little Susie (Immortal Version)
17.Gone Too Soon (Immortal Version)
18.They Don’t Care About Us (Immortal Version)
19.I’ll Be There (Immortal Version)
20.Immortal Megamix: Can You Feel It/Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough/Billie Jean/Black Or White (Immortal Version)
21.Man In The Mirror (Immortal Version)
22.Remember The Time/Bad (Immortal Version)

Source: MichaelJackson.com and Ann Powers NPR Music
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/16/142418013/first-listen-michael-jackson-immortal?ps=mh_frhdl1

Friday, November 11, 2011

MICHAEL JACKSON THE HUMANITARIAN, A TRIBUTE: COMING TO LAS VEGAS

If your are planning to be in the  Las Vegas area Dec 5-6 please consider attending this special event hosted by one of our very own MJfamily member Janice Frogel.  I know a lot of fans will be there for the Fan Fest and Immortal World Tour. So why not Make it extra special and top off your visit by attending this event. ~ Qbee


Michael Jackson’s philanthropy takes center stage
 at a show coming to Las Vegas in December 5-6

November 8, 2011- Michael Jackson was famous for his incredible music, live performances and short films. His extraordinary talents made him the greatest entertainer of all time. There was another side of Jackson few people knew about. He was a dedicated humanitarian. Jackson had done much to help sick, needy and orphaned children. He donated hundreds of millions of dollars to many charities; volunteered his time to brighten the lives of children that were in dire situations; performed many concerts giving all the proceeds to charity and much more.

Michael Jackson The Humanitarian, A Tribute is a powerful ninety minute spoken word show that honors Jackson for his acts of generosity and kindness in helping people all over the world. It includes many stories of his humanitarian work and takes a fascinating look at the meaningful messages he gave through his music. The Tribute gives an inspiring insight to the selfless nature of the man behind the music.

This moving tribute is presented by Janice Frogel. She has presented shows on other subjects at venues including Royal Caribbean Cruises. People who have attended the Tribute have given it rave reviews. Reva Revill of Sarasota, Florida said, “Phenomenal speaker, really captured Michael’s true heart!” Mary Singer of Largo, Florida commented, “It was great, completely devoted to Michael and his humanitarian work. If anyone has a chance to attend one of these you should grab it!”

Michael Jackson The Humanitarian, A Tribute will be at the Hooters Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, December 5 - 6. Tickets are $20.00 and include a $2.00 donation to UNICEF USA to help famine relief in Africa. Tickets are advance purchase only by November 18

 For more information and tickets: (727) 217-0121.
or visit WEBSITE http://mjthehumanitarianprogram.weebly.com
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/#!/MJshines4ever
FACEBOOK  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Jackson-The-Humanitarian-A-Tribute/166228746793454?sk=wall

MJGlobal Family UNITED for Michael - TURN OFF TV


News Release:
CLAAD organization is urging the public to shut off their televisions, turn on their favorite Michael Jackson songs.  Coalition Urges Public To Spurn MSNBC Documentary

No tolerance, no excuses for ‘white-coat crimes’ of rogue prescribing.
A national alliance of families, medical professionals, law enforcement, and drug abuse prevention advocates has urged the public to turn off their TVs this Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. The call for action comes in response to MSNBC’s plan to air a documentary featuring the doctor found guilty for the homicide death of Michael Jackson.

CLAAD is urging the public to shut off their televisions, turn on their favorite Michael Jackson songs, and clean out their medicine cabinets this Friday night.       
http://www.claad.org/component/content/article/106
....................................................

MJGlobal Family UNITED for Michael
Posted on November 11, 2011 by MJJJusticeProject
We Can’t Take It.. We’ve Already Had Enough



Across the world Michael Jackson is loved not for his music but for his humanity. This extraordinary gift from God had so much more to do on this earth as his philanthropic mission, envisioned from childhood, had not yet come to fruition. A brilliant light in our world forever snuffed out by the calloused actions of another. We cannot stand idly by and watch the media once again tear at him like a pack of wolves, nor allow his killer to have “his say” without fear of perjury.

WE URGE ALL BLOGGERS – Use this information to set up a post on your site.

We request ALL the MJGlobal family members particpate in this endeavor.
In support of the MJGlobal family of advocates that have been clearly demonstrating our moral indignation for such a calamity as allowing a convicted felon to profit from the very victim he killed CLAAD.org ‘s call to Turn off our TV   has stood behind us against the media giant NBC/COMCAST/MSNBC.

WE, stand together UNITED in this cause and are promoting that TV sets be turned off during the broadcast tonight, we invite fans from Australia to Europe, from Africa to the Americas and Asia, to come on Twitter tonight and voice our disdain at this most unconscionable betrayal.

Time Zones:
NEW YORK: 11/11/11 9PM – 11PM
LOS ANGELES: 11/11/11 6PM-8PM
SAO PAULO: 11/12/11 MIDNIGHT – 2AM
LONDON: 11/12/11 2AM-4AM
PARIS: 11/12/11 3AM-5AM
MOSCOW: 11/12/11 6AM-8AM
JOHANNESBURG : 11/12/11 4AM – 6AM
SYDNEY: 11/12/11 1PM-3PM
JAKARTA: 11/12/11 9AM-11AM
BEIJING: 11/12/11 10AM-12PM
HONG KONG: 11/12/11 10AM-12PM

We will trend: TURN TV OFF
No hashtag.
Only use the TT once in a tweet
You can add the following individuals to your tweets:

@SavannahGuthrie – the “reporter” interviewing the convicted killer
@todayshow Documentary will be shown
@mgraboff – President of MSNBC & NBC
@NBC – TV Station that has been airing excerpts and promoting the documentary
@MSNBC: TV Station that will broadcast the full documentary tonight

NOTE: We consider Michael as a brother, a beloved family member and will not contribute to the corporate bottom line greed of NBC and it’s affliates. Nor will be any part of lining the pockets of Michael’s murderer, Conrad Murray or his debtors.

We urge you not to contribute to their viewing numbers or give MSNBC the viewership and ratings they desire. If you must watch the Murray documentary it is readily available on YouTube.

Transcript also available by the courtesy of MJJCommunity

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Michael Jackson's Brothers to appear at Fan Fest Dec 4th

Looks like I'll miss the brothers.  I'll be there on the 3rd and Im so excited. Im also looking forward to Access Hollywood's TV premier of the Fan Fest on Nov 9 and 10th with Miko Brando. I wonder what Latoya Jackson thinks about her brothers affiliating  with John Branca :)   ~ Qbee


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 November 9, 2011

Marlon, Jackie and Tito Jackson to Appear at  Michael Jackson Fan Fest in Las Vegas on December 4 th.  Access Hollywood Will Air Exclusive Preview of Fan Fest on November 9 & 10

LAS VEGAS –The first ever Estate-authorized Michael Jackson Fan Fest™ will now offer visitors a more in-depth look into Michael Jackson’s life, featuring an opportunity to meet three of Michael Jackson’s brothers, Marlon, Jackie and Tito Jackson, for one day only. The three brothers will be at Fan Fest on Sunday, December 4, beginning at noon for an exclusive Q & A session for fans at the exhibition.

Scheduled for December 3-14 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino,
Michael Jackson Fan Fest is designed to transport guests through the life of the mega-star, showcasing never beforeseen personal items and career memorabilia. The exhibition coincides with the kick off of the extended Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour™ stop in Las Vegas during December. Michael Jackson Fan Fest will only be in Las Vegas and will not travel to any other tour stop.

The intimate experience at Fan Fest extends even further beyond the memorabilia and will also feature an enlightening Q & A with Joseph Vogel, author of Man in the Music: The Creative Work and Life of Michael Jackson, on December 9 and 10. The newly released book takes readers inside the impressive music catalog of Michael Jackson. Vogel is also the author of two other books and writes about popular music and culture for The Huffington Post and Pop Matters.

To prepare for the launch of this once-in-a-lifetime look
at Michael Jackson’s belongings, Access Hollywood will air a two-night sneak preview of Fan Fest on November 9 and 10. Miko Brando, Michael’s lifelong friend, will give a behind the scenes tour of items from Michael’s videos, tours and the interior of Neverland during a visit to the warehouse, where Fan Fest items are currently being stored. In addition, Miko Brando and Jackie Jackson will bein-studio at Access Hollywood Live the morning of November 10 where they will showcase additional Fan Fest items and share some personal stories they have of the King of Pop.

A wide variety of items will be on display at Fan Fest from both Michael Jackson’s career and Neverland Ranch. Featured memorabilia will include costumes, the Fantasy glove collection from the 1980s, award statues, tickets, the famed rocket plane from the “Leave Me Alone” video, a castle displayed in the living room of Neverland and others. For a photo gallery of featured items please click here: http://www.michaeljacksonfanfest.com

Each session of Michael Jackson Fan Fest will last for four hours in Mandalay Bay’s Bayside Exhibit Hall, allowing visitors time to enjoy the display without overlapping any performance of THE IMMORTAL World Tour. Fan Fest will be open from 12-4 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. on December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and from 2-6pm on December 6, 7, 13, and 14. Tickets for Fan Fest can be purchased in conjunction with Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour or individually. Fan Fest ticket prices start at $35 plus applicable fees for general admission; $75 for VIP tickets. VIP tickets include priority entrance into the event and all activities within the event, a commemorative lanyard and access to the VIP-only lounge.

 For more information or to purchase tickets,  guests can visit:
 www.michaeljacksonfanfest.com or www.cirquedusoleil.com/lasvegas.

Michael Jackson Estate weighs in on Murray Mockumentary

MJ fans are doing a great job in their fight in just one day they have convinced a HUGE Sponsor Pilsbury Company not to support the Documentary. The company has sent a statement to the Networks NOT to place their adds on the Murray Documentary. Keep up the great work Mfam :) ~Qbee      
A message from the official twitter of the Michael Jackson Estate @mjjonlineteam

From The Estate of Michael Jackson:
Like so many of Michael’s fans, the Estate is also disgusted by MSNBC’s irresponsible and inexplicable decision to air a Conrad Murray “documentary” and the Co-Executors, John Branca and John McClain, are sending a letter to the top executives at Comcast, NBC Universal and MSNBC to express their disdain for their actions.




  

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Michael Jackson fans up in arms over Dr Murray Documentary

No sooner than Dr Murray was found Guilty. Michael Jackson fans have to battle for their hero once again.  Seems we can never get any peace to just honor and celebrate the love, the legacy and music of  Michael.

NBC, MSNBC, Australian broadcaster Nine Network and UK net Channel 4 are among the broadcasters that will rush to air a documentary stating exclusive access to Dr Conrad Murray who was just convicted for the involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson.

The Documentary "Michael Jackson and the Doctor: A Fatal Friendship" and  accompanying exclusive news interview with Murray have both been produced by UK indie October Films, in association with What’s It All About? Productions.

The Documentary will have its U.S. premiere at 10 p.m. ET Friday which will repeat on MSNBC at 9 p.m. ET Sunday. The program chronicles the trial from the points of view of Murray and his defense team, giving "an exclusive look into the past two years of Murray’s life."

Murray will reveal personal details of his relationship with Jackson, his role within the singer's family life. It also will take viewers behind the closed-door meetings with Murray's attorneys. Dr. Murray signed on to the project in 2009, following Michael Jackson's death.  It's unclear how much Money Murray  was paid .

Fans are up in arms over Conrad Murray profiting from his crime. The MJJJusticProject Contacted Judge Pastors office to ask if there were not laws in place to prevent this. They spoke to Judge Pastor's office regarding the MSNBC airing of Murray documentary and was told The Judge is well aware of the situation with the Conrad Murray Documentary

The law does states that a felon can not profit from their crime after conviction and incarceration. HOWEVER, If the terms of the commentary's purchase where completed prior to end of his trial then there is no law to prevent it. Murray negotiated his deal while he was still presumed innocent therefore, it's entirely legal. They asked "So he got around the law?" The Answer was "Yes" 

MJ fans are trying to rally and voice their disapproval and threaten to boycott the networks and sponsors if they air the Documentary. They started calling NBC Universal as soon as news hit that felon Murray’s mockumentary was to air on NBC & MSNBC. So far, they have not responded.

If you are interested in helping or for more information ...
Visit Facebook page http://on.fb.me/ujmkwl
For details and contact info
https://mjjjusticeproject.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/2521/

Conrad Murray Trial, Verdict reached - GUILTY

Conrad Murray guilty in Michael Jackson's death.
Verdict reached - GUILTY as seen on TMZ livestream



Judge Pastor: "This is not a crime of mistaken judgement.
This is the crime that resulted in the death of a human being." 

Michael Jackson’s parents have released the following statement:
We have been waiting for this moment for a very long time and we couldn’t hold back tears of joy in the courtroom. Even though nothing can bring back our son, justice has finally been served! We can’t wait to go home and share this day with Michael’s children

John Branca and John McClain, Co-Exec's The Estate of Michael Jackson
The Estate of Michael Jackson and Michael himself has always believed the jury system works and despite the tragedy that brought about this trial we are in agreement with the jury’s verdict. In this case Justice has been served. Michael is missed on a daily basis but his genius and his music will be with us forever. He is “the greatest entertainer that has ever lived”  The Michael Jackson Estate

Prosecution's Statement on Conrad Murray Verdict
Updated: Monday, 07 Nov 2011, 3:50 PM PST

Los Angeles - Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and prosecutors in the Conrad Murray trial held a news conference following the guilty verdict.

"We are gratified the jury saw the overwhelming evidence in this case ... that Dr. Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter," District Attorney Steve Cooley said.

He later added, "Finally, we want to extend our personal sympathies to the Jackson family, especially to (Jackson's children) Prince, Paris and Blanket."

The case was "a very strong and powerful message that this sort of conduct does rise to the level of criminal negligence," the district attorney said.

"To the extent someone dies as a result of their playing the role of Dr. Feelgood, they will be held accountable," Cooley said.

The district attorney noted that recent state legislation that calls for inmates in "so-called non-violent, non-serious, non sex offenses" cases to serve their sentences in county jail instead of state prison will "eliminate the potential for a traditional state prison sentence in state prison in this case."

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren, the lead prosecutor on the case, also extended sympathies to the Jackson family, noting that they lost "not a pop icon, but a son and a brother."

"I think that's most important to keep in mind," the prosecutor said.

He thanked the judge for overseeing "a very fair and well-run trial" and jurors "for being so conscientious in their duties."

Defense attorneys had no immediate comment after the verdict.

Source http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/jackson_dr_trial/case_file/prosecution-statement-on-conrad

Friday, November 04, 2011

Jury deliberations begin in Conrad Murray Trial

I am not anxious but a little  nervous waiting for the verdict. Thank God I have a huge family of Michael Jackson lovers who love and support each other through every trial, tribulation and even joyous occasions we have had over the years.  We are not alone.  ~Qbee

Jury deliberations begin in Conrad Murray Trial



The jury in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor begins deliberating Dr. Conrad Murray's late Friday morning. This comes after some emotional closing arguments were delivered Thursday.

Prosecutor David Walgren maintained that the evidence against Murray is "overwhelming" and "abundantly clear." Walgren reminded jurors that this trial isn't just about Michael Jackson – but about his children who will now grow up without a father. The defense argued that the trial was not a "reality show."

CNN legal analyst Paul Callan explains to Carol Costello why he believes the jury will reach a verdict quickly – and why Dr. Murray could be convicted.

******************************************

I have embedded video recordings of the live stream uploaded by JustMeSTKK  on Youtube for your convenience so you can review the Judges Instructions to the Jury along with Closing arguments from both the Prosecution and defense in the People VS Conrad Murray Trial.

Judge Pastor gives instructions to the Jury




Prosecutor David Walgren's Closing Arguments


Defense Ed Chernoff's Closing Arguments


Prosecutor David Walgrens Final rebuttle

Monday, September 12, 2011

Open Letter & Petition on Behalf of Michael Jackson Fans to the Mainstream Media

Love Survives blog supports this campaign for Michael Jackson started by mjandjustice4some.blogspot.com and Sponsored by: MJ Advocates Worldwide ~ Qbee


Open Letter On Behalf of Michael Jackson Fans to the Mainstream Media
http://mjandjustice4some.blogspot.com/



Dear Worldwide Mainstream Media,

We, the Michael Jackson fanbase, are keenly aware that the Society of Professional Journalists believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy.The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. And although this code of ethics is voluntary, the majority of journalists embrace this code, believing that professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist's credibility.

The Michael Jackson fan base is asking for a worldwide media ban of the use of the term "Jacko". Rooted in racism and negativity, the name plants the suggestion of "Wacko Jacko" widely used by tabloids to identify Michael Jackson prior to death. The media's use of this name directly contradicts professional journalists' code of ethics. There is no "public enlightenment" with the use of the term "Jacko". There is no truth to the name "Jacko" and there certainly is no provision for a fair or comprehensive account of any event or issue surrounding Michael Jackson.

The name "Jacko", when used by journalists has two priorities: ratings and revenue. Additionally, the name is used to sway public opinion. In a heightened age of mistrust of the media by the public, it is imperative that journalists truly use their sense of professional integrity, including avoiding the use of headline grabbing names that harm the subject or those related to him.

Leading the way are Elysa Gardner from USA Today and CBS News, both of whom changed their headline from "Jacko" to "Jackson" when asked. We are asking for the rest of the mainstream media to follow suit. Journalists should see this as an act of human dignity, both for themselves as professionals, and for Michael Jackson and his family.

Sincerely,
The Undersigned


Please sign the Petiton below
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/15/open-letter-on-behalf-of-michael-jackson-fans-to-the-mainstream-media/


List of Advocate blogsites and websites sponoring this Open letter

• Arrest Conrad Murray Campaign
• CADEFLAW
• Cali MJ Fan
• Dr. Patrick Treacy
• Fans United for Michael Jackson's Legacy
• In Defense of a King
• Insanity X Lives
• It's All For Love Forum
• Joe Vogel
• Love Survives
• Major Love Prayer
• Michael Jackson Fans Ireland
• Michael Jackson Fans of Canada
• Michael Jackson Fans of New York City
• Michael Jackson Stranger in Moscow Forum
• Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait
• Michael Jackson: And Justice For Some
• MJ Invincible Campaign
• MJ4Justice
• MJDreams.net
• MJJ Justice Project
• MJJC
• MJ's Blog of Shadows
• MJ's Soldiers of Love
• MuzikFactoryTwo
• The Applehead House
• The Michael Jackson Cafe
• The Michael Jackson Fan Club
• The Sisterhood of Michael Jackson
• Tributo MJ

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Today in Michael Jackson HIStory - First performace of HIStory Tour in Prague

We miss our beautiful King- Today Sept 7th marks the Anniversary of
 Michael's First  performance of the HIStory Tour in Prague  *cry with me*




September 7th 1996  Michael Jackson started the tour off with a concert at Letna Park in Prague, one of Jackson's largest single attended concerts in his career. The HIStory World Tour was the third and final worldwide solo concert tour by Michael Jackson, covering Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and North America. The tour included a total of 82 concerts. The HIStory tour spanned the globe with stops in 58 cities, 35 countries on 5 continents.

Fans mount Invincible campaign

Fans mount Invincible campaign
Published on Tuesday, 06 September 2011 11:57




 




A worldwide internet campaign to propel Michael’s last studio album, Invincible, back to the top of the charts on the tenth anniversary of its original release is drawing tens of thousands of supporters from around the world. This October marks a decade since Invincible first hit the shops and airwaves. It has since been acknowledged as one of the Michael’s greatest ever albums. The campaign to encourage fans of the album to buy it once more is expected to result in millions of sales. The buy event is due to take place during the entire month of October 2011.

Official Blogsite which has had over 20,000 hits in 4 weeks
 http://mjsinvincible.wordpress.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mjsinvincible/166837370048816
FB profile http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mjsinvincible/166837370048814

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/mjsinvincible1


Michael wrote or co-wrote 14 of the 16 tracks on the Invincible album. He took over 3 years to produce it with Rodney Jerkins and Teddy Riley. Michael’s relationship with his record label, Sony caused some controversy at the time; the management team has since changed and they work closely with the Estate to continue Michael’s Legacy.

Despite the problems, Invincible went to number one across the world, and Michael received many awards for his achievement. During an interview, in October 2001, Michael Jackson said in response to the comment that the Invincible album was number 1 worldwide and that he had another number 1 hit, “it’s a great honour…we worked very hard on it, I feel blessed that the fans accepted it the way they did and I am very honoured. I really am. I don’t take anything for granted. Every time there is a number 1 album or song I feel excited as if it was the 1st one. So I am very happy about that”

The Invincible Campaign was instigated by Debbie Francis, she states: “Invincible deserves to be number 1 again on its 10th Anniversary. It is a truly brilliant album. Michael Jackson’s genius should be celebrated and his legacy includes his musical accomplishments, his legendary generosity and humanitarianism.”



Other comments across the web include:


Mjjcommunity said: “The Invincible Campaign is not a campaign that MJJCommunity the fan club is organizing; we are however bringing light to this very righteous effort.”

Michael Mania an Italian Fan Club said: "INVINCIBLE is one of the best records Michael produced. Putting it again into the spotlight is something Mike will be proud of”.

Michael Jackson Fans Club (Philippines) said: “On behalf of the Filipino Community, we pledge our support for the Invincible campaign. Many of us here consider Invincible to be if not the best, one of the best albums Michael Jackson has ever released. & we hope that with this campaign, this most soulful of Michael Jackson's work gets its due recognition! “

Initial fan comments on the web:

http://twitter.com/Nello77 “Make History: Invincible number one this October!!”
http://twitter.com/gatorgirl277: "MJ was not only invincible and unbreakable but above all he is irreplaceable. The end.”
Karen Gonzales-Dela Cruz: “I PLEDGE to support the campaign and buy the Invincible album of the world’s master entertainer...the king of pop MICHAEL JACKSON… This is one of my favorite albums by him. Even though it’s underrated and didn’t get the attention it deserved. But the real MJ fans out there know that this is a good album….. MICHAEL JACKSON went back to his roots with this one, and it was a special and pleasant work of art.… Invincible was his last great masterpiece! “

Michael Jackson book authors have said:

Joseph Vogel the author of the soon to be released “Man in the Music: The Creative Life & Work of Michael Jackson.” a book dedicated to the musical genius of Michael Jackson, has said on twitter on 2nd August “… I’ll be plugging Invincible some more this fall when I begin doing a lot of interviews”. This passage is from his forthcoming book: "Ironically, given its relatively obscure status, Invincible was probably Jackson's most accessible album since the 1980s. From the retro jazz of "Butterflies," to the Latin pulse of "Whatever Happens," to the R&B heartache of "Heaven Can Wait"...Jackson showcases his adroit versatility, producing music that feels both classic and contemporary."

Lynton Guest a world class journalist and author of “The Trials of Michael Jackson” said "I am pleased to support this campaign. Invincible is certainly one the best albums Michael Jackson made and it deserves to be recognised as such. I for one hope it gets back to number one."

Jermaine Jackson said of the campaign: “Unbreakable was Michael's favourite track. I support your good intention.”

Michael’s Friends said:

Karen Faye Michael’s long time make-up artist said: “I think it is wonderful, because I know for a fact, it was Michael's dream.”

Cory Rooney Michael’s friend and former executive at Sony said “This would be an amazing feat for Michael and music history.” He further said that Michael was always appreciative of people in his life and said that Michael’s comment during the making of Invincible was “"Please help me make history one more time". Debbie Francis thinks that we should follow his words and help Michael’s last studio album become Number1 in October 2011.

Debbie Francis is convinced that the initial response is the tip of the iceberg and that by October the movement will have enough support to ensure that Michael Jackson’s name is once again at the very pinnacle of the entertainment world and that Invincible will be residing at number one.

In the years since Jackson's untimely death, Sony, under a completely new management team, have once again heavily promoted his work. Indeed, Sony have indicated to the fans that the company is considering the re-release of the Invincible Album, even if not in all its original 5 coloured covers.

Michael Jackson was one of the biggest selling artists of all time, with worldwide album sales totalling over 500 million. His fans are concerned to protect and pass on his legacy to a new generation following the singer’s demise in 2009. One of his physicians, Dr. Conrad Murray, is due to go on trial in Los Angeles this year, charged with the involuntary manslaughter of the star.

Buy Event from 1st - 31st October 2011.

Source http://www.jackson-source.com/

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A Tribute to Jackson Riles Fans and Family

The GLE certainly did not do their homework when it comes to Michael Jackson or his fans. The tribute concert which I believe was spear headed By Latoya Jackson (who I think will directly profit through her company) has become a fiasco and fans refuse to be manipulated by the weak attemps of the promoters to appease them. "WE'VE HAD ENOUGH" I believe Jermaine, Randy and Janet Jackson knew this was not going to fly with the MJ fans, who expect only the Best when it comes to anything  Michael.~Qbee


A Tribute to Jackson Riles Fans and Family

http://www.nytimes.com
By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr.


It seems that nothing involving Michael Jackson or his fractious family is ever free of controversy, even two years after his death.

The most recent flashpoint is a tribute concert to be staged in Wales in October. The plans have divided the Jackson family, pitting Janet Jackson and two brothers against their mother and four other siblings. The Jackson estate has refused to give its blessing and has raised questions about the promoter’s charitable intentions. Fan groups are up in arms over high ticket prices and what they see as sloppy planning; their ire reached a peak when it was announced that a rock singer who had openly accused Mr. Jackson of molesting children was on the bill.

“This is the one and only time we can do this, and they are not doing it right,” said Gary Taylor, the president of the Michael Jackson Community, a fan organization in Britain with 80,000 registered members. “This is totally against what Michael would do.”

Feelings about the concert have gotten so raw that the promoters are holding a conference call with the leaders of fan organizations on Wednesday.

Chris Hunt, the British film producer who is the driving force behind the concert, said his company had been the victim of “disinformation that is being spread around.” He promised that the event, at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, on Oct. 8, would be an extravagant show worthy of Mr. Jackson. He disputed the charge coming from fan organizations that he and a few members of the Jackson family were seeking to profit from Mr. Jackson’s celebrity.

“No Jackson is going to get rich off this event,” he said. “This is not a money grab.”

Mr. Hunt said a portion of the profits from the concert would go to at least two charities that Jackson supported: AIDS Project Los Angeles and the Prince’s Trust. He said the charities would receive a fixed sum and a percentage of the proceeds. The organizers say they are also setting up a $100,000 trust fund for Jackson’s children.

He declined to say precisely how much of the proceeds would go to charity, nor would he say who are the investors in his production company, Global Live Events, which he formed in the spring, or how much they expected to make. “It’s not automatic the concert will make much of anything,” he said. “We are not announcing numbers at this point.”

The lack of a concrete commitment to the charities has troubled some fans. Ticket buyers were asked when they registered online to give an amount to charity above the ticket price, which ranges from $90 to $300, leading some fan organizations to wonder if the event was a for-profit concert in disguise.

Mr. Jackson’s estate raised similar concerns in an Aug. 15 in the letter to the promoters, demanding to know who will share in the profits. A lawyer for the estate, Howard Weitzman, wrote in the letter that “we are concerned that the concert is piggybacking on Michael’s good name and charity.”

The promoters never contacted the executors of Mr. Jackson’s estate about their plans, lawyers for the estate said. Mr. Jackson’s family has little control over his estate, because he cut his siblings out of his will and set up a trust solely for his young children and his mother, Katherine Jackson. A judge has appointed John Branca, who was Jackson’s lawyer, and John McClain, a music industry executive, to manage the estate’s assets and debts; they do not need Katherine Jackson’s approval for business decisions.

Mr. Hunt, who became close to the Jackson family while filming a television documentary about Michael Jackson in 2006, said the idea for the concert was born at a meeting last September with La Toya Jackson, who is firmly behind the event. He later decided to take on the project himself, then approached Jackson’s mother and won her approval. Mr. Hunt said he didn’t contact the executors because he thought he had the family’s approval.

The executors have made it clear through their lawyers that Mr. Hunt and his company cannot use any of Jackson’s intellectual property, including his name, his photographic image or his music videos. (The concert is called “Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert,” and ads for the event have no photos.) The musicians performing at the concert — including Christina Aguilera, Ne-Yo, Smokey Robinson and Cee Lo Green — may sing Mr. Jackson’s songs, as long as it is a one-time tribute, lawyers for the estate say. All are being paid for their performances.

But Mr. Hunt takes the position that intellectual-property laws in the United States do not extend to Britain, so he argues that he can use images of Mr. Jackson as long as they are not broadcast in the United States. He also intends to make a documentary film of the concert, he said.

The fact that the promoters never tried to enter a partnership with the Jackson estate has angered many fan organizations, and 35 of them sent an open letter to the promoters last week saying the concert was “doomed to fail.”

“We reckon without Michael Jackson’s estate at the helm, this tribute is nothing more than a money grab for the investors,” said Nathalie Smythe, a founder of Fans United for Michael Jackson’s Legacy. “They wanted to avoid sharing the profits.”

The timing of the concert has also been a point of contention. Jermaine Jackson, a sibling who tried unsuccessfully to organize his own tribute concert in 2009, has objected to staging the concert in Wales during the involuntary-manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, the cardiologist who was with Jackson when he died in June 2009. He has been joined by Randy Jackson and Janet Jackson in boycotting the event.

“Because of the trial, the timing of this tribute to our brother would be too difficult for me,” Janet Jackson said in a statement on Monday, which would have been her brother’s 53rd birthday.

Mr. Hunt said he had initially chosen the October date because the trial had been scheduled earlier, but when it was delayed until the fall, he could not change the date without incurring a financial loss. He noted that the concert would be held on a Saturday when the trial was not in session.

Mr. Hunt has hired Paul Ring, an executive in La Toya Jackson’s Ja-Tail Enterprises LLC, to help organize the show. Mr. Hunt says neither La Toya Jackson nor the other siblings supporting the event — Tito, Marlon and Jackie — have a financial stake in his Global Live Events.

Beyond questions about money, Mr. Hunt also lost the confidence of many fan organizations when he announced that the rock band Kiss would perform at the concert. For diehard fans it was a huge faux pas because the frontman for the group, Gene Simmons, has said that he believed Mr. Jackson had molested children despite his acquittal on child-abuse charges in 2005.

Mr. Hunt has since announced that Mr. Simmons will not perform. But the damage to the concert’s standing with fan organizations was already done.

“It’s clear they have not done any homework,” Mr. Taylor said. “They had no clue about the person they are doing the tribute for.”

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Paris Prince and Blanket Jackson Celebrates Dads Birthday in Gary.

Michael Jackson’s kids visit with Gary crowd

GARY — While the opening day of three-day birthday celebration of the late Michael Jackson was off to a slow start, the King of Pop’s three children — Prince, 14, Paris, 13, and 9-year-old Prince Michael II, also known as “Blanket,” took a short walk Friday from their father’s childhood home at 2300 Jackson St., to Garnett Elementary where their father and some of his siblings attended school decades ago.

Michael Jackson’s birthday is Monday.

“It’s closed now and I think it belongs to Workforce Development,” Michael’s first cousin Keith Jackson said as he led the brief tour for the children and a group of bodyguards and members of the Gary police department

.
Prince happy to greet fans outside 2300 Jackson St.

The children posed for pictures in front of Garnett while giggling and talking among themselves with another young relative. Keith also pointed out Roosevelt High School where the older aunts and uncles attended before they became known as the iconic Jackson 5.

“The kids are having a great time here,” Keith said as they returned to the gated house.

Moments after being in the backyard near a private, luxury bus, Prince and Paris then made their way to the gated fence and shook hands, posed for pictures and signed autographs for a small group of fans lucky enough to be up close.

Beth Shadera of Lake Station was able to present Paris with a necklace and also walked away with signatures from the children on a poster of their father as a child.

“I came here not expecting to have the honor of meeting Michael’s children. They are so beautiful,” Shadera said.

As the evening progressed, the crowd grew larger with more than 200 people dancing and watching performances on a stage near the house — called The Legend’s Stage — and Joe and Katherine Jackson, Michael’s parents, made their way outside to enjoy some of the show from the front yard.

Katherine watched performers from Chicago as well as the Gary dance group, Kruciial Kreationz, founded by promoter and Jackson family friend Ivan “Primetime” Woodard. Katherine also signed T-shirts, pictures and books with her son’s image for some fans.

She said seeing the community and fans from everywhere honoring her son ‘makes her choke up’ from the love.

“This is great, beautiful,” she said, adding that she will likely be here until Sunday. “The children’s first day of school is Monday, so they have to go back.”

She said she showed her grandchildren the entire house and where their father use to sleep and practice inside.

“They are so excited about seeing where their father grew up,” Katherine said. “Paris told me, ‘Grandma, I love it here.”



Source PostTrib.suntimes.com
By Lisa DeNeal Post-Tribune correspondent
August 26, 2011 9:42PM

Friday, August 26, 2011

Michael Jackson Crowned king of MTV VMAs - Poll

As one of the fans who spent days and hours upon hours voting for Michael.  I appreciate the nice write up from Reuters. In both categories Michael recieved over 50% of the votes. he is the King. ~ Qbee


King of Pop Michael Jackson is gone, but he is not forgotten
by MTV Video Music Award voters.

Two days before the widely-watched awards show, MTV on Friday released a poll of the top moments chosen by voters in the program's nearly three decades with Jackson singled out for most iconic and best pop performances for a medley of songs he sang in 1995.

Michael Jackson performs medley at 1995 VMA Awards


Jackson singing and dancing to "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Scream," "Beat It" and "Smooth Criminal" picked up 57 percent of the vote for most iconic performance, beating the likes of Madonna with "Like a Virgin" in 1984 and Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi" from 2009.

The "Thriller" singer, who died in June 2009 , also got the nod for best pop performance with the same medley, again topping artists including Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, TLC and his own sister, Janet Jackson, who performed a tribute to Michael the year he died.

MTV annually gives away awards for best videos in what has become one of its most-watched telecasts. Last year's VMAs were seen by 11.4 million viewers, its biggest audience since 2002.
Perhaps more important than awards and stars, the program is known for its sometimes impromptu, often planned, outrageous moments that grab headlines around the world.

Last year, Lady Gaga showed up in a dress made completely of raw meat. Two years ago, Kanye West jumped onstage and grabbed a microphone from a stunned Taylor Swift to tell audiences that Beyonce, not Swift, should have won one award.

But where outrageousness is concerned, nothing beats the kisses shared among Madonna, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera at the 2003 show. It was voted the most outrageous moment of the VMAs history with 53 percent of the votes from some 15 million total ballots cast online.

The infamous kiss, during a performance of "Like a Virgin" and "Hollywood," beat out the fight between Kid Rock and Tommy Lee in 2007, Howard Stern appearing as Fartman and Diana Ross jiggling Lil Kim's breast at the 1999 show.

In fact, the flashy purple pantsuit Lil Kim wore, which left one breast exposed except for a pasty over her nipple, was picked by 39 percent of voters as the wildest outfit ever worn to the show, beating Lady Gaga's meat dress and Britney Spear's black leather biker ensemble from 2002.

Other results of the MTV poll, which also looked at best videos of the 1980s, 90s and 00s, as well as top performances in hip hop and rock, can be found at newsroom.mtv.com.

The VMAs air on Sunday, starting at 9 p.m. edt.


Source: Reuters.com

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON REMEMBERS FRANK DILEO

Im so sad about Frank Dileo's  passing he was a good loyal friend to Michael & a great manager. A very important part of MJ history and his  legacy ~ Qbee

This is a message sent out from  The Michael Jackson's Estate

THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON REMEMBERS FRANK DILEO

As many of you know, Michael’s longtime friend and manager Frank Dileo had been dealing with serious health issues for the past several months. It is with great sadness that we share with you the news that Frank lost his long struggle this morning and passed away at the age of 63.



 Frank had an amazing amount of creative energy, a huge heart, an infectious spirit and a larger than life persona that captured the attention of any room he entered. He also cared deeply about Michael, his children and his fans.

 Frank and Michael became friends when Frank was vice president for promotion at Epic Records during the release of "Thriller." In his best-selling book "Moonwalk," Michael wrote: "Frank really worked hard and proved to be my right hand during the years ahead. His brilliant understanding of the recording industry proved invaluable." 


Frank went on to manage the incredibly successful Bad World Tour. Even after they stopped working together professionally, the bond between Michael and Frank remained and the family friendship continued. In early 2009, Frank was reunited with Michael once again as his manager as preparations began for the "This Is It" concerts.  After Michael’s passing, Frank proved invaluable to the Executors of his Estate, sharing unique insights that nobody else could possibly have.




 Said John Branca, Co-Executor of the Michael Jackson Estate: "I had the privilege of knowing Frank Dileo for more than two decades. He was not only one of the great veterans of the music business, he was a beloved friend to me and all who were lucky enough to have had him in their lives. He was one of a kind. He was a character. He was an original. We loved him, and we will miss him. Our hearts are with his family."


Our thoughts and prayers are with Frank’s wife, Linda, his son Dominic, his daughter, Belinda, his grandchildren and all of his extended family and loved ones.


SOURCE  Michael Jackson.com

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

John Branca Interview THE PRINCE OF ROCK

THE PRINCE OF ROCK
It doesn't take a telescope to see the stars circling around entertainment lawyer John Branca.

by Stan Sinberg August 2011


Photo Courtesy of John Branca
John Branca was vacationing in Cabo San Lucas with his family on June 25, 2009 when he received the news that Michael Jackson was dead. He couldn't believe it. The self-proclaimed King of Pop had just rehired the entertainment lawyer eight days earlier, the latest chapter in their three-decades-long mostly-on, sometimes-off relationship. The pair had a storied history. Jackson was best man at Branca's first wedding (accompanied by Bubbles the chimpanzee, wearing a tux) in 1987. (Little Richard officiated.) The attorney, in turn, was instrumental in both Jackson's famous 1985 purchase of ATV Music Publishing, which included in its catalog some 250 Beatles songs--and the merger, a decade later, of Jackson's ATV Music with Sony Music.


Perhaps most intriguing, Branca had persuaded Jackson to release his "Thriller" music video after Jehovah's Witness church elders informed the singer, who belonged to the denomination at the time, that they disapproved of the production because they felt the werewolf and dancing zombies it featured promoted "demonology." Faced with the prospect of trashing the $1.2 million video (the average budget for a music video at the time was a mere $50,000), Branca quickly fabricated a tale that actor Bela Lugosi, one of Jackson's idols, had been a deeply religious man who didn't approve of vampires and put a disclaimer to that effect at the beginning of his Dracula film. Jackson bought the story, placed a similar disclaimer at the beginning of "Thriller," and the rest is music-video history.

When Branca returned from Mexico to Los Angeles, he still didn't know whether Jackson had revised his 2002 will, which named Branca, along with long-time music producer John McClain, as coexecutors of Jackson's estate. Branca hadn't worked for Jackson since 2006, when he quit because he felt the singer was taking advice from people who didn't have Jackson's interests in mind. Today, Branca won't elaborate, saying only that he believed he couldn't do his job if his client wouldn't listen to him.

In the days after the pop superstar's death, it seemed as if everyone who ever met Jackson was hijacking a TV camera to talk into. But not Branca, who after this long in the business knows that the best way to deal with stars' egos and out-sized lives is to keep your own in check. As he puts it, "One of the reasons I think I've been successful over the years is discretion, privacy, and protecting clients' confidences."

He's also willing to do whatever it takes to close a deal. "I've been charming, ruthless, an asshole," he declares, characterizing himself as the guy you give the ball to in the fourth quarter with a minute left.

Until the battle over the Jackson estate captured the world's attention, Branca was better known for representing some of the biggest names in rock 'n' roll. His client list has included 29 members in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame--among them the Rolling Stones, the Doors, the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Carlos Santana, and ZZ Top--plus the Backstreet Boys, Alicia Keys, and Nickelback. But entertainment law wasn't even on his mind back in 1975, when the New York native graduated from UCLA law school and began doing estate planning. Then he read a profile of Elton John in Time magazine that spotlighted entertainment lawyers, and it set off a bell. "I instantly recognized it as what I should be doing," Branca says. Shortly thereafter, he joined the Century City firm that is now Ziffren Brittenham.

Branca credits his father, John, a gregarious and popular local politician, as the source of his "people skills" and his mother, Barbara Werle, for teaching him about "ambition." She was a dancer who occasionally appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and when Branca was five she left to pursue her show-business dreams on the West Coast. He joined her in California when he turned eleven.

Although Branca's name isn't recognizable to the average music fan, he's influenced almost every facet of the business, from the way concert tours are organized and tickets are sold to merchandising and the distribution of royalties.

One game-changer, for example, was his 2005 deal for the rap-metal band Korn. In a traditional contract arrangement, the record company is only involved in promoting a band's CD, leaving the group to handle all of its touring and merchandising arrangements. Under terms Branca brokered for Korn, the band and its record label EMI became partners in everything, creating a synergy between them. That model has since become the norm. Similarly, until Branca put together the deal for the Rolling Stones's "Steel Wheels" tour in 1989, it was standard for each stop on a band's tour to be handled by a different concert promoter. Placing the entire tour under one promoter's control, which, of course, streamlines the entire operation, can also be lucrative for the attorneys involved. (Entertainment lawyers typically receive a percentage of contract advances, future royalties, or both.)

Away from the office, the 60-year-old Branca could pass for a rock 'n' roller himself, with his longish wavy hair, casual white T-shirt, black jacket, and jeans. Much of his persona seems to straddle the line between the worlds of business and show biz: He combines a boyish smile and self-effacing charm with an authoritative negotiating style. The bulk of his professional life has been spent among music megastars, but he still gets bug-eyed with excitement when a memorabilia dealer brings him one of the two known remaining baseballs signed by all of the Beatles. (Branca already owns the other one.) His uncle, Ralph Branca, pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1947 World Series and in 1951 gave up Bobby Thomson's famous "Shot Heard 'Round the World" home run that delivered the pennant to the New York Giants.

Over the years, Branca has also been busily helping clients acquire and sell music catalogs. He handled the sale of Berry Gordy Jr.'s Jobete Music to EMI, and Sony/ATV Music's acquisition of the Leiber Stoller catalog, which included songs made famous by Elvis Presley ("Jailhouse Rock" and "Hound Dog"), the Drifters ("On Broadway"), the Clovers ("Love Potion No. 9"), and the Coasters ("Yakety Yak" and "Charlie Brown"). More recently, he worked for one of the final bidders (Sony/ATV and another company) for the Warner Music Group, which was sold in May for $3.3 billion to Access Industries. In June he was reviewing deal terms for the sale of EMI, the world's fourth largest music company and the record label for Katy Perry, the Beatles, and Pink Floyd.

A generation earlier, it was a client of Branca who made headlines with one of the most famous and controversial music deals of all time: Michael Jackson's acquisition of the publishing rights to ATV Music, which included some 250 Beatles songs, including "Yesterday," "Help!" and "Let It Be." When the deal came down, there was some public grumbling from Paul McCartney, but the artist never seriously bid for the catalog, and later he and Jackson remained friends. John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, who also didn't bid, remarked that she was happy the rights now belonged to Jackson, a fellow songwriter.

At one point, Branca says, he had a handshake agreement to acquire the catalog from Australian businessman Robert Holmes à Court, only to discover that the seller had turned around and struck a deal with a rival bidder. "He fucked me," is how Branca puts it. Then the attorney learned that one of the financiers of the rival deal was a colleague he'd done business with over the years.

"I went to him and asked him to pull the financing," Branca recalls. The colleague agreed, effectively killing the deal with Jackson's competitor, Martin Bandier, then co-owner of The Entertainment Company.

With no ready buyer, Holmes à Court promptly phoned Branca from London and invited him to fly there to jump-start their earlier agreement. "I told him to go fuck himself," Branca says. This was a risky move: Instead of following the usual procedure and waiting until the deal was signed to start due diligence on any outstanding accounting and legal issues, Branca had already invested more than a million dollars in fees to resolve them in advance.

Over the next several days, Holmes à Court called Branca back several times. The lawyer remained noncommittal, even though, he admits, "My ass was on the line." Finally he agreed to fly across the Atlantic, but warned that he'd stay only 24 hours. "I told him if this deal didn't happen while I was there, to never, ever call me again."

Playing hard to get, Branca says, was part bargaining tactic, part payback, and partly to ensure that Holmes à Court wouldn't pull the same stunt again.

Bandier, now chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV, says he thought his company still had the inside track. But then Branca upped the ante. "He offered to have Jackson perform for Robert Holmes à Court's favorite charity," Bandier laughs. (To clinch the deal, Branca also had to accede to Holmes à Court's eleventh-hour demand that his daughter receive the copyright to "Penny Lane" as a "souvenir.")

After losing out on the Fab Four's catalog, Bandier told his partner, "Next time we bid for something like this, we're hiring John." Which is just what they did when they went after CBS Songs.

Judging the worth of a music catalog is part analysis, part instinct, says Bandier. "John has a great sense of the value of a song--which songs will last for a long time, how certain songs can be licensed for commercials."

These were the very qualities that propelled Branca into the "finals" when, in 2008, the Rodgers & Hammerstein estate went looking for someone to handle selling the composers' catalog. All five other contenders were investment banking firms.

During the interview process Branca recounted to Mary Rodgers and Alice Hammerstein how his show-biz mom had been in a touring production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music (she played the baroness) and took him, as a boy, to see the show on Broadway. "It was one of the formative experiences of my youth," he gushes. "I would've done that [catalog] project for free."

"At first I thought we were [considering] Branca as a courtesy" to the entertainment lawyer, says Joshua S. Rubenstein, the estate executor for Richard Rodgers and counsel for the estate. "But it was a family estate," he continues. "We wanted someone who would take good care of the legacy, and John blew us away with his passion and interest. For us, it wasn't just about the money."

Even so, Rubenstein credits Branca with creating strong bidding interest in the catalog, notwithstanding the bottom falling out of the economy that year. "Branca sold it for 95 percent of our highest valuation," he exults.

After Michael Jackson's death, no will more recent than the 2002 document turned up, so Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff eventually granted Branca and producer John McClain temporary coexecutor status.

Initially, Jackson's mother, Katherine, fought to gain control of the estate. She is the guardian of her son's three children and the beneficiary of 40 percent of the estate, and she accused Branca and McClain of conflicts of interest. After Katherine Jackson filed several unsuccessful legal challenges, the dispute blew over, and she has since praised the pair's management of the estate.

Adam F. Streisand, chairman of the trust and estate litigation practice at Loeb & Loeb in Los Angeles, represented Katherine Jackson's interests until recently. "John Branca deftly handled the estate and was very effective in stemming the flow of red ink he found," says Streisand, "and he was always amenable to requests I made on Mrs. Jackson's behalf." Other attorneys she has employed over the course of the proceedings declined to comment.

Of course, Jackson's finances were a shambles when he died: Various reports estimated that the entertainer was more than $400 million in the red from a combination of extravagant spending and high-interest loans.

In the weeks before Michael Jackson officially rehired Branca, the attorney had several discussions with Jackson's representatives about what he wanted to accomplish. So as his client's coexecutor, Branca felt he was privy to Jackson's wishes and had a mandate for a three-pronged mission: to get the estate out from under its crushing debt; to provide for Michael's children and loved ones; and to restore the King of Pop's legacy to its former glory. It was a gargantuan task, but the fact that Jackson had recently reached out to him again made it "emotionally fulfilling," Branca says.

The estate's first major commercial decision was to make a documentary about the rehearsal process Jackson had been involved in for an unprecedented 50-concert series in London. Some family members objected that Jackson wouldn't have allowed a rehearsal tape to be released. "But we looked at the tapes," Branca says, "and we saw the Michael we loved--the perfectionist--the one who had great humanity and great respect for his fellow dancers and musicians. And that's why we put the movie out.'" This Is It became the largest-grossing concert documentary in history.

Branca and McClain further transformed the estate's fortunes by refinancing costly debts and putting together deals to open Jackson-themed Cirque du Soleil shows (one in Las Vegas and another traveling version); launch an interactive museum and a Michael Jackson-themed lounge at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas; create a best-selling dance game for Ubisoft Entertainment; release ten albums of both old and unreleased music in the coming years; and ramp up Jackson's profile on Facebook.

The result: In the 15 months after Jackson's death, the estate generated $310 million in revenue. By comparison, the Elvis Presley estate, previously considered the "gold standard" in the entertainment business, earned profits of about $25 million over the same period.

"If I do nothing else in my career except having done this for the Jackson estate, I can say I did a great fucking job,"~ John Branca.

As reverently as Branca speaks about his deceased client, though, the attorney won't comment on the record about other members of Jackson's family. Suffice it to say he feels unappreciated by the clan, and believes some of its members aren't acting in Michael's behalf.

Sometimes in this industry, of course, the best deal is the deal not made. The litigator representing Branca and McClain as executors of the Jackson estate is Howard Weitzman, a partner with Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert in Santa Monica. Weitzman tells how several years ago, when the singer's financial problems were getting out of control, Jackson was advised to sell his interest in the ATV Music catalog that includes Beatles tunes. Branca told him, "If there's one thing you should never do, it's sell that." Jackson listened, and the catalog remains one of his estate's most valued assets.

Branca could surely retire tomorrow and live quite comfortably with his second wife, Linda, and two young sons in their Beverly Hills mansion filled with Italian antiques--but he has no plans to stop working. "I love being a lawyer," he explains. Perhaps more to the point, though, he's a fan of the music and the musicians.

That's one of the reasons that several years ago Branca helped form the Musicians Assistance Program to aid artists suffering from alcohol and addiction issues. It was later merged into MusiCares, with an expanded mission of helping musicians in need to obtain a host of services, including medical and dental care and funeral arrangements; Branca is now its chairman emeritus.
He's also aided musicians from earlier generations who either lost copyrights to their songs or weren't being paid proper royalties. Among them: Don Henley, John Fogerty, the Beach Boys, and members of the Doors.

Between juggling clients of the current generation and caretaking the legacies and affairs of past ones, John Branca will stay busy, keeping the music alive.

Stan Sinberg is a San Francisco-based writer who has worked as a columnist, satirist, and radio commentator.

Source http://www.callawyer.com/story.cfm?eid=917175&evid=1