Thursday, July 28, 2016

Unveiling of Michael Jackson HIStory Statue Madalay Bay, Vegas

The Estate of Michael Jackson, Cirque du Soleil’s MICHAEL JACKSON ONE and Mandalay Bay invite the public to join cast members of the popular and critically acclaimed show for the unveiling of Michael Jackson’s HIStory statue at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Mandalay Bay’s main lobby.

10 ft. Replica of Michael Jackson History Statue from Vegas MJ Fanfest 2011

The ceremony will include the unveiling of the statue, a performance by cast members of ONE and photographs with the artists post-performance. Also expected to attend: Jerry Nadal, senior vice president, Resident Shows Division at Cirque, and Darren Davis, Mandalay Bay vice president of Entertainment.

The performance will be to “Scream,” the first single from the “HIStory” album created for this event by cast members. In 1994, Jackson commissioned U.S. sculptor Diana Walczak to create the statue, which became the inspiration for the cover of his fifth solo album “HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book 1.” The album became the biggest-selling multiple-disc album worldwide. The 10-foot-tall statue was featured at stops on Jackson’s “HIStory Tour.”

On loan from the Estate of Michael Jackson, the statue is the third piece of memorabilia to be lent by the Estate for display at Mandalay Bay. The other two pieces, Jackson’s red-and-gold military-style jacket from the 1984 American Music Awards and a pair of black loafers and crystal-encrusted white socks, are on display adjacent to the MICHAEL JACKSON ONE boutique.

An additional historic Jackson item from the Estate will be revealed Aug. 27 to kick off a three-day birthday celebration planned for The King of Pop inside the ONE theater. This will be the fourth-annual celebration organized by the Estate and MICHAEL JACKSON ONE for Jackson’s birthday.



Source: Review Journal

Saturday, July 16, 2016

The Music Industry's Top Lawyer 2016

Guiding the deal that will earn $750 million for ­Michael Jackson’s heirs, John Branca leads the roster of 41 of the top legal minds in the music business.


John Branca photographed on July 5, 2016 in Beverly Hills. CHRISTOPHER PATEY


LAWYER OF THE YEAR

JOHN BRANCA, 65
Partner, Ziffren Brittenham

A consultation with the music industry's top lawyer might run you only about $6 if you happen to be at the Beverly Glen Deli when John Branca gets there in the morning. Branca makes the seven-minute drive to the low-key eatery, just south of Mulholland Drive, from his home in Beverly Park, the gated Beverly Hills enclave where he has lived for the past 21 years, and where his neighbors include Sumner Redstone, Rod Stewart and Mark Wahlberg. "It's good to be the poorest guy in the neighborhood," he jokes.I

The poorest guy in that neighborhood still drives to breakfast in a $300,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith, though if you're ­picking up his breakfast tab it won't run you much: $2.95 for the Cheerios Branca favors, and an additional $2.95 for some fresh blueberries.

"It's like my office," says Branca of the Beverly Glen Deli, where on any given day he'll see Brian Wilson or veteran manager Howard Kaufman. "I'm shocked they don't charge me rent.
Of course, if they did, he can afford it. Branca, a divorced father of three, has long ­combined rock'n'roll swagger -- as a teenager, he played in a Sunset Strip garage band that opened for The Doors -- with a dangerously sharp business acumen.

The mid-March announcement that the Sony Corporation will acquire the Michael Jackson estate's 50 percent interest in Sony/ATV Music Publishing for $750 million caps a stunning revival for the estate, for which Branca has served as co-executor, along with John McClain, since Jackson's death in 2009. At that point, the estate carried debts of more than $500 million.

When the Sony buyout gets expected final approval from European regulators later in 2016 or early in 2017, the estate will pay off some $250 million in debts and be left with more than $500 million cash on hand. That's a better than $1 billion turn around.


Read more at source: Billboard staff  BILLBOARD

The Truth About What Michael Jackson Had (And Didn’t Have) In His Bedroom

Please read and share Raven Woods rebuttal article featured on Huffington Post, defending Michael Jackson against the malicious lies and attacks being spread by Radar Online and other publications who copy and paste the trash for click bait.

 


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Michael Jackson,s Thriller songwriter, Rod Temperton signs to Warner/Chappell


According to Music Business Worlwide Rod Temperton, who wrote Michael Jackson’s smash hit Thriller, has signed to Warner/Chappell.



Sources close to the deal have told MBW that British musician Temperton has put pen to paper in the UK on a global agreement. He brings over his catalogue from a previous deal with Rondor Music Publishing, part of Universal Music Publishing Group.

Temperton’s first break came as co-founder and keyboardist of the pioneering funk/disco band Heatwave, for whom he wrote a string of platinum singles.

His work with Heatwave caught the attention of groundbreaking producer Quincy Jones, who recruited Temperton to write for Michael Jackson’s debut solo album.

Temperton went on to write Michael Jackson classics including “Off the Wall,” “Rock With You,” “Thriller,” “Baby Be Mine”, “Burn This Disco Out”, “The Lady in My Life,” and others.

His catalogue also includes songs performed by Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, The Brothers Johnson, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, James Ingram, Michael McDonald, and Quincy Jones — whom he helped craft his breakthrough solo album, The Dude — as well as many others.

Temperton’s signature is a major deal for Warner Chappell in the UK, where respected exec Mike Smith takes over as MD in November.


Read more – Source: Tim Ingham  http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/