The surge in sales of Michael Jackson's music catalog continued Wednesday with the announcement that his recordings dominated the pop charts for the third consecutive week, and a source told The Times that more than 9 million of Jackson's albums have been sold worldwide since his death June 25.
Nielsen SoundScan said Jackson's albums sold 1.1 million copies over the last seven days and had combined to sell an impressive 2.3 million in the U.S. in the nearly three weeks since he died.
Sony Music, which controls the catalog of his solo adult recordings, declines as a policy to comment on sales issues, but a spokeswoman for the label did not dispute the accuracy of the 9-million figure provided by the source, who has knowledge of Jackson's global album sales but is not authorized to speak on the matter. Jackson's music has also topped the pop charts in countries including France, Germany, Australia and the U.K. during the same period.
Source : Michael Jackson's record sales top 9 million since his death
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Michael Jackson's record sales top 9 million since his death
Monday, July 6, 2009
Michael Jackson will sleep eternally in $25,000 gold casket made in Indiana
When my time comes, I have this idea in my head that I want to take my eternal slumber in a plain pine coffin made by monks.
Pine's fine for me, but then I'm not Michael Jackson.
There's a lot of buzz about the casket Jackson will be laid to rest in.
It is, in fact, the same type of casket used to bury James Brown after the "Godfather of Soul" died on Christmas Day 2006. Jackson was photographed by the casket when he viewed Brown lying in state at the Apollo Theatre.
The casket is called the Promethean from the Batesville Casket Company in Ripley County, Indiana, a 120-year-old family business that's suddenly getting a lot of media attention for this special order.
The custom-made casket is made of solid bronze plated with 14-carat gold hand-polished to a mirror finish. The interior is lined with luxurious crushed velvet. Retail value: $25,000.
New source :
Michael Jackson will sleep eternally in $25,000 gold casket made in Indiana
Friday, July 3, 2009
President Obama praises King of Pop Michael Jackson; brushes off suggestion of death dis
The King of Pop is getting some love from the Leader of the Free World.
During an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, President Barack Obama revealed he was a fan of the late Michael Jackson.
He even has his songs on his iPod.
"I grew up on his music," Obama said, speaking personally about the legendary performer's death for the first time. "Still have all his stuff on my iPod."
Obama had kind words for the music legend, who died last week at the age of 50. "I think that his brilliance as a performer also was paired with a tragic and, in many ways, sad personal life," he said. "I'm glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer."
The President dismissed any suggestion that members of the black community were upset he hadn't formally addressed Jackson's death sooner.
"I know a lot of people in the black community," he said. "I haven't heard that."
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Thursday, July 2, 2009
2 million Michael Jackson songs, more than 300,000 albums bought in days
Nearly 2 million Michael Jackson songs, more than 300,000 albums bought in days after his death
News : 2 million Michael Jackson songs, more than 300,000 albums bought in days
Michael Jackson: secret library of 100 songs could be released
A secret library of over a hundred songs recorded by Michael Jackson could be released following his death.
One of the singer's biographers, Ian Halperin, claimed that the unheard songs had been made for his children.
Mr Halperin, author of Unmasked, The Michael Jackson Story, said before his death: “He wants to leave them for his kids, a very personal legacy to them. I was told he will not let them come out now.”
New source : Michael Jackson: secret library of 100 songs could be released
DEA joins Michael Jackson death probe
Following Jackson's death, allegations emerged that the 50-year-old King of Pop had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants.
The DEA was asked to help the probe by the Los Angeles Police Department, a law enforcement official in Washington told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.
The federal agency can provide resources and experience in investigating drug abuse, illicit drug manufacturers known as "pill mills" and substances local police may not be familiar with, the official said Wednesday.
While the investigation into the singer's death deepened, passionate Michael Jackson fans spent another day in an uneasy limbo, awaiting word from the King of Pop's camp about where and when a memorial service might be held for their hero — and if they're even invited.
Speculation about the potential location of a memorial ricocheted during the day from the Staples Center to the Los Angeles Coliseum to the Nokia Theater.
One spot that was ruled out as an immediate memorial venue was Jackson's sprawling Neverland ranch in Santa Barbara County. Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works for Jackson but it wouldn't be held at Neverland.
That came as a blow to many Jackson fans who had already descended on the estate in the rolling hills near Santa Barbara with the hope of attending a public viewing.
"We're terribly disappointed," said Ida Barron, 44, who arrived with her husband Paul Barron, 56, intending to spend several days in a tent.
It appeared more likely that a funeral and burial would take place in Los Angeles, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.
Many of Jackson's die-hard fans refused to believe that the family would bury their most famous son without acknowledging the supporters who helped propel him to superstardom.
"I can't believe they wouldn't do something for his fans," said Rosie Padron, who had roped off a spot just outside the Neverland gates. "Michael loved his fans."
New Yorkers weren't willing to wait. The weekly Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater turned into a Jackson celebration, with impersonators emulating his outfits and mimicking his dance moves.
Allison Hector, who wore a T-shirt with the image of the "Thriller" album cover, ecstatically emulated moves she learned watching Jackson's music videos.
"Nobody moves like him," the 19-year-old said, her eyes filling with tears. "I feel it in my blood — I just can't help it!"
On the legal front, Jackson's 7-year-old will was filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, giving his entire estate to a family trust and naming his 79-year-old mother Katherine and his three children as beneficiaries. The will also estimates the current value of his estate at more than $500 million.
Katherine Jackson was appointed the children's guardian, with entertainer Diana Ross, a longtime friend of Michael Jackson, named successor guardian if something happens to his mother. A court will ultimately decide who the children's legal guardian will be.
Jackson's lawyer John Branca and family friend John McClain, a music executive, were named in the will as co-executors of his estate. In a statement, they said the most important element of the will was Jackson's steadfast desire that his mother become the legal guardian for his children.
"As we work to carry out Michael's instructions to safeguard both the future of his children as well as the remarkable legacy he left us as an artist, we ask that all matters involving his estate be handled with the dignity and the respect that Michael and his family deserve," the statement said.
The will doesn't name father Joe Jackson to any position of authority in administering the estate. Also shut out is ex-wife Debbie Rowe, the mother of his two oldest children.
The executors moved quickly to take control of all of Michael Jackson's property, going to court hours after filing the will to challenge a previous ruling that gave Katherine Jackson control of 2,000 items from Neverland.
Paul Gordon Hoffman, an attorney for the executors, told Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff his clients are the proper people to take over Jackson's financial affairs. He called Katherine Jackson's speed in getting limited power over her son's property "a race to the courthouse that is, frankly, improper."
New sourc : DEA joins Michael Jackson death probe
The steps that made Michael Jackson great
ven without the moonwalk, Michael Jackson was one of the 20th century’s best dancers.
It didn’t matter that his vocabulary — the steps often fed to him by choreographers including Michael Peters (Thriller, Beat It) and Jeffrey Daniel (Bad, Smooth Criminal) — was largely inherited. He adapted moves so inventively and performed them so electrifyingly, he made them his own.
Even before he was a teenager, Jackson’s stage antics drew from a chorus line of legendary song-and-dance men. In his lithe body, R&B influences (Sammy Davis Jr., James Brown, Elvis Presley) went muscle to muscle with bits from musical theater (Bob Fosse, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly) and hip-hop. He referenced West Side Story and Saturday Night Fever, too.
But even when he grabbed his crotch, Jackson wasn’t wicked like Brown or funny like Fosse. He wasn’t suave like Astaire or carefree like Kelly. His spins, tight as tornados and without wind-ups, were fueled by fury.
The pose that began his performance of Billie Jean — fedora at his forehead, one hip cocked back, the other leg bent forward with the foot perched over the big toe? Pure Fosse, from The Pajama Game number Steam Heat, created in 1954. (Ditto the stiff-legged, knee-locking shuffle; the circling stomps with one foot anchored; the wide-legged jump in place.)
Yet magic clicked in 1983 when Jackson performed his first moonwalk as he sang Billie Jean on the made-for-TV special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. In an interview last week with National Public Radio, Daniel said he and Jackson adapted the move from a backslide by the Electric Boogaloos, a street dance group from the late 1970s. Perhaps the Boogaloos had seen the Nicholas Brothers do it in tap shoes in 1937.
News Source : The steps that made Michael Jackson great
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Billie Jean - by Michael Jackson
"Billie Jean" is a dance-pop R&B song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones for the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller (1982).
Song :