Promoter for Michael Jackson Tribute Concert Responds to Criticism

Responding to a lot of criticism about Michael Jackson special tribute concert, promoter for the event was quick to issue defensive statement. In a recent interview with BBC, Chris Hunt said that what people said about the gig was understandable but wrong.

"The notion that an event which reminds people just how fantastic Michael Jackson was, what a loss he was to the world he is, what a great singer, a great performer he was, should be inappropriate - it doesn't compute," he said. "It doesn't make sense."

"They were saying that it was a pity that there had not been a big scale, proper tribute to Michael," the promoter continued. "We began to think, 'Why don't we try and do one.' LaToya was the lead one but there were other family members around as well."

Commenting on the other Jackson members who were not happy with the gig, Hunt stated, "I don't wish to be ungenerous to anyone. I have the greatest respect for Jermaine, who I've met a number of times. He did a couple of times announce that he was going to organize a concert like this and then wasn't unable to do so. So I suppose it's a little understandable."

As for fans' protests, he said, "We have the greatest respect for the fans. We've been listening to the fans. I think what's happened is that there's been a campaign, which some of them have listened to and haven't heard our responses to it yet. This concert will sell out either very quickly or quickly. We have no worries about it at all."

Dubbed "Michael Forever Tribute Concert", the concert will take place at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on October 8. It will featureChristina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Leona Lewis, Smokey Robinson,Craig David, JLS, Beyonce Knowles, Alien Ant Farm and T3.

KISS were supposed to perform as well but they were removed from line-up due to fans' complaint. The devotees called the participation of the band was an insult to the King of Pop due to Gene Simmons' statement back in 2010 which degraded the late singer. 

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Michael Jackson Autopsy Images, Concert Footage Allowed as Trial Evidence

The judge will also permit portions of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson's final concert rehearsal footage to be viewed in court, as requested by a District Attorney earlier this week.

Prosecutors believe the new evidence will help support claims that the superstar was "happy and excited for the future", and not looking to take his own life. Dr. Conrad Murray's defence team recently suggested Jackson may have purposefully overdosed on powerful anaesthetic Propofol after finding himself in financial trouble.

Jackson's physician will stand trial for involuntary manslaughter next month. He is charged with administering the dose of Propofol, which killed the King of Pop in June, 2009.

The doctor has pleaded not guilty.

On Thursday Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor gave prosecutors permission to present the rehearsal footage and autopsy photos as evidence during a pre-trial hearing.

But the judge barred both prosecution and defence teams from digging up the personal lives of Jackson and his doctor.

He insisted that Dr. Dr. Conrad Murray's extramarital affairs, out-of-wedlock children and penchant for strip clubs, and Jackson's financial issues would not be part of the trial.

The prosecution had planned to use Dr. Conrad Murray's private life to prop up their case against the doctor, who faces a maximum of four years in prison if he's found guilty of administering the drug that killed Jackson.

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will.i.am and Michael Jackson's Unfinished Songs Would Never Be Released

Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am yearns for fans to hear the songs he recorded with the late Michael Jackson before he died, because the collaborative experience was "awesome". The hip-hop star was one of a handful of producers who hit the studio with the "Thriller" legend in the months leading up to his untimely death in preparation for his big pop comeback.

But Jackson passed away in June 2009 and will.i.am vowed to keep the unfinished tracks under wraps out of respect for the perfectionist. The rapper recently blasted the release of Jackson's first posthumous album, "Michael", insisting the superstar would never have wanted fans to hear the songs before they were officially complete.

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Report: Michael Jackson's Kids Watched Him Die

A devastating headline is circulating around following a second-day hearing on Michael Jackson's death. People reports a former employee testified on Wednesday, January 5 that two of Michael's children, Paris and Prince, stormed into his bedroom when Dr. Conrad Murray made an attempt to revive him. 

"Paris screamed, 'Daddy,' and she started crying," Alberto Alvarez, a logistics director for Jackson said.

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Justin Bieber Aiming for Michael Jackson's Success

Justin Bieber's goal in life is to reach the same level of fame as his idol Michael Jackson. The teenage pop star cites the "Thriller" hitmaker as his greatest influence, and admits he strives to emulate Jackson's success as an entertainer. 

And Bieber hopes his music will eventually reach a wider audience so he can be appreciated by fans of all ages. He tells Vanity Fair magazine, "Music is music, and I'm definitely influenced by Michael Jackson." 

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Michael Jackson Was Using Mystery Cream Before Death

 A mystery cream Michael Jackson was using at the time of his death in June 2009 has become a big issue as a preliminary hearing into the King of Pop's passing gets underway in Los Angeles. The singer's personal assistant Michael Amir Williams took the stand in court on Tuesday, January 4 and recalled what went down between himself and Dr. Conrad Murray after Jackson went into cardiac arrest after an overdose of anaesthetic Propofol and died.

Williams told the court Murray called him to the pop star's mansion telling him Jackson had had "a bad reaction". He then accompanied Murray to the hospital, where Jackson was pronounced dead.

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Discovery Channel Postpones 'Michael Jackson's Autopsy' Following Protests

 A TV re-enactment of Michael Jackson's autopsy has been shelved after the late superstar's estate executors urged network bosses to axe the macabre and controversial special. Discovery Channel chiefs have canceled plans to air the program, "Michael Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson".

A statement from the network reads, "Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson's estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson's official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely."

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Michael Jackson's Fans and Estate Executors Want 'Autopsy' Canceled

Michael Jackson's fans and estate are protective of his image, forcing Discovery Channel to cancel the plan to air an upcoming special that re-enacts the late singer's autopsy. John Branca and John McClain who act as Michael's executors have written a letter to the channel's CEO David Zaslav, and they are backed up by more than 9,000 online petitions from fans.

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Michael Jackson's Fans and Estate Executors Want 'Autopsy' Canceled

 Michael Jackson's fans and estate are protective of his image, forcing Discovery Channel to cancel the plan to air an upcoming special that re-enacts the late singer's autopsy. John Branca and John McClain who act as Michael's executors have written a letter to the channel's CEO David Zaslav, and they are backed up by more than 9,000 online petitions from fans.

In their letter, the executors said, "Your decision to even schedule this program is in shockingly bad taste, insensitive to Michael's family and appears motivated solely by your blind desire to exploit Michael's death, while cynically attempting to dupe the public into believing this show will have serious medical value."

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Ne-Yo Disapproves Michael Jackson's Album Release

 Ne-Yo is refusing to listen to the posthumous Michael Jackson album - because he's adamant if the King of Pop was still alive he wouldn't have released the tracks. Michael, which features previously unheard Jackson material including a collaboration with Ne-Yo, hit music retailers last week, but its release has not been without controversy.

The singer's longtime producer Quincy Jones blasted record bosses at Sony for allowing the perfectionist's unfinished songs to be heard by the public, while members of the Jackson family have raised concerns about the authenticity of the vocals.

Now Ne-Yo has spoken out to explain his boycott of the record,

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Michael Jackson's Photos Sold for $265,000

 A collection of Michael Jackson photographs have sold for more than $265,000 at auction in Paris, France. The snaps were taken in 1999 by French photographer Arno Bani as the pop superstar attempted to revamp his image ahead of the release of his 2001 album "Invincible".

A number of the Bani shots had been intended as the record's artwork, but other pictures were chosen instead. The photographs were sold off in 90 lots on Monday, December 13 and the collection raised more than $265,000.

The top-selling item was a picture of the singer in a Pharaoh-style pose - bare-chested and wearing a golden cape - which fetched a massive $34,880.

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Michael Jackson' Fans Launch Petition to Halt His 'Indecent Documentary'

Michael Jackson fans have launched a petition in a bid to stop the broadcast of a gruesome TV show featuring a re-enactment of the late star's autopsy. The Discovery Channel's controversial program "Michael Jackson's Autopsy" is said to be based on the official coroner's report and court documents taken after the star's tragic passing back in 2009.

The show will follow a pathologist as he performs a full autopsy on a synthetic cadaver and exposes the "medical myths that surrounded Jackson throughout his troubled life - his drug addiction, his vitiligo and other disorders". And the plans have infuriated the Thriller hitmaker's loyal fans, who have launched a petition in a bid to stop the show from airing.

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Michael Jackson's Estate Pursued by Tax Officials

California tax officials are chasing the executors of Michael Jackson's estate for $131,000 in unpaid bills. In March, staff at the state's Franchise Tax Board filed a creditor's claim with the estate administrators for $1,647.

However, tax chiefs filed an amended claim on Friday, December 10, adding $130,000 to the total amount due. The new amount includes interest and penalties which stem from the 2009 tax year, according to the Associated Press.

It is the latest in a long line of claims from individuals and companies who were allegedly left with unsettled bills following Jackson's death last year.

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Michael Jackson's Songs 'Monster' and 'The Way You Love Me' Leak

A few days before Michael Jackson's self-titled posthumous album makes its way out, two new songs from the effort hit the web. One is titled "Monster" and features the late King of Pop joining forces with 50 Cent, the other is a solo song called "I Like (The Way You Love Me)".

Produced by Teddy Riley, "Monster" is a funky, monstrous beat. "Everywhere you turn a monster/ When you look up into the air there's a monster/ Paparazzi got you scared like a monster," Michael sings in an angry tone. From venting his anger, Michael turns soft in self-written ballad love song "The Way You Love Me".

Not many artists have a chance to duet with Michael. Fiddy is one of the only three featured guests in upcoming "Michael" CD, and he is thrilled when invited to do the studio hook-up. "When I sat down and listened to the actual song, I was excited. I said, 'This is the 2010 version of Thriller'," he recalled the first time he heard what kind of song Michael has for him.

"I made adjustments to my cadence so I don't sound like I sound on music that people have previously heard from me, because I'm adjusting to the production," he explained of his recording session done after the sudden death of Michael.

The album is due in the United States on December 14. Despite all the controversies, Fiddy is adamant that the album is "special." He gushed, "It'll be embraced different because it's the last of really great material that Mike created, so I think people will want it to go in their actual collection to go in their Michael Jackson material. It's a great example of how the art and the material will last longer than we will."

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Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' Video Ft. Akon Gets Sneak Peek

Music video in support of Michael Jackson's first posthumous single "Hold My Hand" has got a short snippet. It features old footage of the late King of Pop on and off stage as well as new footage featuring people around the world who are inspired by him.

The "low budget" video is directed by Mark Pellington and promised to be premiered sometime soon. Speaking of the concept, Pellington told TMZ last month, "The video is a spiritual collage of MJ's legacy told through a visual mosaic exploring the themes of life."

Leaked a couple of years ago, "Hold My Hand" features Akon and leads MJ's new album "Michael" which is due in the U.S. on December 14. The decision to release the song as his first single is based on "a handwritten note from Michael belonging to his Estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project," Sony Music explained in a statement.

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Michael Jackson's New Song 'Keep Your Head Up' Leaks

While people are looking forward to the official Michael Jackson first posthumous single "Hold My Hand" which will be released on November 15, what just surfaced on the web is a different MJ song. Still taken from his forthcoming album "Michael", the newly-leaked song is titled "Keep Your Head Up".

Unlike the soon-to-be-released single which features Akon and the buzz track "Breaking News" which contains upbeat tune, this new one is a solo song with slow beat. "Keep your head up to the sky/ We could just rise up, tell me now/ Give me your wings so we can fly," Michael sings softly.

The self-titled album is going to be made available for purchase in the U.S. on December 14. Beside collaborating with Akon, Michael Jackson also makes a duet with 50 Cent in "Monster" and Lenny Kravitz in "(I Can't Make It) Another Day".

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Michael Jackson's Daughter Appreciates Her Dad for Hiding Her Under Mask

Michael Jackson's daughter Paris has revealed she "appreciated" the efforts her late father went to to hide her and her brothers from the public, but the masks and veils he had them wear on shopping trips weren't always comfortable. In an exclusive Jackson family garden party chat, TV queen Oprah Winfrey grilled Paris and her brothers Prince Michael and Blanket and a group of nieces and nephews about living life as a Jackson and attending school.

While Blanket and his big brother seemed both shy and unwilling to chat, talkative and polite Paris was only too happy to open up about the trio's dad, who died last year. When Prince Michael revealed that his father placed veils over their faces so "when we did go out without our dad then nobody would really recognize us," Paris added, "He tried to raise us without (us) knowing who he was, but that didn't really go so well."

Asked if she liked the secrecy and the masks and veils, she stated, "I appreciated it... It wasn't always comfortable." Later in the taped chat, which aired on TV in America on Monday, November 8, Paris told Winfrey no one knows the real Michael Jackson.

She explained, "I kinda felt like no none understands what a good father he was. I'd say he was like the best cook ever... He was just a normal dad... He made the best French toast in the world."

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Michael Jackson's Official Single 'Breaking News' Debuted in Full

Michael Jackson's brand new single "Breaking News" has made its way out in full on his official website. The late King of Pop is heard talking about his own life, how he was living under microscope of the greedy paparazzi and media who seemed to want nothing but destroying his life.

"Everybody wanting a piece of Michael Jackson/ Reporters stalking the moves of Michael Jackson/ Just when you thought he was done, he comes to give it again," Michael sings. "They want to see that I fall, cause I'm Michael Jackson/ You write the words to destroy like it's a weapon."

"Breaking News" is the lead single for Michael Jackson's upcoming posthumous album "Michael" which is due in the United States on December 14. The album release was recently marred with controversy surrounding his family's disapproval and questions whether or not the album is recorded by an impostor.

Michael's unreleased song called "Opus None" has hit the web and it was claimed to be pulled out of JacksonSecretVault by Katherine Jackson. But Jackie Jackson denied it on Twitter, "Dear fans: I just spoke with my Mother and she did NOT authorize the release of the demo track called Opus None. I personally think it was sampled together by an unauthorized party.... Please don't believe gossip sites...."

Her nephew, Taj who is the son of Tito Jackson, also reached out to his own Twitter page to help clarify the report. "Just talked to my grandma. She didn't even know about the 'song', nor did she authorize it. We are getting to the bottom of this. Uncle Jackie beat me to it...lol," he ended his post by referring to Jackie's tweet.

Sony Music Group itself insisted they have done forensic studies to prove that the songs are authentic, releasing statement "We have complete confidence in the results of our extensive research as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael that the vocals on the new album are his own."

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Michael Jackson's New Album Cover Art Contains Unauthorized Symbol

Beside being accused of not featuring his real voice, Michael Jackson's posthumous album has also contained unauthorized use of Prince's symbol on its cover art. A representative for Prince filed complaint to Sony Music Group and the company subsequently removed it from the artwork.

The picture on the front page of the upcoming CD is an oil painting created by Kadir Nelson in 2009 to "take us on a journey through some key moments and important people in Michael Jackson's life." But Prince's rep told Drfunkenberry.com, "No permission was granted. [So] Sony Entertainment has removed the symbol."

Simply titled "Michael", the album is going to be released Stateside on December 14. The lead single "Breaking News" has just been debuted, narrating the life of the late King of Pop under media scrutiny. 

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Michael Jackson's Family Fuming Over New Album Release, Branding It Fake

Sony Music Group is facing protest from Michael Jackson's family regarding the release of his new album which is simply titled "Michael". Brian Oxman, an attorney for Joe Jackson, said in a statement, "If Michael had wanted this music released he would have done so before his death."

"The songs which are being released on the new Michael Jackson album were unfinished and incomplete tracks that Michael said over and over many times he never wanted released," Oxman stated further. "We should honor Michael Jackson's wishes."

Complicating the controversy even more, Katherine Jackson branded some of the songs listed in the album fake. Michael's two oldest children, Prince Michael and Paris, additionally said that they were present when their dad recorded the songs in question, and claimed the album versions don't match up with what they heard in the studio.

Katherine then takes one of Michael's unreleased songs out of JacksonSecretVault and gives it for fans' listening pleasure. "In an effort to overcome the confusion as to the authenticity of the track the estate has recently released we want to give an actual authentic Michael Jackson track to the world ... for free," a representative told TMZ.

Despite those complaints, Sony Music which has announced December 14 as a release date for Michael's album insisted they have done forensic studies to prove that the songs are authentic. "We have complete confidence in the results of our extensive research as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael that the vocals on the new album are his own," the company said in a defensive statement.

In fact, they have revealed an official teaser to Michael's lead single titled "Breaking News". The new song will be debuted in full next Monday, November 8.

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