Michael Jackson Music Deal Shatters Records
Michael Jackson just scored the biggest contract in music history and he’s not even alive to see it - one that could be worth up to $250 million with incentives.
His estate will earn $200 million guaranteed for 10 projects in seven years. The landmark contract extends through 2017 and could pay his estate much more.
One of the albums will be of never-before-released Jackson recordings that will come out in November. Enough unreleased material may exist for 2-3 albums.
Projects may also include a video game, a DVD compilation of videos and a re-release of Off the Wall, Jackson’s fifth studio album, which debuted back in ‘79.
Before Jackson’s tragic death in June at age 50, he wanted to re-issue the album, people familiar with the deal said. Now he’s getting his wish, posthumously.
One project already counted in the contract was a two-disc album that accompanied This Is It, the film based on footage of Jackson’s 2009 concert rehearsals.
Michael Jackson announcing the 2009 This Is It tour.
Including the more than 5 million copies of that special release, Jackson sold some 31 million albums since his death, about two-thirds of them outside the U.S.
“During his life, Michael’s contracts set the standard for the industry,” said John Branca, the co-administrator of the Jackson estate, in a statement Tuesday.
“By all objective criteria, this agreement with Sony Music demonstrates the lasting power of Michael’s music by exceeding all previous industry benchmarks.”
The landmark contract is worth more than all other benchmarks, such as the deals Live Nation signed with Madonna at $120 million and Jay-Z for $150 million.
Jackson’s deal is more remarkable because it does not include royalties from merchandise, and comes at a time of widespread decline for the industry.
The money will go a long way toward paying off Jackson’s considerable debts, and providing a future for his three children (and Omer Bhatti, for that matter).
Continue reading about the record contract here …
Omer Bhatti to Michael Jackson’s Kids: I Am Your Father!
Remember Omer Bhatti? Michael Jackson’s former protege and alleged secret son, is treating Blanket, the late pop icon’s youngest son, as if he were his own.
Bhatti has been living with the Jackson family and telling poor little Blanket, along with his siblings Prince and Paris, that he’s their father, according to reports.
The 25-year-old Norwegian rapper, who is rumored to be Michael’s son, first showed up on the Jackson scene in 1996. There’s no doubt he and MJ were close.
But you have to admit, it’s pretty weird that Omer Bhatti tells Jackson’s children, “Call me Michael” introduces himself as Michael and is changing his name.
“Omar has even told the children he’s changed his name from Omar Jamal Bhatti to Omar Michael Bhatti,” a source close to the dysfunctional family reveals.
At various times Bhatti has told Blanket, Paris and Prince that he is their father, that their father sent him to take care of him and that he is “a real Jackson.”
Omer Bhatti holds a picture of Michael Jackson. They must be related!
The chaotic environment of the L.A. compound where MJ’s children live with their grandma, Katherine Jackson, and others has been in the news a lot lately.
California’s Department of Children and Family Services visited several times recently and has an open investigation into a stun gun incident involving Blanket.
As for Bhatti, he’s lived there for some time: “He has infiltrated the Jackson family in a way that many find to be disturbing and detrimental to the children.”
He dresses identical to Michael, who seemed to revel in the confusion and controversy Omer generated. Michael even told some people that Omar was his son.
Joe Jackson says he is as well. Still, detractors say that since Michael died, Bhatti has latched on to the family and is manipulating Michael’s kids constantly.
“Prince has been particularly vulnerable to Omar and his claims,” the family source said. “He’s starting to believe Omar’s claims that Michael is his father.”
Long lost love child? Or random dude exploiting Michael’s traumatized children? Either way, he’s living off the Jacksons’ money! Sweet deal!
Michael Jackson’s Kids Living in Utter Chaos
Was the stun gun incident only the beginning?
Michael Jackson’s three children, known for being nice, well-adjusted and surprisingly normal despite their eccentric dad, are now being raised “in a chaotic environment devoid of discipline and parental supervision,” according to reports.
Prince, Paris and Blanket have been living at the Jackson family home with Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, as instructed in the late music icon’s will.
More than a dozen family members live there as well. The big problem, not surprisingly, is that the other kids living in the house are totally out of control.
Well, only if you consider using a Ralph’s rewards card to order a stun gun online and trying to taser Blanket out of control … it’s all how you look at it.
Is Katherine Jackson in over her head with Michael’s kids?
A source blames MJ’s brothers Randy and Jermaine Jackson, who are described as “the most ego-maniacal, self-centered people that have ever walked the earth.”
That’s saying something on a planet that also features Kanye West.
Red flags were raised and a Department of Children and Family Services investigation launched following a recent incident with Blanket and Jermaine’s son Jafaar.
Jafaar, 13, got his hands on a stun gun, allegedly for the purpose of zapping Michael’s youngest son. Jermaine Jackson now finds himself facing harsh criticism.
“Any kid that grows up with that sense of privilege, you can just imagine the behavior that’s viewed as acceptable,” a source said. “It’s frankly disturbing.”
“This is not something that Michael’s children are used to. They were brought up in a loving home. They’re not used to experiencing this kind of violence.”
Should Michael’s children be placed with another guardian?
“It’s not that simple. Michael was very careful about who and what his children were exposed to. They need someone who can be a constant for them.”
Did Dr. Conrad Murray Cover Up Evidence?
Dr. Conrad Murray may have hidden and tried to cover up the means by which Michael Jackson died on June 25, according to law enforcement sources.
MJ received his final, fatal dose of Propofol through an IV in his leg, and Murray told cops he administered only a very small amount of Propofol: 2.5ml.
But Dr. John Dombrowski, a noted anesthesiologist who reviewed the LAPD file for detectives, tells TMZ that 2.5ml couldn’t even put Jackson to sleep.
Let alone kill the man.
The autopsy report, to that end, notes the level of Propofol found in Jackson was equivalent to what is found in “general anesthesia for major surgery.”
So what is Conrad Murray not saying?
A small, empty, 20 ml bottle of Propofol was found in the bedroom, but a secret compartment in a nearby closet contained numerous bottles of Propofol as well.
Along them? A large, empty, 100ml bottle with a large tear in the rubber stopper. A tear in the stopper is made to connect an entire bottle of Propofol to the IV.
If this is done, the doctor must use an infusion pump to regulate the flow of Propofol, or else the patient could easily OD. There was no infusion pump found.
Law enforcement sources believe Dr. Murray may have used the 100 ml bottle, then either tried regulating the flow by eyeballing it or letting it flow by itself.
Either way, that would be reckless, as Dr. Murray himself said he left to go to the bathroom at one point (see related Michael Jackson death timeline dispute).
If Dr. Murray did indeed empty the full 100 ml bottle into Jackson’s system, that would be 40 times more Propofol than the physician said he administered.
No word if the prosecution plans to argue this in Dr. Murray’s involuntary manslaughter case. The doctor has been charged, pending a preliminary hearing.
Michael Jackson Death Timeline Dispute Critical to Conrad Murray Defense, Prosecution
In a new twist, Dr. Conrad Murray’s attorney, Michael Flanagan, says his client made a mistake in his initial interview in the Michael Jackson homicide investigation.
“Dr. Murray’s timeline of events the day Michael Jackson died is wrong,” he says. “Doctors make mistake. That is what he did, and it was simply that. A mistake.”
Really, Conrad Murray?
Jackson’s personal physician is changing the story he initially told police in the aftermath of MJ’s death - a significant move for the prosecution and defense.
According to police reports, Murray told the LAPD that he gave Propofol to Jackson at 10:50 a.m., then left Jackson alone for two minutes to go to the bathroom.
DOCTOR ON TRIAL: Does Conrad Murray’s explanation hold water?
Murray then went on to say that when he returned to Jackson’s room, he wasn’t breathing and he began CPR. However, a 911 call wasn’t made until after noon.
In addition, a voicemail Conrad Murray left at 11:54 a.m. that day to another patient, Bob Russell, was released yesterday. Murray was calm and collected on it.
That seems dubious if Murray had been performing CPR on Jackson for an hour before the call. To that end, Flanagan says Murray was wrong about the timing.
The timeline of events surrounding the death of Jackson will most likely be central to the criminal charges - involuntary manslaughter - against Dr. Conrad Murray.
Some reports even say that both the defense and the prosecution plan to use the newly surfaced voicemail as a centerpiece to their case, which is fascinating.
Murray’s legal team aims to discredit cops’ initial interviews with their client in a bid to convince a jury they bungled the situation, according to some sources.
But Flanagan says that he believes his client simply made a mistake when it came to the timeline that fateful day. “Dr. Murray’s timeline was wrong,” he said.
He also suggested that there was reportedly another phone call between Murray and his girlfriend in Houston, shortly after noon. He called 911 at 12:21.
But if Murray did administer Propofol to Jackson at 10:50 a.m. as he initially said, it would be natural for cops to assume he did not check on him until later.
Police say he most likely left Jackson alone for approximately 73 minutes – not two minutes as he claimed - after administering Propofol, a powerful sedative.
This would be damaging to his defense. Murray’s calm call at 11:54 a.m. fits not only his defense, but a police theory that he simply left MJ alone for awhile.
Who do you believe?
Michael Jackson Autopsy Report: Complete, Even Weirder Than You Think!
The full autopsy report on the late Michael Jackson shed light on the King of Pop like never before - and the results are probably even stranger than you’re thinking.
If you’ve seen any Michael Jackson pictures from, say, the last 20 years, you knew there was weird stuff going on there. So weird we don’t even have to elaborate.
The pop icon’s death last June not only ignited waves of new and rekindled interest in his musical legacy, but posed dozens of questions about his bizarre lifestyle.
Some notable items gleaned from the 51-page coroner’s report, which was released Monday and is based on both MJ’s autopsy and a postmortem home search:
- Jackson was telling the truth when he said his odd skin color shift stemmed from Vitiligo, a condition resulting in white patches appearing on dark skin.
- While his Vitiligo was real, his hair was not. MJ’s hair “was sparse” and connected to a wig. His real hair was short and curly; the wig long and straight.
- Michael had eyeliner, lips and eyebrows permanently tattooed.
- There are 61 photos were taken of Jackson’s body before and during the procedure - way more than you see taken by examiners on CSI or NCIS.
- Most significantly, in light of the charges against Dr. Conrad Murray, standards for administering Propofol were not met: “recommended equipment for patient monitoring, precision dosing and resuscitation was not present.”
You don’t have to be a coroner to have figured #5 out.
Dr. Conrad Murray Charges Not Enough, Joe and La Toya Jackson Incoherently Claim
The involuntary manslaughter charge filed against Dr. Conrad Murray in the death of Michael Jackson wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy the late icon’s father, Joe.
Following Murray’s arraignment on Monday, a disappointed Joe did what he does best - went on Larry King Live to ridiculously say that Michael was murdered.
Joe Jackson never met a microphone he didn’t like to babble nonsensically into, and somehow managed once again to make Michael’s sad death all about him.
The Jackson family patriarch said that Michael’s death was part of a larger plot and Murray got off easy. Michael’s sister La Toya issued a similar statement.
Here’s Joe Jackson on Larry King Live last night …
Attorney Brian Oxman seconded that the reckless administration of Propofol by Murray would constitute second degree murder for any victim not named MJ.
Never mind that the charge came after a six-month investigation and that there was clearly no intent by Murray, however careless he was, for Michael to die.
Yesterday, Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, labeled Murray a monster. That he may be, but a murderer in the eyes of the law is quite another matter.
Katherine Jackson on Conrad Murray: He’s a Monster
Not long after Dr. Conrady Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter today, those close to Michaej Jackson - whose death the physician is suspected to have been responsible for - reacted in outrage.
“He’s a monster,” said MJ’s mother, Katherine (pictured), after the arraignment.
Brian Oxman, the family’s veteran lawyer for Jackson’s father Joseph, was equally disgusted with the judge’s decision.
“This charge is a slap on the wrist,” he said. “There’s great disappointment here. [Conrad Murray] should’ve been charged with a higher degree of responsibility. What he did was reckless. It was a disregard for human life.”
Michael’s sister Latoya also chimed in, putting everything in a disturbing context:
“Michael was murdered and although he died at the hands of Dr. Conrad Murray, I believe Dr. Murray was a part of a much larger plan. There are other individuals involved and I will not rest and I will continue to fight until all of the proper individuals are brought forth and justice is served.”
Dr. Conrad Murray to Surrender Imminently in Michael Jackson Case
Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s embattled personal physician, will likely turn himself as police prepare to file charges in connection with the King of Pop’s death.
According to TMZ, Murray is already in Los Angeles (his home base is Houston) and plans to surrender to the authorities Wednesday morning in an L.A. courtroom.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney will almost certainly charge Dr. Conrad Murray with involuntary manslaughter, and that may happen as early as this week.
Charges would have to be filed before any court appearance, so if Murray plans to surrender tomorrow morning, the D.A.’s office may charge him at that time.
Many times, defendants (or their lawyers) arrange for a surrender, rather than face the costly, embarrassing spectacle of being arrested and taken into custody.
It’s unclear if Murray will be released on bail when and if he is charged.
Dr. Conrad Murray will almost certainly enter a plea of not guilty to involuntary manslaughter (or whatever charge he faces) and begin preparing his defense.
We say this because he has already retained a new attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, who successfully defended a doctor client for fatally administering Propofol.
Murray’s use of the anesthetic to treat Jackson will form the crux of the D.A.’s case that he be held criminally liable for the death of the music icon June 25.
The Michael Jackson investigation has taken half a year to complete, and officials are determined not to blow it. It should be very interesting to watch unfold.
Day of Reckoning Near For Dr. Conrad Murray
Prosecutors are ready to charge Dr. Conrad Murray with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson and the case could be filed as early as this week.
Jackson’s embattled personal physician is very close to being charged following another top level meeting in the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office last Friday.
Law enforcement sources called it “a big meeting.”
Why is that significant? Because without everyone in agreement on what charges to file against Dr. Conrad Murray and what evidence to present, it won’t happen.
Conrad Murray is the lone suspect in MJ’s June 25 death.
But it looks like we’re nearing that point, and involuntary manslaughter charges will be filed. It’s just a matter of when, not if, according to sources close to the case.
The deputy D.A. assigned to the case, David Walgren, has all the LAPD’s notes, and the D.A. could charge Murray even without having the case formally presented.
That could happen as early as this week.
The King of Pop’s death was sad and brought to light a lot of unpleasant information, but one thing’s for sure: Sunday’s Grammy tribute would’ve made him proud.
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