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ivy

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A thread for quick access to news about the new MJ Album Xscape.
 
Press release

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NEW YORK, March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 13, Epic Records, in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson, will release XSCAPE, an album of new music by the internationally beloved music icon and King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The project features eight new tracks, which the world will be hearing for the very first time on the new album. For the ultimate fan experience, XSCAPE will also be available in a Deluxe Edition, which includes all of the sourced Michael Jackson recordings in their original form. The XSCAPE standard and Deluxe Edition'sare available for pre-order beginning April 1 on iTunes.com/MichaelJackson and elsewhere, and available at all retailers worldwide on May 13.
XSCAPE is executive produced by Epic Records Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid, who, after an initial mining of Jackson's archives by the Estate, was granted unlimited access to the treasures representing four decades of material on which Jackson had completed his vocals.
Reid curated the final list of recordings to deliver to the producers, who retooled the production to add a fresh, contemporary sound that retains Jackson's essence and integrity. It's a process Reid calls "contemporizing." The album's lead producer, Timbaland was one of a handful of producers Reid believed had the gravitas, depth and range to creatively engage with Jackson's work. Additional producers include global hitmakers Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Jerome "Jroc" Harmon and John McClain.
"Modern music and artistry would look and sound completely different if not for the groundbreaking contributions Michael Jackson gifted to the world," remarked L.A. Reid. "Michael left behind some musical performances that we take great pride in presenting through the vision of music producers that he either worked directly with or expressed strong desire to work with. We are extremely proud and honored to present this music to the world."
The title of this album honors Michael's album naming process. He always chose a song from the album to name his projects and, beginning with THRILLER, used only one word titles, each with an edgy quality to them. This is true of the new project. Written by Michael Jackson and Jerkins, and produced by Jackson and Jerkins, "Xscape" has further significance in that it is the one track on the album that was 'contemporized' by the producer who recorded it originally in the studio with Michael.
John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson said,
"Michael was always on the cutting edge and was constantly reaching out to new producers, looking for new sounds. He was always relevant and current. These tracks, in many ways, capture that spirit. We thank L.A. Reid for his vision."
XSCAPE is a long awaited collection of exciting new music that will thrill the legions of fans of one of the world's most revered and best-selling artists, as well as attract a whole new generation discovering his artistry for the first time. In conjunction with the release of XSCAPE, Epic / Sony Music will launch an unprecedented global campaign with the One Sony sister companies, Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications, and Sony Network Entertainment International drawing from all of Sony's strengths and consumer reach.
"Michael has long been a treasured member of the larger Sony family," said Kazuo Hirai, President and CEO, Sony Corporation. "Starting with the release of 'Off The Wall' in 1979, Sony Music Entertainment has since released all of Michael's recordings. We are thrilled and privileged to be collaborating as One Sony to celebrate Michael's latest legacy, and bringing his fans an exclusive experience through our upcoming initiatives with our products and services."

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...new-music-from-michael-jackson-253182181.html
 
Good Morning America (GMA) announcement

 
Another visual from the UK listening party

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from Epic's FB

Legendary @mrbrainwash painted this inspiring @michaeljackson quote on the side of his LA studio last night. #HearingIsBelieving #TheBestYouveNeverHeard #MichaelJackson #HaveYouSeenIt #MoreToCome #BeEpic
 
Some tweets

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Trevor Nelson ‏@DJTrevorNelson Mar 31
“@THISISMAXONLINE: Love me some @DJTrevorNelson guess what we are up too! �� pic.twitter.com/VfkKCh3Bpv” we took a pic
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Trevor Nelson ‏@DJTrevorNelson Mar 31
I am liking the 1st 2 new Michael Jackson tracks.
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Trevor Nelson ‏@DJTrevorNelson Mar 31
Apparently I am hosting the launch of the new Michael Jackson album 'xscape' An La Reid project
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Trevor Nelson ‏@DJTrevorNelson Mar 31
So I am on my way to host an album launch from one of the worlds biggest artists soon to be revealed.
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MAX ‏@THISISMAXONLINE 22h
A total pleasure Djing at @michaeljackson new album #Xscape it sounded sick! ������ pic.twitter.com/kicivMAGyV

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Great night at the Michael Jackson <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Xscape&amp;src=hash">#Xscape</a> playback. Goosebumps hearing that amazing vocal. LA Reid has chosen well. <a href="http://t.co/un6PvjyajR">pic.twitter.com/un6PvjyajR</a></p>&mdash; Kevin Hughes (@Popprince) <a href="https://twitter.com/Popprince/statuses/450720326587252736">March 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Xscape&amp;src=hash">#Xscape</a> Still buzzing from what I heard tonight.. Do You Know Where Your Children Are. Wow! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23MJ&amp;src=hash">#MJ</a> <a href="http://t.co/VgmezdDido">pic.twitter.com/VgmezdDido</a></p>&mdash; Kevin Hughes (@Popprince) <a href="https://twitter.com/Popprince/statuses/450738170226032640">March 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Hilary Fox &#8207;@FforFox 13h Some good tracks on #MichaelJackson album. 1st track (unsure of title) v disco. Gangster was a stand out track...


Hilary Fox &#8207;@FforFox 13h
There's a track on the new #MichaelJackson album #Xscape called Do You Know Where Your Children Are - Too controversial for release before?


Hilary Fox &#8207;@FforFox 13h
Strong 90s R&B vibe on new #MichaelJackson album. New production, but deluxe edition will have original demos of tracks - so a must for fans


Hilary Fox &#8207;@FforFox 13h
By the way, that was the first listening party for the #MichaelJackson album. People were trepidatious at first but overall liked the tracks

Michael Prince &#8207;@MichaelPrinceMD 20h
&#8220;@Epic_Records: Thrilled to announce XSCAPE, a NEW ALBUM of music by @MichaelJackson, Many of us wanted Xscape on Invinsible- Awesome song!


James Barr &#8207;@imjamesbarr 17h
Can't wait to hear the new #MJ album tonight #Xscape <3 so lucky to be at the album playback pic.twitter.com/fYpmLqXb6C

James Barr &#8207;@imjamesbarr 14h
I LOVED #Xscape... Probably the best we've heard since #Dangerous! The first track is amazing <3 @michaeljackson

James Barr &#8207;@imjamesbarr 13h
I feel so lucky to be one of the first ppl in the world to have heard Michael Jackson's new album <3 It totally lives up to the hype #xscape
 
ROLLING STONE MUSIC NEWS

New Michael Jackson Album 'Xscape' to Come Out in May

By KORY GROW | Mar 31, 2014 AT 10:55AM

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Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

The wait is over. The first posthumous album of new music from Michael Jackson, Xscape, will come out on May 13th. It contains eight previously unreleased songs that a variety of producers have, to quote Epic Records chairman and CEO and the record's executive producer L.A. Reid, "contemporized." A deluxe edition of the album will include the recordings in their original form, with online preorders for the album beginning on April 1st.

L.A. Reid Explains Why Michael Jackson Is One of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists
Reid went through the Jackson estate's vaults, which comprise four decades of music, to find songs that had completed vocals. He curated the list of songs and the producers who would work on them to give the tracks a "fresh, contemporary" sound. Timbaland served as the album's lead producer, and additional producers include Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Jerome "Jroc" Harmon and John McClain.


"Michael left behind some musical performances that we take great pride in presenting through the vision of music producers that he either worked directly with or expressed strong desire to work with," Reid said in a statement. "We are extremely proud and honored to present this music to the world."
12 Thrilling Facts About Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Video

The executive producer kept with Jackson's naming convention and titled the album Xscape after a song on the album, as with albums like Thriller, Bad, Dangerous and, Jackson's final release, Invincible. Jackson wrote and produced the song "Xscape" with Jerkins; it's the only song on the album that was "contemporized" by the producer who worked on the original track with Jackson.
Jackson's label, Sony, promises an "unprecedented global campaign" for the album. It has not yet revealed the track list, but promises to share more details about the record in the coming weeks.

Five Must-Hear Michael Jackson Tracks from 'The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection'


Sony struck a deal with the Jackson estate to release 10 albums over a seven-year period in 2010. That same year, an album titled Michael, containing previously unreleased studio recordings, was released amid controversy from Jackson's brother Randy, who claimed that Michael did not sing on some of its songs. The Jackson estate refuted those claims, according to The New York Times. That same year, a collection of remixes titled Immortal came out to accompany Jackson's Cirque du Soleil show with the same name. Jackson's label also issued a digital box set, The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection, in 2013 that contained rare demos and recordings of his hits.



Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/n...ape-to-come-out-in-may-20140331#ixzz2xjghiOY4
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook
 
Michael Jackson's Xscape:
Lovingly restored material brings back the King Of Pop​
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Michael Jackson. Front cover of new album Xscape.​


Largely comprised of songs recorded in the 90s and early 2000s, Xscape is a more cohesive album in comparison to 2010 offering "Michael."

Eight previously unreleased songs have been (in the words of Executive Producer L.A Reid) 'contemporized' by the likes of Timbaland, Stargate and Rodney Jerkins.

And whilst the fresh 2014 production enhances that trademark MJ vocal, it doesn't detract from the original song and the genius of Michael's songwriting vision. As the album begins, you're immediately transported back to the Thriller era, thanks to an amazing 1983 disco groove called "Love Never Felt So Good."

With its soulful vocal, infectious baseline and orchestral strings, it's a song that screams 'Jackson classic' and it says a lot about influence when you consider that it wouldn't sound out of place on the latest Pharrell album.

I challenge anyone not to experience goosebumps after hearing "A Place With No Name" a song layered with lush harmonies believed to have been recorded in 1998 and a song that deserves to played by radio stations worldwide.

Potential single "Slave To The Rhythm" is a floor-filler for a new generation whilst 1999's RnB soaked "She Was Lovin' Me" (originally considered for the 2001 Invincible album) has echoes of "The Way You Make Me Feel."

Two other songs, "Chicago" and "Blue Gangster" will also remind you of previous Jackson offerings but both tracks benefit from newly enhanced production and remind us of the fact that Michael was keen to remain relevant to the emerging hip-hop generation.

But one of the outstanding cuts on the "Xscape" album is a song called "12 O'Clock" or "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" in which an emphatic Jackson discusses family values and child abuse over a pulsating bass line and guitar riff.

Whilst I'm not convinced the new production has added anything to the original, it's still a song that will get everyone talking. And as the album concludes with title track "Xscape" a sonic slice of noughties electro-pop, I'm left satisfied that Michael's legacy will endure thanks to a collection of carefully selected material, lovingly re-engineered for millions of fans and new fans alike. There's a reason he was called The King of Pop after all.


Source: kevin Hughes / Mirror.co.uk
 
Possible Bonus Track on the Deluxe Version of Xscape:


''Michael Jackson & D'Angelo+ Mary J Blige
"H** ** *** *********e"

Produced by D'ANGELO

Michael+D'Angelo+Mary-VOCALS

D'Angelo-All keys+Sitar
Jesse Johnson-All guitars (Taylor T5z & T5 Acoustics)
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson-Drums (aka: "Afican Telephone")
Pino Palladino-Basssss
Eric "Ric" Leeds-all Horns

Engineers:
Russ Elevado
Ben Kane
Executive Producer:
John McClain

I was very honored to have been chosen to a part of this event. I hope it brings the same kind of pleasure to your earholes as it did to ours making it.

LovePeace,
Jesse J''


Source: Jesse Johnson's Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/JesseJohnsonfan
 
Michael Jackson Is Still Alive Online​

Added by Katie Sevigny on April 3, 2014.


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Michael Jackson is still alive in the hearts of many. Five years after his unfortunate passing, a new album will be released by the King of Pop entitled XScape. The online world is buzzing with news about the new record which will drop May 13th 2014.

The new album cover is absolutely stunning and simple. Jackson gives off a stare that peeks out of his futuristic see-through glittered outfit, the look in those eyes, it is an intense glare which says &#8220;I&#8217;m still here&#8221; and &#8221;I&#8217;m not going anywhere.&#8221; Hard to believe even five years later that Jackson is no longer here performing.

Jackson son is more than just a musical icon, he is a force which everyone will never forget. His range was like no other and his dancing was insanely original for its time. His music spanned generations and infected pop culture with its hauntingly good vocal work.

When Elvis passed away there were many fanatics hoping he never really died. Maybe they thought he just took a vacation or went into hiding. It gave birth to the slogan &#8220;Elvis Lives,&#8221; and as Jackson&#8217;s fans gear up for the release of these eight new songs re-worked by L.A. Reid, perhaps a new slogan will be born. Thanks to Reid, it&#8217;s as though Jackson never really left, that he is still here fighting for love and for the love of making music for the world. In many ways, Jackson is still alive. Online, and in the memories and hearts of the people who loved him.

Reid had an exclusive grab of Jackson&#8217;s musical archives. Songs which never got released. Only eight songs were re-worked with a handful of hit making producers to help Reid design a new modern sound to Michael&#8217;s vocal work. Only eight. Imagine the gold mine of other secret tracks available to only a few ears? This begs the question: How many songs are in the archives to keep Jackson&#8217;s legacy going?
Music in an intangible and everlasting source of joy for many. Jackson set out to write songs which not only hit the top of the charts, but moved people, gave people a sense of belonging, or comfort. Hopefully the new album will hold the same purpose in at least some of the tracks.

Two songs fans can look forward to hearing on the new album are the title track,Xscape and Chicago, produced by Timbaland. Reid calls the re-tooling of the album a &#8220;Contemporizing&#8221; new take on Jackson&#8217;s original ideas.

These days, people talk about stories &#8220;breaking&#8221; the internet. Jackson broke the charts with recording Thriller, the highest selling album of all time. The video forThriller was one of the most influential music videos ever in terms of creativity and slick choreography.

It is too bad there will not be any new videos featuring Michael Jackson to go along with the new music. Those would have been something to see! Jackson took pride in being a perfectionist who delivered the whole package, not just the songs. However, there is nothing to complain about now that word of the new album has come out online. More than just promotional material has popped up, but stories about why Jackson&#8217;s music still matters to the world. It&#8217;s through these shared stories that will help keep Jackson alive forever.

Opinion By Katie Sevigny New York Daily News

Source: http://guardianlv.com/2014/04/michael-jackson-is-still-alive-online/


 
When the next posthumous release of un-finished Michael Jackson material, Xscape, comes out on May 13, there will be a lot of MilkBoy Studio blood in those tracks. M-Boy co-founder Tommy Joyner texted and told me how one-time Studio owner Larry Gold did the strings for Xscape with top-tier producers Rodney Jerkins, J-Roc, and Timbaland behind the boards (as was engineer Jeff Chestek). &#8220;I assisted on some of the sessions and was blown away,&#8221; says Joyner. &#8220;The vocals come from all over MJ&#8217;s career, some of it recorded in the &#8217;70s, and all of it is vintage Michael. It&#8217;s going to sound great all summer long.&#8221;

http://www.citypaper.net/article.ph...arettes-Muchnick-s-Millions-Wegmans-WTF-20090
 
USA TODAY


First listen: Michael Jackson's posthumous 'Xscape'


It's easy, and probably healthy, to approach any new release of Michael Jackson music with some skepticism. Nearly five years after his death, the King of Pop remains both an indelible influence on contemporary artists and a source of the kind of prurient and morose fascination that is always as marketable, if not as memorable, as a great tune.


Luckily, the posthumous Xscape, out May 13, offers some reminders of why Jackson entered our collective consciousness to begin with. The eight tracks here showcase songs, culled from the late superstar's vault, originally recorded between 1983 and 1999, after Jackson's early creative peak as a recording artist (with his 1979 solo breakthrough Off the Wall and 1982's Thriller).


Still, executive producer L.A Reid and lead producer Timbaland &#8212; with support at the boards from other noted hitmakers such as Stargate, J-Roc and Rodney Jerkins &#8212; ensure that Jackson's enduring strengths as a singer are represented, layering in modern electronic textures without overwhelming the distinctly slinky, shivery vocals or overall structure of the tunes.


Love Never Felt So Good &#8212; written and initially produced by Jackson and Paul Anka, and co-produced here by John McClain, a co-executor of Jackson's estate, and Giorgio Tuinfort &#8212; has an old-school snap and tingle, with warm, leaping strings that recall the melodic and rhythmic punch of Jackson's work with Quincy Jones.


Loving You, crafted by Jackson during sessions for 1987's Bad and revisited here by Timbaland, is similarly blithe and nostalgic, with tinkling piano chords and tickling percussion set against the latter artist's trademark syncopation.


Other tracks are edgier and more aggressive, sonically and in their lyrics. For Jackson, love and anxiety were often inextricably entwined; Do You Know Where Your Children Are (also from the Bad era) documents a parent's nightmare with a thumping groove, while the chilly, Cory Rooney-penned Chicago finds its narrator vexed by a duplicitous woman.


On Slave to the Rhythm, an intriguing 1989 Reid/Babyface creation brought back by Timbaland and Jerome Harmon, it's the girl who suffers, as Jackson croons over a frantically chugging, swirling arrangement about a woman who tries to break the chains that bind her at home and work.


Slave is playful at first, opening with Jackson's trademark yelps and hiccups, but there is clear empathy in his portrait of a trapped person desperate to find "a beat of her own." It seems especially poignant here that for this star, escape, like Xscape, only came posthumously.


[video=youtube_share;N7_iLMq8REo]http://youtu.be/N7_iLMq8REo[/video]
http://youtu.be/N7_iLMq8REo


http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/...en-michael-jackson-posthumous-xscape/7553229/
 
http://vegas.michaeljackson.com/#english3

A new MJ.com website. - win a trip to Las Vegas.

Win a trip for 2 to Las Vegas for the ultimate Michael Jackson fan weekend!
Stay at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, home to theMichael Jackson ONE Theater and Boutique. Attend a performance of the acclaimed Michael Jackson ONE byCirque du Soleil and end the weekend with a secret Michael Jackson experience!
(click for rules & full prizing details)


How To EnterEntry deadline is May 4, 2014



  1. Upload a video to Instagram about why youdeserve this Michael Jackson Vegas weekend
  2. Use hashtag #XscapeToVegas in video description
  3. Share your video

Winners will be notified via Instagram Direct inbox.You can access your Instagram Direct inbox by tapping on the mailbox icon in the top-right corner.Prize only available to residents of: AU, AT, BE, FI, FR, GR, HU, IE, JP, MX, NL, NZ, PL, PT, ZA, ES, SE, CH, UK, US, CO, AR, HK, IN, MY, PH, SG, TH, TW, DE, BR, CA, DK​
 
Good news!!!:

"Sony is currently sponsoring up to 10 HRA consumer listening and education events per month in retail outlets. Given recent cuts to its workforce, the company is struggling to keep up with demand. It recently made a major HRA push at SXSW, and plans to offer a free hi-res download version of Michael Jackson's "new" album, XSCAPE, with the purchase of each new HRA-equipped Sony product."

Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/sony-goes-all-out-high-resolution-audio

XSCAPE IS COMING IN HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO!!!!
 
Listening-Party in Germany, 8th May

Dear MALIBU´s, dear fans!

We are happy to announce an exclusive event to you:

With the approval of The Michael Jackson Estate© we can offer you the unique chance to be one of the FIRST FANS WORLDWIDE to receive the XSCAPE album! The MALIBU Fanclub is hosting a release event in Cologne with the presence of local and national media.

At exactly 0:00 a.m. you will be able to buy the album at a special MALIBU-price! Afterwards we will listen to the album together and celebrate Michael! We will unseal further details very soon! Please let us know if you want to purchase a copy of XSCAPE at the event.
We offer a special price as long as we have it in stock. Don´t miss out on this unique event!

When: May 8th 2014, 11:00 p.m.

Where: Filmhauskino Köln, Maybachstr. 111 (Hansaring)
 
MJ5;3989807 said:
Listening-Party in Germany, 8th May

Dear MALIBU´s, dear fans!

We are happy to announce an exclusive event to you:

With the approval of The Michael Jackson Estate© we can offer you the unique chance to be one of the FIRST FANS WORLDWIDE to receive the XSCAPE album! The MALIBU Fanclub is hosting a release event in Cologne with the presence of local and national media.

At exactly 0:00 a.m. you will be able to buy the album at a special MALIBU-price! Afterwards we will listen to the album together and celebrate Michael! We will unseal further details very soon! Please let us know if you want to purchase a copy of XSCAPE at the event.
We offer a special price as long as we have it in stock. Don´t miss out on this unique event!

When: May 8th 2014, 11:00 p.m.

Where: Filmhauskino Köln, Maybachstr. 111 (Hansaring)
Click to expand...
Link????
 
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