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IMWhizzle;3989266 said:
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!!!!
Click to expand...

A/V Shops Should Exploit Sony’s Free Offer of Michael Jackson’s Xscape for Hi-Res Audio
Integrators can use Sony's hi-res Xscape giveaway to lure customers to high-resolution audio (HRA).

April 24, 2014
Sony Music Entertainment is releasing the new Michael Jackson album Xscape on May 13.

Sony Mobile customers will get to enjoy the album free of charge on select new devices including the Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z1S.

Oh whoop-de-doo, a pristine rendering of a recently-uncovered work in an inferior audio quality.

But ... Sony just announced last week that it would also offer a free download of Xscape—this one in an HRA format—for buyers of Sony hi-res audio products. Sony announced today a slew of new hi-res products and plans to use the Xscape giveaway in a big promotion for the line.

Sony plans a big push around this promotion, so dealers should prepare to use the hype to lure music-loving customers to the hi-res world.

http://www.cepro.com/article/sony_offers_free_downloads_of_michael_jacksons_xscape_for_hi-res_audio/

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Sony Dominates High Res Audio with 9 New Products Including 4 Receivers
Sony introduces new line of High-Resolution Audio A/V Receivers, speakers and Blu-ray Home Theater Systems
SAN DIEGO, April 24, 2014 – Sony Electronics announced today four new audio/video receivers, a Blu-ray Home Theater system and a series of loudspeakers. Two of the A/V receivers, the Blu-ray Home Theater system and two of the loudspeakers are the latest addition to the company’s growing line of High-Resolution capable products. The new Hi-Res compatible A/V receivers and Blu-ray system offer enthusiasts’ a wide variety of music formats from FLAC to DSD, along with “master quality” sound reproduction the way the artist originally intended.

“Sony’s goal is to make the benefits of Hi-Res Audio accessible to every music lover,” said Jeff Hiatt, director of home audio at Sony Electronics. “We’re focused on providing a variety of Hi-Res solutions that fit every lifestyle need. Our latest additions are specifically developed to bring Hi-Res excitement to a broader audience.”

STR-DN1050 and STR-DN850
The STR-DN1050 and STR-DN850 audio/video receivers offer incredible flexibility, with built-in Wi-Fi, AirPlay and Bluetooth with Near Field Communication (NFC) One Touch Listening. They also support a wide range of standard and Hi-res file formats, plus built-in music services including Music Unlimited, Pandora, Spotify, and TuneIn.

...............Consumers can also control all of the receivers’ basic and advanced functions using Sony’s iOS and Android compatible SongPal app, which will be available in May.

In addition, the STR-DN1050 and STR-DN850 offer 4K upscaling and pass-thru, along with a variety of connectivity options. ......Two HDMI inputs can also support MHL devices. The DN850 has five HDMI inputs, a USB input for Hi-Res files and iPod/iPhone; plus a front panel HDMI input for MHL capable devices. Both models also decode the latest Blu-ray Disc audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio.

The STR-DN1050 and DN850 are both 7.2 channel receivers, with the DN1050 delivering 165 watts per channel, and the DN850 providing 150 watts. The STR-DN1050 also features a powered 2nd zone, complete with dedicated HDMI output, IR repeaters and both amplified and line-level audio connectivity. .......

STR-DH750 and STR-DH550
The STR-DH750 and STR-DH550 also provide outstanding performance and convenience.
The 7.2 channel STR-DH750 delivers 145 watts per channel. And with 4 HDMI inputs, iPod/iPhone playback via USB; Bluetooth with NFC capability and superior audio technology (including 4K and 3D pass-through), it will enhance any home entertainment experience.

Additionally, the 5.2 channel STR-DH550 offers 145 watts per channel. Its on-screen user interface is simple to set up and control and makes it easy to connect and charge compatible Android™ and iOS devices, digital music players and USB thumb drives. Both receivers are also compatible with Sony’s new SongPal app.

The STR-DN1050, STR-DN850, STR-DH750 and STR-DH550 will be available at Sony stores and authorized Sony dealers nationwide in May, at a suggested retail price of $599, $499, $349 and $279 respectively.

Core Series (CS) speakers
The new Hi-Res Audio compatible CS Series speakers include two new models: the floor standing SS-CS3 and the SS-CS5 bookshelf speaker. Additionally, the SS-CS8 center channel speaker and the SA-CS9 subwoofer will launch. All of these new speakers have been designed to transform the listening environment and reproduce high resolution music and movie soundtracks in a lifelike manner.......................

The SS-CS3, SS-CS5, SS-CS8 and SA-CS9 speakers will be available in May exclusively at Best Buy and Sony Stores, for a suggested retail price of $239 per speaker, $219 per pair $169 and $239 respectively.


BDV-N7200W Hi-Res Blu-ray Home Theater system
The BDV-N7200W is a 1200W 5.1 channel Blu-ray Disc home theater system with wireless rear surround sound speakers and a powerful down-firing subwoofer. It supports 4k and 3D pass-thru, plus offers built-in Wi-Fi with support for movie and music streaming from Netflix, HuluPlus, Music Unlimited, Pandora, Spotify and more.

Additionally, Bluetooth with NFC capability allows for easy connectivity and streaming from a variety of mobile devices. All of the systems functions can be easily accessed using Sony’s iOS and Android compatible SongPal app.

Like the STR-DN1050 and STR-DN850 audio/video receivers, the BDV-N7200 supports a wide range of standard and Hi-res file formats, from MP3 to Direct Stream Digital (DSD), via a home network, HDMI, or USB connection.

The BDV-N7200 will be available at Sony stores and authorized Sony dealers nationwide in May, at a suggested retail price of $699.

http://www.cepro.com/article/sony_d...with_9_new_products_including_4_receivers/D2/
 
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From the Estate of Michael Jackson:


Hello:

News about the first single from Xscape will be posted TONIGHT on michaeljackson.com as well as Michael's official social media profiles. Be sure to be on the lookout for those posts!

Best,
MJOnline

The Official Online Team of The Michael Jackson Estate™
 

lnfsg.png

​
 
Translation with google-translator

Sony Mobile and German Telekom cooperate with the launch of the Michael Jackson album 'XSCAPE'
http://www.pressebox.de/inaktiv/deut...E/boxid/675242
Sony Mobile and German Telekom cooperate with the launch of the Michael Jackson album ' XSCAPE '
Pre- listenings from May nationwide in Telekom shops / Highlight Concert with Special Guest at the IFA / Michael Jackson album plus 1 bonus track exclusive to Telekom / available exclusively on Sony Xperia Z1 Compact , as well as on the Sony Xperia devices Z2, Z2 Xperia
( BUSINESS WIRE) (Darmstadt, 30.04.2014 ) On 9 May 2014, the Michael Jackson album ' XSCAPE ' with new , unreleased songs of the King of Pop appears. Worldwide fans of the legendary superstars in anticipation. As part of the publication of this sensational album, the German Telekom and Sony Mobile create an attractive brand and music experience. The Telekom shops are From 5 May, exclusively before music listening stations to launch the new songs , and the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact with album with bonus track there from 13th may just at Deutsche Telekom. For the finale of cooperation at the IFA 2014 in Berlin, the fans of the King of Pop can on a terrific show concert delighted with a special guest who will interpret well-known songs of the artist.

" Listening to music on the best network , pre- listenings in the telecom shops to a thrilling live event show the product and varied experience of Deutsche Telekom ," says Michael debt , Head of Communications and Sales Marketing Telekom Germany .

Even before the release of the album can exclusively listen to songs from the new album in the Telekom Shops fans from the 5th of May. Telekom customers who purchase a new Sony Xperia Z1 Compact , Xperia Xperia Z2 or Z2 tablet in the telecom shop , the album includes an exclusive bonus track received from 13 Mai Register by 30 September 2014.

' XSCAPE ' that appears on Epic Records / Sony Music , presents eight new and previously unreleased songs . Epic Records CEO LA Reid, to interpret committed producers like Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins , Stargate and Jerome " JROC " Harmon songs to date.
 
Michael Jackson album guests Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige

http://pagesix.com/2014/04/30/michael-jackson-album-guests-justin-timberlake-mary-j-blige/

Justin Timberlake, Questlove, D’Angelo and Mary J. Blige all guest-star on the new Michael Jackson album, “Xscape,” according to Aaron Reid, who did A&R on the posthumous project.


The album, pieced together with unused music from various recording sessions, will be released May 13. The first single, “Love Never Felt So Good,” drops Thursday.
As for where the songs came from, “Michael Jackson didn’t trust anyone with his music. He stopped finishing songs,” said Aaron, “He had a whole bunch of material stored away. He had hooks. He had verses. Then we put it together.”


Aaron is the 24-year-old son of Epic Records mogul L.A. Reid and R&B singer/music manager Perri “Pebbles” Reid (who, as I reported last week, has filed suit against Viacom over the “defamatory” portrayal of her in a 2013 VH1 movie about girl group TLC, who she once represented). For the Jackson album, he worked closely with his father and executive producer Timbaland, and hired StarGate,Jerome “Jroc” Harmon and Rodney Jerkins to produce the eight songs. Guitarist Jesse Johnson, best known as a member of the Time, plays on the album.


Critics say Jackson, who died nearly five years ago, didn’t finish the songs because he didn’t think they were good enough. They say the lawyers running Jackson’s estate are just trying to cash in on his enduring fans.


But Aaron said making the album was “an amazing process. Michael Jackson is my favorite artist of all time. With this project, I got to carry on his legacy and even to contribute to it. There’s nothing like it.”
 
Music Unlimited to Offer Exclusive Previews Starting Next Week

Michael Jackson may be gone but his music remains as vital as ever. His classic albums like Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad are just as urgent and exciting now as the day they were released.

That’s why we’re so eager for May 13, when Epic Records releases XSCAPE, the new album that features a set of previously unheard songs from Jackson’s vaults. That’s also the day it comes to Sony’s Music Unlimited streaming service.

As a bonus, Music Unlimited subscribers will also get early access to five XSCAPE tracks from May 5 to May 9, as we stream one new song each day and reveal exclusive artwork on the Sony Entertainment Network blog.

Jackson is one of the most profoundly influential artists of all-time, having sold 1-billion records worldwide to date, scored 13 No. 1 singles and becoming one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

With his passing nearly five years ago, the King of Pop left behind a large collection of material he started but never finished, part of his penchant for over-recording for each of his studio albums. Now, after going through Jackson’s archives, Epic Chairman L.A. Reid has recovered a number of songs that have been finished and “contemporized” for release on XSCAPE.

Reid enlisted the help of lead producer Timbaland — with contributions from John McClain, Rodney Jerkins, Jerome “J-roc” Harmon and Stargate — to help bring the songs to life, showing off the raw genius of Jackson, the singer and songwriter, while putting each track firmly in the current musical landscape.

We here at Music Unlimited will be counting down to the release of XSCAPE in our own special way over the next couple of days. Like the rest of the music-loving world we can’t wait to listen to this new chapter in the legacy of an enduring pop icon.

http://blog.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>And.. the new Michael Jackson single will also get it's first play on <a href="https://twitter.com/CapitalOfficial">@CapitalOfficial</a> Breakfast, tomorrow morning..</p>&mdash; Kevin Hughes (@Popprince) <a href="https://twitter.com/Popprince/statuses/461899213467836416">May 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Love Never Felt So Good, both the solo version and the Justin Timberlake version, available for purchase now on iTunes.

Also available on YouTube to listen for free:



 
Sony Music Uploads the official Television Commercial for Michael Jackson's 'Xscape' featuring audio from the lead single - 'Love Never Felt So Good'

 
In addition to the above, the first video's length is 23:18:

eUjeImb.png
 
MJ5 said:
No one feels responsible for posting news?

Every Day a new Track:
xscape.michaeljackson.com
Click to expand...

We all are responsible posting news:)

Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake's Duet Off To More Than 'Good' Start

The lead track from 'Xscape,' the late King of Pop's album due May 13, is headed to this week's Hot 100 thanks to a strong first few days of sales, airplay and streaming

Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake's sleek new duet, "Love Never Felt So Good," will enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week following its first few days of availability.

The song appears on "Xscape," an album of eight tracks of Jackson's vocals set to new music from Timbaland and J-Roc, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and John McClain (a former A&M Records executive and co-executor of the Jackson estate). The set arrives May 13.

"Good" premiered on the iHeartRadio Music Awards, broadcast on NBC on May 1, and was then made available for digital purchase. (Instead of Timberlake, Usher danced to the song on the broadcast.)

Fueling its Hot 100 start? Solid initial sales and airplay, which should send the song, available as a solo Jackson recording and in a duet version with Timberlake, onto this week's Hot 100 in the list's lower half. Streaming activity since its premiere will also contribute to its debut rank. While "Good" is not yet available across on-demand subscription services, it's has racked 960,000 views on YouTube so far, split between its official audio clip on Vevo (which was released May 1) and user-generated YouTube clips.

Highlights of the Hot 100 will post on Billboard.com on Wednesday (May 7), while the chart will post in its entirety the following day.

"Good" will mark Jackson's 49th Hot 100 entry and second since his 2009 death. "Hold My Hand," with Akon, reached No. 39 in January 2011. That collaboration was released from the posthumous "Michael " album, which debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 3 and has sold 540,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Jackson boasts 13 Hot 100 No. 1s, the most among solo males in the chart's 55-year history. Only the Beatles (20) and Mariah Carey (18) have totaled more No. 1s, with Rihanna also having notched 13 leaders.

STRONG SALES

Industry forecasters suggest that "Good" may have sold more than 60,000 downloads in the week ending Sunday, May 4. That sum would've been generated from only three full days of sales, as the song reached retailers late on Thursday (May 1), after its premiere earlier that evening.

Certainly, "Good" is buoyed by the availability of the duet version with Timberlake, which accounts for the bulk of the song's overall sales. (Both the Jackson solo version and the duet are combined for sales tracking and charting purposes.)

If "Good" debuts with more than 60,000 downloads sold, that would outpace the opening of "Hold My Hand." That song sold 19,000 in a similar opening time frame, and served as the first radio-promoted single from "Michael." It was released on a Friday (Nov. 19, 2010), so it had less than three full days of sales in its first week (ending Nov. 21). "Hold" then sold 44,000 in its first full week of availability (the frame ending Nov. 28).

RADIO ROLLOUT

Meanwhile, "Good" has also garnered a strong response at radio and appears on track for a debut on the 50-position Radio Songs chart. As of this posting, the cut has drawn 31 million all-format radio audience impressions since its first plays on Friday. On this week's airplay charts (highlights of which will post later today, while the full charts, along with all others, will update on Thursday), it makes multiple debuts, starting on Adult R&B Songs (No. 19), Adult Contemporary (No. 23), R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (No. 28) and Adult Pop Songs (No. 40).

As part of Clear Channel's promotional synergy after the premiere of the song on the iHeartRadio Music Awards, "Good" received hourly plays the following day on a multitude of the company's pop, adult and R&B/hip-hop stations, greatly contributing to its airplay so far.

Still, the station that has played "Good" the most is CBS Radio-owned adult contemporary KYXY San Diego (and, thus, did not contribute to Clear Channel's concentrated play). The station has given the duet 37 plays (though Sunday). "We loved the song the instant we previewed it," says KYXY program director Charlie Quinn. "It felt familiar and right in line with audience expectations for a Michael song."

As for its long-term fortunes, Quinn is optimistic. "Timberlake and the production value definitely elevate it beyond a novelty."

"Two icons coming together for a great groove," is how Alex Tear, Clear Channel vp of programming/Miami, top 40 national brand coordinator and PD of Pop Songs reporter WHYI, describes the track. The station has played "Good" 13 times through May 4. "Hearing and watching the debut [of 'Good' during the iHeartRadio Music Awards] certainly played a role in inspiring listeners' passion and for them to request it. News traveled fast across the generations, lighting up social media and text requests all weekend."

Tear concurs that the song could sustain widespread interest following its splashy start.

"It's smooth and will certainly have a pop-culture impact. It's a great way to begin rolling into summer."

Additional reporting by William Gruger

http://www.billboard.com/articles/n...in-timberlake-hot-100-love-never-felt-so-good
 



michaeljacksonVEVO has uploaded Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson's XSCAPE - The Collaborators Pt. 2
 
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Michael Jackson's XSCAPE Set For Global Launch

STANDARD AND DELUXE EDITIONS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW AND AT ALL RETAILERS IN THE US ON MAY 13TH
"LOVE NEVER FELT SO GOOD" -- MICHAEL JACKSON'S SINGLE & DUET WITH JUSTIN TIMBERFAKE IS A WORLDWIDE SMASH
"...Xscape lives up to the legend." -- USA Today


Press Release: Epic Records &#8211; 57 minutes ago

NEW YORK, May 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The launch of Michael Jackson's highly anticipated May 13th album, XSCAPE, curated and produced by Epic Records Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid, is off to a thrilling start with last week's world premiere of "Love Never Felt So Good." The song rocketed into the Top 5 at iTunes in the U.S, peaking at #1 in 17 countries and landing in the Top 5 position in 67 countries around the world, within 24 hours of release. "Love Never Felt So Good" marks Jackson's 49th Hot 100 entry and makes multiple debuts on at various radio formats charts. The standard and deluxe versions of the album are available for pre-order at all digital retailers http://smarturl.it/lnfsg, http://smarturl.it/lnfsg-amazon and streaming at MusicUnlimited.com/MichaelJackson.




The track, which was released in two versions, Michael's original vocals contemporized by John McClain and a duet with Justin Timberfake. The song premiered on the iHeart Radio Music Awards on NBC, was featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show is giving it her signature dance moves and debuting four more songs this week. The album will be featured on the Today Show, numerous entertainment outlets, in a campaign in conjunction with MTV and Twitter, and is on the cover of this week's Billboard magazine.
It's truly fitting that after a long history together and in anticipation of Michael Jackson's upcoming album, MTV will exclusively release two never before heard tracks. On May 8 at 10:00 am ET, fans can go to michaeljackson.mtv.c om to listen to "Blue Gangsta," as well as view archival footage from interviews and iconic MTV performances including Bad, Black or White and more. Additionally, on May 9 at 10:00 am ET, the title track "Xscape" will also be available on michaeljackson.mtv.c om.
XSCAPE features 8 songs (see track listing below), which the world will be hearing for the very first time originally recorded between 1983 and 1999. The album showcases why Michael Jackson remains an indelible influence on contemporary artists today. 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. For the ultimate fan experience, XSCAPE will also be available in a Deluxe Edition, which includes all of the sourced Michael Jackson recordings as they existed in his archives as well as a DVD documentary featuring the producers discussing the making of XSCAPE. The duet version of "Love Never Felt So Good", co-produced by Justin Timberlake, is also available on the Deluxe Edition.
Epic / Sony Music's XSCAPE album campaign is backed by a first-ever 'One Sony' global collaboration, with exclusive offers from Sony Group companies leveraging their respective strengths in delivering unique entertainment experiences to a wider audience, to celebrate Michael's latest album launch. The special 'One Sony' offers include exclusive early access to five tracks from XSCAPE prior to the album launch, on the Music Unlimited streaming service, and free album download with purchase of selected new Xperia&#8482; smartphone/tablet models (bonus track included) and audio products. (Please note that the launch schedule and availability of each service/offer may vary depending on the country/region).

Keep visiting www.michaeljackson.c om for new details about the upcoming album.
 
Michael Jackson To Unleash World Premiere Experience At Billboard Music Awards

Michael Jackson will create another slice of history at this year’s Billboard Music Awards.

On what already promises to be one of the year’s stand-out music events, the 2014 BBMAs raise the bar even higher with a world premiere experience featuring the late King of Pop.

The Estate of Michael Jackson created the spot, which will present the superstar “like you’ve never seen him before.”

It’s sure to be a thriller, but the finer details remains under lock-and-key.

This year's ceremony will be held Sunday, May 18 in Las Vegas. ABC will broadcast the show live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena and Yahoo will be streaming the red carpet show.

Performers on the night include Miley Cyrus, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, 5 Seconds of Summer, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Derulo, Imagine Dragons, Luke Bryan, John Legend, OneRepublic, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. Presenters for the event include Jordin Sparks, Kelly Rowland, Pete Wentz and Wiz Khalifa, among others.

The BBMAs provide a high-profile launch pad for MJ’s posthumous album “Xscape,” which comes out May 13.

“Xscape” is eight tracks of Jackson vocals set to new music from Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, John McClain, J-Roc and Timbaland who is executive producer of the album. The originals they worked with were recorded from 1983 to 1999.

The first single from the album, “Love Never Felt So Good,” produced by MJ, John McClain, Giorgio Tuinfort and Paul Anka, was released last week. A duet version of “Love Never Felt So Good,” with Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake, produced by Timberlake, Timbaland and Jerome “J-Roc” Harmon, appeared soon after.

A second track, “Chicago,” hit the web earlier this week. “Chicago” is one of five tracks Timbaland oversaw on the album with his collaborator J-Roc.

For additional information on the 2014 Billboard Music Awards visit us at billboardmusicawards.com or the Billboard hub at billboard.com/bbma.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/e...nleash-world-premiere-experience-at-billboard
 
'Xscape' aims to bring Michael Jackson back to life

by GERRICK D. KENNEDY

On a recent afternoon in Hollywood, Michael Jackson&#8217;s voice could be heard throughout Marvin&#8217;s Room, the famed studio founded by Marvin Gaye that hosted the recording of many indelible hits.

As the song played on and Jackson's signature falsetto -- with its syncopated hiccups, stutters and fiery growls -- grew louder, a chill fell over the room, aided in part by the presence of Jackson's face, courtesy of a detailed mural that stretched across a nearby wall.

The song, a smoky, brass-heavy banger called &#8220;Blue Gangsta,&#8221; doesn&#8217;t sound like what he recorded here 15 years ago as part of the sessions for 2001&#8217;s &#8220;Invincible.&#8221; A sequel of sorts to Jackson's hit &#8220;Smooth Criminal,&#8221; the song was among a number of tracks that didn&#8217;t make the album.

Now, "Blue Gangsta" is complete, with the help of platinum hitmaker Timbaland as one of eight songs on the new posthumous release "Xscape," which is set for release May 13.

The album isn&#8217;t simply a collection of studio leftovers from a dusty archive. Instead, Epic Records' chairman and chief executive, L.A. Reid, had a different vision: new tracks built around decades-old, unreleased Jackson vocals.

&#8220;My guideline was Michael. It was a self-imposed rule that if Michael sang the song from beginning to end, many times, it was my indication that he loved the record,&#8221; Reid said. &#8220;There was no electronically or digitally recreating the magic. There was none of that.&#8221;

Jackson&#8217;s estate began combing through the late singer&#8217;s archives of unreleased material in 2012. The singer&#8217;s penchant for recording and revisiting tracks proved beneficial, as he left a robust collection of music behind when he died in 2009.

After being presented with more than 20 tracks, Reid zeroed in on a few standouts. Material was pulled from sometimes decades-old sessions for Jackson's &#8220;Dangerous,&#8221; &#8220;Bad&#8221; and &#8220;Invincible,&#8221; the last album he released. But "Xscape" sounds entirely current.

&#8220;Michael knew how to make records like nobody&#8217;s business,&#8221; said Jon Nettlesbey, a composer-producer-engineer who frequently worked with Jackson.

&#8220;Today we have a lot of toys that can fix things. [Michael] didn&#8217;t like to leave anything to chance. If something needed to be in tune, he would just sing it again. If he wanted a certain sound, he made sure it was in the DNA of the track. He made it foolproof.&#8221;

Timbaland was Reid&#8217;s first call -- &#8220;He&#8217;s my favorite producer alive,&#8221; Reid says -- and he worked on the bulk of the project with his longtime collaborator J-Roc. Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and John McClain (the former record executive who purchased and restored Marvin&#8217;s Room in the '90s and is co-executive of the Jackson estate) were also tapped to &#8220;contemporize&#8221; the hand-picked tracks.

Jerkins was originally commissioned by Jackson for &#8220;Invincible&#8221; in 1999 (they recorded together for three years), and he&#8217;s the sole producer to work with Jackson on both the source track and the new version. Jackson also was said to have had a strong desire to work with Norwegian hitmakers Stargate after hearing their work with Ne-Yo.

&#8220;Xscape&#8221; hopes to achieve what posthumous albums never can -- bring an artist back to life without tarnishing a legacy. &#8220;It was very tricky. I didn&#8217;t know how hard it would be,&#8221; Timbaland admitted.


&#8220;Love Never Felt So Good,&#8221; one of the album&#8217;s standouts, proves Jackson&#8217;s timelessness with the shimmering, disco-soul flourishes from &#8220;Off the Wall&#8221; that Pharrell and Justin Timberlake are currently harnessing (Timberlake also appears on the remix).

In Timbaland's hands, &#8220;Loving You,&#8221; which Jackson originally produced, revisits the singer&#8217;s glorious Motown days. Stargate meshed their Europop textures with the New Jack Swing sound Jackson was exploring in the '90s on &#8220;A Place With No Name.&#8221;

Timbaland also keeps Jackson on the dance floor with tracks such as &#8220;Chicago&#8221; and &#8220;Slave to the Rhythm,&#8221; which was originally produced by Reid and partner Kenneth &#8220;Babyface&#8221; Edmunds in 1989. Reid recalls feeling &#8220;insecure&#8221; about the original track.

&#8220;It was a tough project. At that time, Michael was on fire. Babyface and I were having an amazing run. For some reason when we went into the studio to write ... we struggled. We kept overshooting it,&#8221; Reid admitted. &#8220;We were so intimidated by it all. As a result, we weren&#8217;t that happy with what we came up with.&#8221;

&#8220;When you look up to somebody like Michael and he&#8217;s gone, it brings back all the feelings,&#8221; Timbaland added. &#8220;It was hard hearing the tracks and him not being there.

&#8220;I couldn&#8217;t do it right away. I had to walk away. It&#8217;s why I&#8217;ll probably never work on Aaliyah, because it&#8217;s too many memories. It's too much.&#8221;

Since Jackson&#8217;s death in 2009, the King of Pop has been in demand.

&#8220;This Is It,&#8221; the concert film that documented the rehearsals of a planned farewell tour, broke box-office records when it was released months after Jackson's death. A Cirque du Soleil production, &#8220;The Immortal World Tour,&#8221; became one of the top grossing tours of all time (the latest North American run launched in February).


Cirque revisited Jackson's discography for a second show, &#8220;One,&#8221; which set up a permanent residency at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last year. The pop star even anchored a sleek video game in 2010 with "Michael Jackson: The Experience."

Selling his music, however, has proved to be a more complicated task.

In 2010, the Michael Jackson estate and Sony Music struck a deal reportedly worth $250 million to issue 10 projects of original and reissue collections over seven years. While Jackson&#8217;s iconic catalog has sold 12.8 million albums since his death, according to Nielsen SoundScan, posthumous releases have yet to capture audiences.

&#8220;Michael,&#8221; a collection of unreleased material cobbled from tracks the singer was crafting in his final years, was released in late 2010, but the album was marred by controversy as critics, fans and even family members questioned the project.

Critics were also unkind to the remix album for "Immortal" and the dance remixes packaged with the anniversary box set of "Bad 25," which was released in 2012. Reid and the Jackson estate hope the new album can remedy those past missteps.


&#8220;I honestly felt that while there were many records released and many projects attempted, they lacked taste,&#8221; he said. &#8220;[This album] was all driven from the music. It wasn&#8217;t a project designed to make money, or get attention.&#8221;

So far, the response has been positive. During the recent iHeart Radio Music Awards, Reid introduced a flashy "performance" of "Love Never Felt So Good" that saw Usher and a crew of dancers perform to the song. It earned a standing ovation, and the song was streamed on YouTube more than 5.2 million times in its first week.

Timbaland believes the record will provide &#8220;closure&#8221; to fans (&#8220;We didn&#8217;t get that tour, so I think this could show what he would have done,&#8221; he says), and like Reid has no intention of spearheading a follow-up.


&#8220;Epic Records [is] the house that &#8216;Thriller&#8217; built, so I have a responsibility to Michael and his legacy. That&#8217;s what this project was," Timbaland said. "What I hope for in doing this project is that we defended his honor and remade the point that he was a great artist.&#8221;

Back at Marvin&#8217;s Room, Jackson is singing about the pressures of fame -- a topic he often visited -- on the powerful title track. It&#8217;s the album at its darkest and most prophetic. &#8220;When I go, this world won&#8217;t bother me no more,&#8221; he sings.

&#8220;Wait until the world hears &#8216;Xscape,&#8217; &#8221; Jackson told Jerkins as they worked on the track, a moment referenced in the record's liner notes.

Soon, the world will finally get a chance.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ckson-back-to-life-20140507-story.html#page=2
 



michaeljacksonVEVO has uploaded Michael Jackson - Michael Jackson's XSCAPE - The Collaborators Pt. 3
 
New Michael Jackson Song Backs Jeep Summer TV Campaign (Watch)
News /By Andy Gensler, New York | May 08, 2014 8:32 AM EDT
http://www.billboard.com/biz/articl...ep-summer-tv-campaign-love-never-felt-so-good

Today Epic Records and Jeep launched a global brand campaign for the car company&#8217;s Altitude Edition in which Michael Jackson&#8217;s new single &#8220;Love Never Felt So Good&#8221; is featured in four 30-second TV commercials. The campaign will air from today (May 8) and run through summer.

The track is from Jackson's second posthumous release &#8220;Xscape&#8221; (out May 13, Epic) and was co-written in 1983 by Michael Jackson in a session with Paul Anka (who played piano on the track) and Kathy Wakefield. Two new versions of the song were recorded: the one in the ad was produced by John McClain, co-executor of the Jackson estate with John Branca; and another helmed by the trio of Timbaland, J-Roc and Justin Timberlake in which JT duets with Michael debuted this week at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.


&#8232;The campaign's origin came in late-March when Epic chairman and CEO Antonio &#8220;LA&#8221; Reid played the album for Chrysler CMO Olivier Francois. &#8220;I played him almost every song,&#8221; Reid says. &#8220;When we played 'Love Never Felt So Good' he made the connection and went &#8216;Bingo! This was what I was looking for!'" Francois, for his part, says that when he first heard the track he got up off the couch in the Epic offices and started dancing and hopes the ad will have the same impact on consumers.
A former music producer and publisher, Francois is credited with rejuvenating Chrysler's music branding strategy with an impressive string of ads featuring major music placements. This includes Eminem&#8217;s two-minute Super Bowl ad for Chrysler; the new Fiat spot with Sean &#8220;Ciroc" Combs at a desert party while Pharrell Williams&#8217; &#8220;Happy&#8221; blares; and a previous ad for Jeep with Lenny Kravitz. Jackson, however, provides Francois a greater opportunity to take his work global.


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Michael Jackson's Back: How L.A. Reid Planned His 'Xscape' (Cover Story)When asked how big the spend would be on the new campaign Francois wouldn&#8217;t give an exact figure but said it would be bigger than the Diddy Fiat spot. According to Kantar Media, Fiat spent $17 million on measured U.S. media in the first three months of 2014, when the still-active Diddy campaign was just starting to roll out.

Jeep also hired multicultural ad agency GlobalHue for the creative who gave the commercial a summer-y outdoor feel. One ad is shot primarily at the beach, another is more World-Cup-friendly and shows celebratory Latin American soccer fans while another focuses on basketball and features Cleveland Cavalier point guard Kyrie Irving. That campaign was co-sponsored by USA Basketball, which holds global b-ball tournaments throughout summer. &#8232;
Nearly five years since Michael Jackson's unexpected passing, his brand shows little sign of flagging. Since his death on June 25, 2009, Jackson's albums have sold 12.8 million in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. His &#8220;This Is It&#8221; concert film grossed $261 million worldwide while "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour," a partnership between the Jackson estate and Cirque du Soleil, last year became the ninth-top-grossing tour of all time with earnings of $325.1 million from 407 shows drawing nearly 3 million concertgoers. A second Cirque du Soleil show, "One," began a residency at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last year.

Music from "[lexicon]Xscape[/lexicon]," according to Reid, will also be featured in ads by Xperia, a line smartphones and tablets by Sony, Epic&#8217;s parent company. The label chair said the ads will air outside of the U.S. He also confirmed that Pepsi, which has had a long-standing relationship with Jackson, has no immediate plans for a tie-in with this album. A video currently being filmed for the Timberlake version of &#8220;Love,&#8221; however, will feature one rather large product placement: a Jeep Altitude
 

Michael Jackson- Michael Jackson's Xscape- The Collaborators Part 4

Paul Anka gives his background about how he and MJ wrote "Love Never Felt So Good".
 
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