Michael Jackson - 'Loving You' Next Single Rumors

[Zakk]

My opinion:

2nd - APWNN - July
3rd - Loving You - September
4th - Slave - November
5th - Chicago - February 2015

New single every 2 months. With decent short film of course, remixes and maybe even guest vocalists or featurings from rappers like Jay-Z.

Xscape project should end this year. There's still 4 projects to come, which means at least two in one year! this can't fill up that much time... release APWNN & Loving You, then leave the project in December.. or late October at the earliest.

 

[OnirMJ]

Xscape project should end this year. There's still 4 projects to come, which means at least two in one year! this can't fill up that much time... release APWNN & Loving You, then leave the project in December.. or late October at the earliest.

I disagree. This was their biggest project/investment. Other 4 releases will not be as big as this. I'm quite certain it will be Off The Wall re-release, HIStory World Tour blu-ray, one more album of previously unreleased material (like MICHAEL & Xscape) & Greatest hits/box-set type compilation with greatest hits and greatest posthumous hits (like Billie Jean, Hollywood & Slave all on one disc) maybe with few demos - like TUC.

So I would promote the shit out of Xscape until April/May of 2015 - exactly 1 year. Then release Off The Wall re-release in November of 2015 (it doesn't have to be anniversary). HIStory blu-ray with 3D theatre release in May of 2016. The new album in late 2016 - again promote the shit out of it until late 2017 and at the end of the year/end of the contract (although I think they will sign a new deal by then) release Greatest hits box set.

 

[SmoothCriminal1995]

Xscape has to be a single it's boss ! It will play everywhere if promoted right.

 

[Zakk]

I disagree. This was their biggest project/investment. Other 4 releases will not be as big as this. I'm quite certain it will be Off The Wall re-release, HIStory World Tour blu-ray, one more album of previously unreleased material (like MICHAEL & Xscape) & Greatest hits/box-set type compilation with greatest hits and greatest posthumous hits (like Billie Jean, Hollywood & Slave all on one disc) maybe with few demos - like TUC.

So I would promote the shit out of Xscape until April/May of 2015 - exactly 1 year. Then release Off The Wall re-release in November of 2015 (it doesn't have to be anniversary). HIStory blu-ray with 3D theatre release in May of 2016. The new album in late 2016 - again promote the shit out of it until late 2017 and at the end of the year/end of the contract (although I think they will sign a new deal by then) release Greatest hits box set.

No HWT Blu-Ray, wouldn't sell anything. BAD Tour is in full, in HD in there archive i guarantee you! that's the tour that most deserves a High Def release.. fact.

 

[OnirMJ]

No HWT Blu-Ray, wouldn't sell anything. BAD Tour is in full, in HD in there archive i guarantee you! that's the tour that most deserves a High Def release.. fact.

You don't have to tell me that. But I guarantee you that they won't release the concert from the same tour with the same setlist as they released 2 years ago. They don't care if it's blu-ray or VHS.

HIStory Tour will happen and it deserves to be released. Also knowing how Estate are cheap when it comes to investing in Michael's releases and art, they will never pay for film transfer which is expensive. They have HIStory already mixed for release in 1997, in HD and not on film.

 

[donalb]

Xscape project should end this year. There's still 4 projects to come, which means at least two in one year! this can't fill up that much time... release APWNN & Loving You, then leave the project in December.. or late October at the earliest.

With the way the promotion is going, Oct/Nov seems very possible now which is very unfortunate in my opinion. Based on the mostly positive reviews from critics and fans, this album was the perfect opportunity to help set up future products (especially involving unreleased material). Due to the somewhat mediocre performance in the US so far, some will write off the project as a failure and may be more inclined to view future releases as less relevant which may not have been the case if this album had performed better in terms of sales. Hopefully, things will change in the near future but I get the sense that they are already looking past this project which is sad in my opinion. It could have been so much more with a more coherent promotion and marketing strategy. Ultimately, the public should decide when a project is "done" based on their purchases and support. This depends on the marketing strategy of the artist/record company in terms of the single releases, performances, videos, general promotion, etc., The end date should not be be predefined as it is sometimes difficult to evaluate which songs/performances will catch fire with the public and help to propel the album to another level. Imagine if they had decided to tail back the promotion of Thriller following the moderate success of 'The Girl is Mine"? If so, perhaps the album may not have been as successful as it was. Of course this was an amazing album, but it also benefitted from the steady promotion, ground breaking videos, performances, etc., to take it to another level. In the end, it was the public who decided when the project was done not the record company

 

[HIStory]

I do not understand why some fans act like Xscape is a flop, "failure". Fans really should put things into a perspective. How albums usually sell these days. The fact that it's a posthumus album etc. Of course, it's not going to sell like it's the hit record of a currently hot band. If you keep measuring it to such albums you will always end up being disappointed and feel like it's a flop. But IMO it's a successful release, not a "failure". A flop and a "failure" is like Mariah Carey's latest album, not Xscape.

We always complain about the "curse of Thriller", how the media considers everything a flop after Thriller just because it did not sell that many copies, but sometimes fans behave the same way. If it's not Nr. 1. it's considered a "failure", no matter the realities of a posthumus release.

 

[Paris78]

fanmade...but looking good.

 

[Doggone]

fanmade...but looking good.

Daaaaaayyum! That looks good! This should be the single cover!

 

[donalb]

I do not understand why some fans act like Xscape is a flop, "failure". Fans really should put things into a perspective. How albums usually sell these days. The fact that it's a posthumus album etc. Of course, it's not going to sell like it's the hit record of a currently hot band. If you keep measuring it to such albums you will always end up being disappointed and feel like it's a flop. But IMO it's a successful release, not a "failure". A flop and a "failure" is like Mariah Carey's latest album, not Xscape.

We always complain about the "curse of Thriller", how the media considers everything a flop after Thriller just because it did not sell that many copies, but sometimes fans behave the same way. If it's not Nr. 1. it's considered a "failure", no matter the realities of a posthumus release.

I fully agree with you. The worldwide sales are very respectable so far given all of the reasons you listed. In fact, it is already amongst the best sellers released in 2014 (number 11 at last count, i believe). Still, the album has sold less than 500,000 copies so far in the US which is the minimum for gold status. As a result, some critics/ public may eventually come to view the album as a failure in the US market if the sales continue to decline/ stall. Personally, I do not feel this way but way but some others might. It's one thing for Ciara to have these kind of sales. But for Michael Jackson? This perception of the album as a commercial failure in the US could jeopardize other projects to follow because some might view Michael as no longer relevant in the US market. This is why more promotion/singles are needed in my opinion, especially given the outstanding quality of the album

 

[OnirMJ]

In my opinion it's like US football team last night. They lost but they fought like lions. Croatia team of rich superstars played like a bunch of old ladies. No matter if the result/sales are poor. Keep doing the good fight. And at the end we'll count money. They made shitloads of money from Immortal Tour and they won't invest in Michael Jackson's art. I'm dissapointed in Epic and LA Reid because of the poor promotion. The album is great. I don't blame general public, fans were great. I hate the haters and boycotters who had their hands in this. But the main problem is Epic and LA Reid promotion. They started to count money too early and when they saw that they will make less money than they thought, they backed down and stopped investing in promotion.

If they gave everything that's in their power like US team yesterday and sold half than they've sold now making it biggest flop of the year, I would be happy. Because I would know that they are here for Michael Jackson's art, not his money. Again they didn't support him enough, his own record label.

 

[ManuMJ]

I expected A Place With No Name

 

[Tygger]

Well I'm obviously talking about STTR being released as an official second single and the hologram possibly being used to create an official music video. And now we learn that a DJ in Hong Kong has received an official CD single of STTR, which may support my theory. But it's just a theory, so we should agree to disagree, it ain't such a big thing.

As you wish. The fact remains STTR charted as a single mostly because of the streams of VV's performance. If anyone has scrapped the idea of doing that officially, it is Estate/Sony because they decided to do it unofficially. Fans who did not appreciate VV's image being promoted as Michael cannot be blamed for Estate/Sony's choices.

 

[HIStory]

They started to count money too early and when they saw that they will make less money than they thought, they backed down and stopped investing in promotion.

Some fans now make statements about how the Estate/Sony stopped promoting the album because it did not sell like they expected. Now some fans talk about this as a fact, when in reality it's just their assassment and opinion of the situation. We do not really know why they "stopped promoting". In fact, it could be just the opposite: they saw that the album had staying power on the charts, so they did not feel the need. Or it it could just be simply a bad promotion strategy where too much of the budget was spent on the hologram and there were no other things planned. I'm critical of this promotion strategy too, but what I do not like is when fans pretend to know what the reasons are and then start to treat their opinions as facts. In reality we do not know the reason for this promotion strategy (or lack of it), nor do we know what kind of sales Sony expected from this album and whether it's a disappointment to them or not in an era where the whole industry is struggling to sell albums. World wide it's the 12th (or so) best selling album of the year so far and even in the US, where according to some of you "it didn't sell well" it's the 17th best selling album of the year so far. If you think that MJ should automatically be Nr 1. just because of his name - even with posthumus material - you may consider that a disappointment. But how much more you can expect from a posthumus album with basically re-worked demos/unfinished material with the artist not being here? And then do not forget the effect the album had on MJ's back catalogue (I think there are three or four MJ albums charting this week on Billboard and Bad is charting in the UK etc.).

I just cannot imagine Sony gave up on the album because of "lack of sales" so early on. I mean the promotion lasted basically one week after release and then nothing. Despite of that the album had pretty good staying power on the charts. How can they then blame "lack of sales" when they did nothing to boost those sales? I think the general public enjoys this album a lot more than they did "Michael". I have seen lots of comments from casual fans or non-fans saying they like this or that song that they heard from the album. While I heared hardly anyone talk about the "Michael" album outside of the fandom. So it does have lots of potential. Why give up on the album before they even show the world that potential? To me it just doesn't make sense.

 

[analogue]

My opinion

2nd single - A Place With No Name
3rd Single - Loving You or Chicago
4th Single - Xscape

 

[analogue]

Also JT helped LNFSG a lot! McClain version wouldn't chart at all. If they plan to have Beyonce on Loving You that would be different. But why have a duet when we can have solo MJ hit?

They better not think about having Beyonce or some other modern female singer on Loving You. Cause that would prove what I've always suspected. They have no confidence in MJ to have a successful single on his own

 

[OnirMJ]

Some fans now make statements about how the Estate/Sony stopped promoting the album because it did not sell like they expected. Now some fans talk about this as a fact, when in reality it's just their assassment and opinion of the situation. We do not really know why they "stopped promoting". In fact, it could be just the opposite: they saw that the album had staying power on the charts, so they did not feel the need. Or it it could just be simply a bad promotion strategy where too much of the budget was spent on the hologram and there were no other things planned. I'm critical of this promotion strategy too, but what I do not like is when fans pretend to know what the reasons are and then start to treat their opinions as facts. In reality we do not know the reason for this promotion strategy (or lack of it), nor do we know what kind of sales Sony expected from this album and whether it's a disappointment to them or not in an era where the whole industry is struggling to sell albums. World wide it's the 12th (or so) best selling album of the year so far and even in the US, where according to some of you "it didn't sell well" it's the 17th best selling album of the year so far. If you think that MJ should automatically be Nr 1. just because of his name - even with posthumus material - you may consider that a disappointment. But how much more you can expect from a posthumus album with basically re-worked demos/unfinished material with the artist not being here? And then do not forget the effect the album had on MJ's back catalogue (I think there are three or four MJ albums charting this week on Billboard and Bad is charting in the UK etc.).

I just cannot imagine Sony gave up on the album because of "lack of sales" so early on. I mean the promotion lasted basically one week after release and then nothing. Despite of that the album had pretty good staying power on the charts. How can they then blame "lack of sales" when they did nothing to boost those sales? I think the general public enjoys this album a lot more than they did "Michael". I have seen lots of comments from casual fans or non-fans saying they like this or that song that they heard from the album. While I heared hardly anyone talk about the "Michael" album outside of the fandom. So it does have lots of potential. Why give up on the album before they even show the world that potential? To me it just doesn't make sense.

"We’re only just getting started!".

That was after "hologram". And since then there was absolutely no promotion. So either they didn't "start" yet or they backed down from promoting it.

 

[OnirMJ]

They better not think about having Beyonce or some other modern female singer on Loving You. Cause that would prove what I've always suspected. They have no confidence in MJ to have a successful single on his own

Loving You can not be a successful single on its own. Only guest vocalist can help. That's why I said why have a duet when we can have solo MJ hit? Release APWNN, Chicago or Slave. Those songs are strong enough to chart on its own.

 

[john13th]

As you wish. The fact remains STTR charted as a single mostly because of the streams of VV's performance. If anyone has scrapped the idea of doing that officially, it is Estate/Sony because they decided to do it unofficially. Fans who did not appreciate VV's image being promoted as Michael cannot be blamed for Estate/Sony's choices.

What/who is VV? What does it stand for?

 

[serendipity]

As you wish. The fact remains STTR charted as a single mostly because of the streams of VV's performance. If anyone has scrapped the idea of doing that officially, it is Estate/Sony because they decided to do it unofficially. Fans who did not appreciate VV's image being promoted as Michael cannot be blamed for Estate/Sony's choices.

Not blaming anyone. Just thinking it is a possibility they might have scrapped the idea due to the fans feedback.

 

[analogue]

I would love to see the original version of Do You Know Where Your Children Are released as a single. Sadly that will never happen, or if they do release it as a single they'll end up using the inferior 2014 version.

 

[CrazyVegasMJ]

God please no single release of DYKWYCA!

Just. No.

 

[DanGerouS-]

God please no single release of DYKWYCA!

Just. No.

well, it could be even likely xD
i mean, they keep on releasing his 80s stuff only anyway. LNFSG, LY and the last will be DYKWYCA.

all his later work, gets dismissed as usual.

 

[donalb]

Some fans now make statements about how the Estate/Sony stopped promoting the album because it did not sell like they expected. Now some fans talk about this as a fact, when in reality it's just their assassment and opinion of the situation. We do not really know why they "stopped promoting". In fact, it could be just the opposite: they saw that the album had staying power on the charts, so they did not feel the need. Or it it could just be simply a bad promotion strategy where too much of the budget was spent on the hologram and there were no other things planned. I'm critical of this promotion strategy too, but what I do not like is when fans pretend to know what the reasons are and then start to treat their opinions as facts. In reality we do not know the reason for this promotion strategy (or lack of it), nor do we know what kind of sales Sony expected from this album and whether it's a disappointment to them or not in an era where the whole industry is struggling to sell albums. World wide it's the 12th (or so) best selling album of the year so far and even in the US, where according to some of you "it didn't sell well" it's the 17th best selling album of the year so far. If you think that MJ should automatically be Nr 1. just because of his name - even with posthumus material - you may consider that a disappointment. But how much more you can expect from a posthumus album with basically re-worked demos/unfinished material with the artist not being here? And then do not forget the effect the album had on MJ's back catalogue (I think there are three or four MJ albums charting this week on Billboard and Bad is charting in the UK etc.).

I just cannot imagine Sony gave up on the album because of "lack of sales" so early on. I mean the promotion lasted basically one week after release and then nothing. Despite of that the album had pretty good staying power on the charts. How can they then blame "lack of sales" when they did nothing to boost those sales? I think the general public enjoys this album a lot more than they did "Michael". I have seen lots of comments from casual fans or non-fans saying they like this or that song that they heard from the album. While I heared hardly anyone talk about the "Michael" album outside of the fandom. So it does have lots of potential. Why give up on the album before they even show the world that potential? To me it just doesn't make sense.

Thank you for the post. I just saw the post from Serendipity in the Charts thread regarding the top selling albums in the US. I was a bit surprised, to be honest. Only one album (Frozen) has sold more than a million copies so far. Although the sales for Xscape may not be what we were hoping for in the US so far, the album has done relatively well in relation to the other cd's that were released a lot earlier such as Bruno Mars and Katy Perry. CD's sales are definitely not what they used to be. Based on these results, it would be impossible for anyone to call the album a failure based on either the US or Worlwide sales even if it doesn't sell another copy. It is already a success

 

[analogue]

God please no single release of DYKWYCA!

Just. No.

Why not? The original version is a great song

 

[EmCeeSquared]

Loving You can not be a successful single on its own. Only guest vocalist can help. That's why I said why have a duet when we can have solo MJ hit? Release APWNN, Chicago or Slave. Those songs are strong enough to chart on its own.

I'd put Loving You ahead of those songs you listed. It's definitely more approachable, at least. Though if we're going for sound variety then, as someone mentioned previously, Slave to the Rhythm or APWNN should be next.

 

[OnirMJ]

Thank you for the post. I just saw the post from Serendipity in the Charts thread regarding the top selling albums in the US. I was a bit surprised, to be honest. Only one album (Frozen) has sold more than a million copies so far. Although the sales for Xscape may not be what we were hoping for in the US so far, the album has done relatively well in relation to the other cd's that were released a lot earlier such as Bruno Mars and Katy Perry. CD's sales are definitely not what they used to be. Based on these results, it would be impossible for anyone to call the album a failure based on either the US or Worlwide sales even if it doesn't sell another copy. It is already a success

Bruno Mars and Katy Perry released their albums last year and sold great. Bruno had best selling album worldwide last year - 4 MIL! and 2nd best selling in US with more than 2 MIL.

 

[SmoothCriminal1995]

I can see why people don't agree with it being the next single (80's theme, love theme) but it's a great song, if promoted right it could be solid radio hit. I would have taken it over LNFSG as lead single. As for people saying it needs a guest vocalist, no offence but that's a silly move because the public see it as Michael can't get a hit on his own. Maybe not a great choice for next single, but we need to get behind it, if it is, and show the world that Michael is still the greatest artist ever !!!

 

[Zakk]

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Post by Xscape.

Just saw this, i am excited to see what they will do about the short film! glad they have sent it to worldwide radio stations already, i love the song.. hope people in the general public do also.

 

[HIStory]

What is a "bridging single"?

ETA: Nevermind. Just saw the explanation in the post above. Thanks.