Estate-Sony Cotract 2010-2017

[OnirMJ]

Really, Best of Joy is from the mid 80s? I thought it was from 2008. I absolutely adore that song and would love to hear the Bad era version of it.

Released version is from 2008. Probably re-recorded. That is a fact. I knew that he recorded another version (different vocals) for the Dangerous album, but I didn't know he also recorded it before that.

 

[OnirMJ]

I love Messin Round as well. If I'm not wrong, the version released on Bad 25 is the Bad era version and that there is a more complete version still in the vaults? If yes, then I would love to hear it. I love that song.

That is correct. He worked on it for Dangerous album, I think HIStory also and again just before he died. So there are many versions of this song - more complete and less complete (from the Thriller era).

 

[Nite Line]

I want to hear the most complete version of Don't be Messin Round on the next posthumous album. From listening to the Bad 25 version, I can say that the song had serious potential and I'm interested to hear what MJ did with it afterwards. I would also like to hear the Best Of Joy version with the different vocals.

 

[TarinJade]

So, the contract was for 10 projects, and this is what I can recall for the time being. Forgive me if I've forgotten something obvious, I'm very groggy from lack of sleep.

1. This Is It
2. Immortal
3. One
4. Bad 25
5. Michael album
6. Xscape
7. MJ the Experience Game
8. Vision boxset
9 Bad 25 Spike Lee doc?
10.OTW Spike Lee doc?

 

[Nite Line]

So, the contract was for 10 projects, and this is what I can recall for the time being. Forgive me if I've forgotten something obvious, I'm very groggy from lack of sleep.

1. This Is It
2. Immortal
3. One
4. Bad 25
5. Michael album
6. Xscape
7. MJ the Experience Game
8. Vision boxset
9 Bad 25 Spike Lee doc?
10.OTW Spike Lee doc?

I'm not sure if the MJ experience game and Spike Lee documentaries count as part of the project.

 

[SmoothCriminal1995]

I want to hear the most complete version of Don't be Messin Round on the next posthumous album. From listening to the Bad 25 version, I can say that the song had serious potential and I'm interested to hear what MJ did with it afterwards. I would also like to hear the Best Of Joy version with the different vocals.

Me too. I forget where I read it, but the HIStory era was meant to be really funky with a heavy Latin influence and it's said to be much more complete.

 

[Nite Line]

Me too. I forget where I read it, but the HIStory era was meant to be really funky with a heavy Latin influence and it's said to be much more complete.

I want to hear some new MJ music so bad.

 

[RockOrBluesInNorway]

Dangerous 25?

lol, D25 is way out of range now...

 

[RockOrBluesInNorway]

I'm not sure if the MJ experience game and Spike Lee documentaries count as part of the project.

Don't think Immortal and One count ether though..

 

[Ms. BlueGangsta]

I want to hear some new MJ music so bad.

:lol:

 

[HIStoric]

So, the contract was for 10 projects, and this is what I can recall for the time being. Forgive me if I've forgotten something obvious, I'm very groggy from lack of sleep.

1. This Is It
2. Immortal
3. One
4. Bad 25
5. Michael album
6. Xscape
7. MJ the Experience Game
8. Vision boxset
9 Bad 25 Spike Lee doc?
10.OTW Spike Lee doc?

This Is It isn't included. The contract was signed after TII came out.

It's looking like this, I believe:

1. Michael (2010)
2. Vision (2010)
3. Michael Jackson: The Experience (2011) - possibly... I'm not too sure on this one.
4. Immortal, Show + CD (2011)
5. Bad 25, re-release + Spike Lee doco (2012)
6. The Indispensable Collection/The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection, iTunes exclusive (2013) Not too sure on this one again.
7. Michael Jackson: One (2013) Possibly counted alongside Immortal, but given it's a different project in it's own set location I imagine it's considered separate).
8. Xscape (2014)
9. Off the Wall, re-release + Spike Lee doco (2016)
10. ...

There is talks about that Thriller thing earlier this year so that could possibly fulfil it if this list is correct...

 

[RockOrBluesInNorway]

You're right but it kills me!! I need Joy, Stop Throwin' Your Life Away, Willing And Waiting, Angel, Men In Black and all the others...

Even if its only early demos of Liberian Girl (Pyramid Girl) I just need a new song/demo to obsess over. Although the new multitrack's are doing the job

Could you link me these new MT's? Can't find the link anywhere...

 

[SmoothCriminal1995]

Could you link me these new MT's? Can't find the link anywhere...

I meant the Multitrack acappella's that have leaked recently. They're all on youtube, Billie Jean, Jam, WDAN, SOOML...

 

[mjprince1976]

I agree, Pyramid girl was probably some journalist who got confused over the new songs at a time when Thriller was still the latest album and everyone was waiting for Bad to drop. This was probably early 1987 (Originally Bad was to be released in March or May of 1987), yet it did not drop until late August and even then it was because the Japanese tour was so ominent.

I think people are put off by releases for several reasons.
1. The disputed tracks on Michael with Cascio vocals left a very sour taste which has tainted later releases
2. Worried about the role of shit hop producers like Timbaland, Pharell and others with them and so called Parappas interrupting songs with raps of various degree of doggerel.
3. Repackagings of previous released material, Bad25 was nice and same with OFTW 2016, but how many times do you need to buy the same albums over and over again.
4. Dubious and poor quality releases like ICON and Cirk de whatever.
5. Most of Michael's better vault songs are out or possibly don't exist anymore.

 

[ChrisC]

I think people are put off by releases for several reasons.
1. The disputed tracks on Michael with Cascio vocals left a very sour taste which has tainted later releases
2. Worried about the role of shit hop producers like Timbaland, Pharell and others with them and so called Parappas interrupting songs with raps of various degree of doggerel.
3. Repackagings of previous released material, Bad25 was nice and same with OFTW 2016, but how many times do you need to buy the same albums over and over again.

Yep.

Edit: Were there not hints/rumours of another Estate project this year? Aside from the Thriller one. Did somebody not make reference to a DVD release of MJ's best performances or something like that?

 

[pembertonmxr]

I'm glad the contract ends this year. They should set up a collectors label

 

[OnirMJ]

I'm glad the contract ends this year. They should set up a collectors label

They should, but they won't. They'll just sign another 10 years deal for $250 MIL.

 

[AlwaysThere]

They should, but they won't. They'll just sign another 10 years deal for $250 MIL.

The only way this would happen would be if the projects released through the initial contract were commercial juggernauts and made obscene amounts of money. Many of them were successful, but not enough to warrant another equal deal.

If another contract is to be signed, I'll bet money it'll be for much, much less.

 

[MJTruth]

You're right there. The next deal won't equal the last - nobody made enough money from the last releases. There isn't much useable material in the vault and it's likely the estate will only be offered one off deals from now on imo. Not even a massive success with the next thriller release will persuade a company to sign a massive multi project deal.

 

[AlwaysThere]

There isn't much useable material in the vault

I'm not sure why people still believe this. There's plenty of usable material left to release.

Bare minimum, there are sixteen songs with full vocals that were kept off of XSCAPE. Let's also not forget the dozen or so tracks that have been available online for years ("Hot Street," "If You Don't Love Me," "I Am a Loser," "Elizabeth, I Love You"), or the various titles that have been confirmed to exist with complete/nearly complete vocals ("Get Your Weight Off Me," "Neverland Landing," "Wonderful World of Candy," "Throwing Your Life Away"), or early/alternate versions of songs we've already heard ("What More Can I Give," "Someone Put Your Hand Down," "Don't Be Messin' 'Round," "The Toy").

That isn't taking into consideration the material with partial/no vocals that many of us would still love to hear ("H2O," "Shut Up and Dance," "Ghost of Another Lover," "Changes"). And that isn't taking into consideration the dozens of titles that we know nothing about ("D.I.E.," "Lucy is in Love with Linus," "Red Eye," "Craze"). And THAT isn't taking into consideration the titles we know NOTHING about yet.

In short, there most certainly is material left for us to hear. Certainly not the 250 songs that we thought existed way back in 2009, but more than enough for years of posthumous projects. It's the Estate's move whether or not it ever comes out though.

 

[OnirMJ]

The only way this would happen would be if the projects released through the initial contract were commercial juggernauts and made obscene amounts of money. Many of them were successful, but not enough to warrant another equal deal.

If another contract is to be signed, I'll bet money it'll be for much, much less.

The key is the back catalogue. It always was. It always will be. Not the unreleased material. The unreleased materail is just to spotlight the back catalogue and to remind people, it's marketing. And if Estate go to another record company, the back catalogue is coming with them and I doubt Sony would allow that even if that costs them another $250 MIL spread through 10 years.

 

[Nite Line]

I'm not sure why people still believe this. There's plenty of usable material left to release.

Bare minimum, there are sixteen songs with full vocals that were kept off of XSCAPE. Let's also not forget the dozen or so tracks that have been available online for years ("Hot Street," "If You Don't Love Me," "I Am a Loser," "Elizabeth, I Love You"), or the various titles that have been confirmed to exist with complete/nearly complete vocals ("Get Your Weight Off Me," "Neverland Landing," "Wonderful World of Candy," "Throwing Your Life Away"), or early/alternate versions of songs we've already heard ("What More Can I Give," "Someone Put Your Hand Down," "Don't Be Messin' 'Round," "The Toy").

That isn't taking into consideration the material with partial/no vocals that many of us would still love to hear ("H2O," "Shut Up and Dance," "Ghost of Another Lover," "Changes"). And that isn't taking into consideration the dozens of titles that we know nothing about ("D.I.E.," "Lucy is in Love with Linus," "Red Eye," "Craze"). And THAT isn't taking into consideration the titles we know NOTHING about yet.

In short, there most certainly is material left for us to hear. Certainly not the 250 songs that we thought existed way back in 2009, but more than enough for years of posthumous projects. It's the Estate's move whether or not it ever comes out though.

Well said. I believe there is enough material for three solo MJ albums and probably enough for two duets albums.

 

[HIStoric]

I'm not sure why people still believe this. There's plenty of usable material left to release.

Bare minimum, there are sixteen songs with full vocals that were kept off of XSCAPE. Let's also not forget the dozen or so tracks that have been available online for years ("Hot Street," "If You Don't Love Me," "I Am a Loser," "Elizabeth, I Love You"), or the various titles that have been confirmed to exist with complete/nearly complete vocals ("Get Your Weight Off Me," "Neverland Landing," "Wonderful World of Candy," "Throwing Your Life Away"), or early/alternate versions of songs we've already heard ("What More Can I Give," "Someone Put Your Hand Down," "Don't Be Messin' 'Round," "The Toy").

That isn't taking into consideration the material with partial/no vocals that many of us would still love to hear ("H2O," "Shut Up and Dance," "Ghost of Another Lover," "Changes"). And that isn't taking into consideration the dozens of titles that we know nothing about ("D.I.E.," "Lucy is in Love with Linus," "Red Eye," "Craze"). And THAT isn't taking into consideration the titles we know NOTHING about yet.

In short, there most certainly is material left for us to hear. Certainly not the 250 songs that we thought existed way back in 2009, but more than enough for years of posthumous projects. It's the Estate's move whether or not it ever comes out though.

I think there's material... question is just whether it's of reasonable enough quality to release. I probably don't want more than one more posthumous album in the style of Michael/Xscape. I think if we go beyond that, we'll start to end up having a 2Pac Situation. Hell, I wouldn't be upset if we didn't get another album in that style, just because Xscape set the bar reasonably high for a posthumous release so why not keep that standard up there?

As for those barely touched songs like Days In Gloucestershire, Ghost of Another Lover etc, they wouldn't fit on an album to the style of Michael/Xscape. They're far too unfinished, so I think they'd fit best on an album that was in the style of The Beatles Anthology, which was essentially a collection of alternative takes, demos and unreleased songs. Those songs would fit in better as we could have them alongside scatter versions of songs we already know and love, so it wouldn't feel out of place. It would also give us a glimpse into how the genius worked as well!

 

[Korgnex]

There are enough finished tracks and tracks with full vocals for several albums. But the MJ Estate will most likely not release anything from now on for a longer period of time, to save some of that material for decades to come.

As Onir pointed out, the contract is mostly about the back catalogue, it has always been. Sony and the MJ Estate are going to expand or renew it as there's still money coming from MJ's many released things. People who say the 250 million deal would have been a loss for Sony, are underestimating how Sony are getting their cut already from royalties for the old classics alone.

Since the music business has drastically decreased in profitability, new music is not a priority though.

 

[smoothvillain]

Lawsuits and royalties are delaying if not halting the release of more music. Michael collaborated with so many people that unless they only release his rough demos he did by himself they would be paying way too much money for very little gain.

The estate even said they had plans of including bonus material for Off The Wall way back when, but the Quincy Jones lawsuit was still going on.

 

[Nite Line]

A new album of unreleased material won't likely come out till the end of next year at the very least.

 

[AlwaysThere]

I think there's material... question is just whether it's of reasonable enough quality to release. I probably don't want more than one more posthumous album in the style of Michael/Xscape. I think if we go beyond that, we'll start to end up having a 2Pac Situation. Hell, I wouldn't be upset if we didn't get another album in that style, just because Xscape set the bar reasonably high for a posthumous release so why not keep that standard up there?

As for those barely touched songs like Days In Gloucestershire, Ghost of Another Lover etc, they wouldn't fit on an album to the style of Michael/Xscape. They're far too unfinished, so I think they'd fit best on an album that was in the style of The Beatles Anthology, which was essentially a collection of alternative takes, demos and unreleased songs. Those songs would fit in better as we could have them alongside scatter versions of songs we already know and love, so it wouldn't feel out of place. It would also give us a glimpse into how the genius worked as well!

Couldn't agree more, particularly with the second paragraph. A project like Anthology (or a second edition of The Ultimate Collection) would be the perfect place to empty the vault of those half-finished songs or early demos.

That's one reason why I advocate leaking songs from that mold: there are very few ways to release that sort of music, and the estate has already acknowledged that they probably won't be releasing more music for the foreseeable future.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

A new album of unreleased material won't likely come out till the end of next year at the very least.

I think they'll probably hold off until June of 2019, honoring the tenth anniversary of his passing. Hard to believe its almost been that long...

 

[madmijack]

I think they'll probably hold off until June of 2019, honoring the tenth anniversary of his passing. Hard to believe its almost been that long...

How about 2018? MJ's 60th birthday anniversary?

 

[madmijack]

Yep.

Edit: Were there not hints/rumours of another Estate project this year? Aside from the Thriller one. Did somebody not make reference to a DVD release of MJ's best performances or something like that?

Just in your dreams, sorry, no...