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The Estate of Michael Jackson enters partnership with Sony Mobile

Pop Justice
A ‘new’ Michael Jackson song features on a mobile phone advert

Story filed by Brad O'Mance on February 24, 2014
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It looks like that mooted new Michael Jackson album project might be getting off the ground again thanks to a Sony Xperia Z2 smartphone.

A previously unreleased Michael Jackson song, ‘Slave 2 The Rhythm’ – which you might remember leaked as a duet with Justin Bieber last summer - apparently features on the advert for the new phone, with people that buy the phone also getting “something special” to do with Jackson’s music.

Perhaps an album of offcuts or newly updated songs featuring Justin Bieber and Timbaland?

Apparently new information is coming out in the next few weeks so we’ll know the


Source: http://www.popjustice.com/thenews/a...n-a-mobile-phone-advert/124709/#ixzz2uNFS2cRg


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Sony working with Michael Jackson on 'special' Xperia Z2 smartphone launch

Sony has announced that it has worked with the estate of Michael Jackson on the launch of its new Xperia Z2 smartphone.

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An advert for the handset featuring Jackson's unreleased track 'Slave 2 The Rhythm' was shown to press at MWC.

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© Sony Sony Xperia Z2 phone


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© PA Images Michael Jackson

Sony Xperia Z2 hands-on preview: The best phone from Sony yet

The song was worked on during Jackson's Dangerous sessions and completed in 1998, before leaking onto the internet in 2010. A version featuring vocals from Justin Bieber emerged online in August 2013.

Buyers of the smartphone are reportedly being treated to 'something special' around Jackson's music.

What exactly it is remains to be seen, but given Sony Music's ties with Jackson's current music library, it is possible users will see tracks bundled with the device.

The smartphone is unique in that it features a digital noise canceling processor in the handset, providing improved sound quality in noisy environments with its included headphones.

Sony has promised more information on the Michael Jackson news over the coming weeks.


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/news...peria-z2-smartphone-launch.html#ixzz2uNGJTXGj



 
serendipity said:
The Estate's job is to make money and keep introducing MJ to new generations. You don't have to buy anything they sell. You have all the great music MJ has given us.
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Couldn't agree with you more!

The Estate is doing a great job and this is such a clever marketing strategy.
I do not doubt for a second that the kids will also discover the real MJ.

Thank you all for your highly interesting discussion. A posthumous release is always a very controversial topic.
 
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More information in the coming weeks??

That's waiting too long. - If they wait weeks before they announce something all the hype and exitement from the SONY commercial will have died out...

They need to act fast when the commercial is still getting attention!!
 
^ The only question is WHEN this ad is going to pop in commercial channels and all... Did they start marketing the phone or it's just an internet or a smartphone-geeks' thing now... Has anyone seen it on TV already?
 
Hess said:
More information in the coming weeks??

That's waiting too long. - If they wait weeks before they announce something all the hype and exitement from the SONY commercial will have died out...

They need to act fast when the commercial is still getting attention!!
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i couldn't agree more, i hope the announcement come's by next week.. it's possible the unreleased remixes were built into the new phone so people may already have some of the remixes now..
 
Zakk said:
i couldn't agree more, i hope the announcement come's by next week.. it's possible the unreleased remixes were built into the new phone so people may already have some of the remixes now..
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No, because Sony Xperia Z2 will have premiere in march :)
 
Sephiroth820 said:
No, because Sony Xperia Z2 will have premiere in march :)
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that is when the possible album campaign will begin then? it looks they are following the same road as they did with bad 25.. we'll see what happens, but it seems possible right now :)
 
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I think when Z2 will premiere, Sony will release new single with exclusive pre-release on Xperia Z2, or maybe people who buy this mobile will have new album faster and for free ?

Who know's, but this is a good promotion :)
 
The Estate Of Michael Jackson, did a great job with this campaign. On the new album, It would be good to have like 1-2 remixes and the rest demos/songs that were completed when Michael was still alive.
 
very much excited for the announcement, hope it comes sooner rather than later.
 
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SoCav said:
Yes, his legacy is safe, but that does not mean that the Estate should not make the best out of the situation right now. That's what their job is. And just because through all his hard work during his lifetime Michael's legacy is safe, that does not mean that it could not be enhanced by excellent posthumous releases. And you can argue about what the best way to go about that is. Some people feel reproducing his demos with a contemporary sound so that he can score a #1 hit is best. I for one think that that approach in the long run will simply reinforce the idea that Michael was a hit machine, whereas other types of releases could pave the way for a long overdue reassessment of his skills as a songwriter and singer.


Hopefully that rumour about the second disc is indeed true. I think that would please a lot of fans. But even then, you can of course debate what the best approach to posthumous releases is (without getting angry of course ;)).


Sure, but you can make money in the short term and in the long term. Again, it is up for debate which strategy works best - not just in the sense of respecting Michael's artistic integrity, but also in the financial sense.


Well, these are subjective experiences. A friend of mine who is not a bigtime fan told me he found Hollywood Tonight 'tacky', but enthusiastically inquired what the names of Price of Fame and Al Capone were.


It is, but I find this a strange line of reasoning when it comes to assessing the Estate's releases. Similarly, I do not see the point in referring to awful posthumous of other artists (as if to say "look, fans of these artists got crappy stuff too") instead of looking to examples of other artists' whose estates have released excellent products as a way to look toward the future.
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dam2040 said:
I just love to see Michael Jackson's music used so positively.
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This is my question though. If it's just Michael's voice over someone else's backing track that he never heard in his life, is it really Michael's music?
 
WildStyle said:
This is my question though. If it's just Michael's voice over someone else's backing track that he never heard in his life, is it really Michael's music?
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I actually thought about that after I posted it.

The answer is no. This isn't Michael Jackson's music, it's a remix. It's all going to be a remix from now on. I think it would be better to say it's good to see "Michael Jackson" shown in such a positive light. I definitely agree with the point you made, it can't be Michael's music if he's never heard it. Like a Michelangelo piece being his if he's never seen the full thing himself - it doesn't quite work.
 
That's why if we had the latest versions as Michael left them, we'd have indeed HIS music. I'm not against to have the remixes in the album, unless we only had those. 2 CDs would be the best option IMO.
 
Everyone is so set on two CD's. Why get your hopes up if we don't get it.
I think we should accept what is given to us, the Estate are trying hard this time around.
Who knows how many more albums we will get.
 
I got no problem with some MJ demo's being updated so that they will get radio play. All I want is for them to still sound like Michael Jackson songs
 
Even if MJ heard it, it's still gonna be someone else doing a remix. To me it's not much difference, it's just a remix. Take it or leave it.
 
analogue said:
I got no problem with some MJ demo's being updated so that they will get radio play. All I want is for them to still sound like Michael Jackson songs
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And you all know how Michael Jackson would have sounded in 2014?

I for one know that Michael Jackson wouldn't sound like 2009, or like 2004 / 1999, or even like 1989 in the Year of 2014!

He unfortunately can't do the job, so somebody else got to do it!
 
Then the next thing: Now guys have hopes that what we hear in the xperia ad is just a special remix for that one purpose.

I would not expect that. Rather believe that this is the (let's call it main version) mix as we'll hear it on the album. Of course it's edited & mostly instrumental to fit the ad. But for now we should assume that this is the Main Version, presented to the public. If we get the demo as a bonus, that is a completely different thing. But this is the Mix which was worked on by Timbaland & you can be shure that he didn't do a special ad jingle or that his album version will Sound drastically different to what we'll hear in the ad.

Now that's my personal opinion, but this is more reasonable than what i see in some posts, where again hoping/expactations is almost stated as fact ("this is only a Remix for the lone purpose of the advertisement")
 
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What songs that have been released have actually had a new mix and have heard the original demo ? Just so we can compare the differences.
 
You can compare Behind The Mask 2010 Mix, with Greg Phillinganes 80ies version.
It's safe to say that MJ's demo sounds close to gregs version.

^that's an example where i would prefer the updated version.

On the other hand i prefer the leaked demo of Hold My Hand (2008) to each of the different Mixes from 2010.

Same goes for Another Day: The parts I know from the original (YouTube) are better than the 2010 album mix.
 
So you all see, in most cases i prefer the original untouched version also.

But for the purpose of a 2014 "new" album release, they (whoever they are) can't slap a 1989 demo of STTR on the market to represent the new release.

That said, I would prefer the last version MJ worked on as a bonus, not neccesarely the 1989 demo.
 
MJJuniorSinceMW said:
And you all know how Michael Jackson would have sounded in 2014?

I for one know that Michael Jackson wouldn't sound like 2009, or like 2004 / 1999, or even like 1989 in the Year of 2014!

He unfortunately can't do the job, so somebody else got to do it!
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But do they really? Are we going to have people trying to remix his songs to sound like 2020 when that comes around? 2030 too? That is so tacky to me. It feels like to me that people just want to forever live under the illusion that Michael is relevant in today and tomorrows pop scene. Michael died in 2009. Why should he have to continue to compete on the charts with the Miley Cyrus' of the world? That's completely unfair. We can't let go of Michael being number 1 so we want him to keep cranking out hits years and years after his death at any cost. I'm not against putting out a remix here and there every few years for some radio play and to bring some attention, but when it becomes the main strategy for preserving Michael's legacy and presenting him as an artist to the world then I think we have a big problem.

Of course I see why everyone wants Michael to posthumously have that moment in the sun again. One more #1 smash hit. He certainly deserves it. If the estate didn't royaly screw up the first couple of posthumous releases maybe that moment would have come and we wouldn't be still hanging to that dream 5 years later. Maybe this time. Then maybe we can move on.
 
^^
It just goes to show though that if u think about it there hasn't actually really been many songs re-mixed from the original demos. Can't count Hold my Hand or Another Day as they sound pretty much the same as the demos plus Lenny Kravitz worked on the original and finished the new mix same with Akon.
 
anyone here planning to buy the xperia z2? when you receive the phone could you post a detailed analysis of the ''something special'' that is included? that would mean a lot, and coming to ''remixes'' & ''demos'' discussion, the estate will be releasing projects for the next 100 years at least.. of course it would be wonderful to have a bonus disc featuring the untouched versions but i'm not expecting that.. if it comes, it'd be a nice surprise regardless though.
 
WildStyle said:
But do they really? Are we going to have people trying to remix his songs to sound like 2020 when that comes around? 2030 too? That is so tacky to me. It feels like to me that people just want to forever live under the illusion that Michael is relevant in today and tomorrows pop scene. Michael died in 2009. Why should he have to continue to compete on the charts with the Miley Cyrus' of the world? That's completely unfair. We can't let go of Michael being number 1 so we want him to keep cranking out hits years and years after his death at any cost. I'm not against putting out a remix here and there every few years for some radio play and to bring some attention, but when it becomes the main strategy for preserving Michael's legacy and presenting him as an artist to the world then I think we have a big problem.

Of course I see why everyone wants Michael to posthumously have that moment in the sun again. One more #1 smash hit. He certainly deserves it. If the estate didn't royaly screw up the first couple of posthumous releases maybe that moment would have come and we wouldn't be still hanging to that dream 5 years later. Maybe this time. Then maybe we can move on.
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I completely understand where you coming from.

My answer is this: I long for something as close to a new album of MJ because i feel there is a lot of "unfinished business" because of what happend in the last 10 years of Michaels life. If it wasn't for bashir/sneddon we'd had some new album around '03-'05. If it wasn't for the "Dr." we would've gotten smthng in '09 / '10.
So there was this long time of longing for a new release & high hopes with news from recordings in Bahrain, in London, in Ireland. Then will-i-am, neff-u & redone..

So to me, it's like I'm still waiting for that final punch, the final answer to the critics, the redemption, the resurrection of THE FORCE.

We know that he worked on material, now he's not here to finish the business.
If that means someone to come in, help with the process, complete some work, update some older material to fill an album, or spread it out over 2 or 3 releases, to get this final statement of Michaels out in some way or form, I'm all for it.

That's what my wish is! It's not for competing with today's "artists", it's for getting his message out to the masses, to the most people who can possibly be reached (in every corner of the world).

2010 MICHAEL, couldn't do that. Though I enjoyed the album back then & am glad for the 7 undisputed presents we got then.

This time I wish for a 'red line', a coherent contemporary sound & good flow from track 1 to track 10 (or 11, or 12). That's all. And of course no scandal about vocals.
 
^^ I kind of wish that the new music they release is something that catches younger generations ears, so they get interested in digging in Michael's back-catalogue.

Paris78 said:
as for now :Sony Xperia - watched by 588.839 on youtube
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768,289 views :clapping: :chillin:

sonijacim said:
A posthumous release is always a very controversial topic.
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Very true :D Everybody seems to have idea of what the release should be like, and if the actual release doesn't go in line with that thinking, we should start expecting temper tantrums and fireworks :)
 
SoCav said:
Yes, his legacy is safe, but that does not mean that the Estate should not make the best out of the situation right now. That's what their job is. And just because through all his hard work during his lifetime Michael's legacy is safe, that does not mean that it could not be enhanced by excellent posthumous releases. And you can argue about what the best way to go about that is. Some people feel reproducing his demos with a contemporary sound so that he can score a #1 hit is best. I for one think that that approach in the long run will simply reinforce the idea that Michael was a hit machine, whereas other types of releases could pave the way for a long overdue reassessment of his skills as a songwriter and singer.
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I agree with this.

I'm not against this new project and I will not make a judgement on whether the updates are good or not good until I hear them in full. But I also agree that this is obviously done for commercial reasons and just like the successful Little Less Conversation remix of 2002(?) is not really Elvis' music, posthumus releases remixed by others will never be Michael's music, no matter if they achieve or do not achieve success. (In fact, Michael once said about the remixes on Blood on the Dance Floor that he did not like them because he did not like others messing with his songs... He approved of them because Sony told him it was the way to go, but he did not really like them. Obviously he did not feel them to be his own music.)

But I understand that the Estate and Sony are business and they need to make money, need to score success for them to keep going with MJ releases in the future. So for that reason I root for it to be successful.

But as a fan of Michael I'm a lot more interested in Michael's music than Timbaland's and anyone else's. I don't care if it sounds "dated" or anything. If I wanted to listen to current chart music then I listened to current artists. Plus, when they update his songs to sound 2014 they will sound dated in 5 years, so eventually an original demo is always more valuable artistically than any song updated to any current sound and trend. The Thriller 25 remixes might have sounded current in 2008 but they are awfully dated by now and the world eventually always goes back to the original.

I don't mind the Estate releasing updated remixes to make money, but they should also put effort in building MJ's artistic legacy for the long term which will help to establish him as a serious artist for the ages. What I mean is: take the Beatles' Anthology series in the early-mid 90s! It was a bunch of demos, outtakes, different takes yet it was mighty successful commercially. How? It's because there has been a reputation built for the Beatles over the years which make them serious artists in many people's eyes whose work is worth to be dissected, analyzed, discussed - even demos and different takes. I'd like a similar reputation built for Michael and the Estate needs to work on that with quality projects, even if for now they'd only have limited appeal (ie. only the hard core fan base would be interested). But on the long term it would help to establish MJ as the serious artist he is. And eventually it may pay off commercially as well, just like Anthology paid off for the Beatles.

The lead single of Anthology was Free as a Bird and IMO Michael has LOT stronger unreleased songs than that, so there is a potential. But it will not happen overnight. A certain reputation will have to be built, and effort needs to be put into presenting Michael as a serious artist to the public: explaining his artistic evolution, explaining his artistic vision, the way he created music etc. In a world where still many people think Quincy Jones wrote his music that is much needed. (And as much as I like the Bad 25 documentary it fell short in that as well, unfortunately. It talked about Siedah Garret writing MITM more than it talked about how Michael wrote 90% of the album.) Anthology wasn't just a series of albums, it was accompanied by a series of TV documentaries and a book explaining the Beatles music, creative process, the significance of the music on the albums etc. Unfortunately so far I do not see efforts in this direction by the Estate, just to exploit him commercially. Which is sad.
 
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Speaking of Anthology, even if we don't get the demos with the release of the album (which is a very possible reality), there's still the opportunity for Michael to have his own version of Anthology, with alternative takes, demos and a very very small handful of finished unreleased songs (I recall there was only... 2? finished unreleased songs included in the entirety of The Beatles' 'Anthology'). Hell, maybe even notable concert performances (like the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards performance for example!).

This becomes more and more likely as The Estate runs out of unreleased songs to release. I'd like a little project like this, in fact I even suggested it in the Estate thread :)
 
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