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11/1/2010 7:25 AM PDT by TMZ Staff Dr. Arnie Klein -- Michael Jackson's former dermatologist -- was evacuated from his L.A. area home this morning after a fire broke out in the kitchen.
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Emergency vehicles responded to the blaze and evacuated 4 people from the home. Arnie was removed from the house in a stretcher and placed into a waiting ambulance.
We're told everyone is "OK."
Thanks to KTLA for the helicopter shot.
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Login11/1/2010 9:40 AM PDT by TMZ Staff The Michael Jackson album Sony is about to release is a fraud, according to members of Michael Jackson's family.
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We've learned Sony is determined to release the album for Christmas, and believes the songs are all authentic. We're told MJ and his kids were in New Jersey when he recorded the tracks with producers in 2007.
Sources tell us Paris and Prince now believe some of the songs on the album are fakes -- not Michael's voice. Sony, we're told, is convinced all of the songs are the real deal. Howard Weitzman, lawyer for the estate, tells TMZ he had experts listen to the tracks and all of the experts concluded it's Michael's voice on all the tracks.
Other Jackson family members also believe some of the tracks are phony. There is a stalemate, although at this point no one is talking lawsuit.
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Login11/1/2010 10:15 AM PDT by TMZ Staff We took your questions on everything -- including Mel Gibson's big deposition, Capri Anderson planning to sue Charlie Sheen, and controversy over the new Michael Jackson album.
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Login11/2/2010 5:15 AM PDT by TMZ Staff When Oprah Winfrey visited the Jackson family at their compound in Encino, CA -- she made sure there were just enough chairs at the table for the people she was interested in talking to ...
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Oprah Airs Jackson, Molestation Shows Back-to-Back
11/2/2010 12:15 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
Oprah Winfrey may not get a Christmas card from Michael Jackson's family this year ... because she's airing the tell-all interview with MJ's children back-to-back with a special on child molestation.
Oprah's big interview with MJ's kids -- Prince, Paris, and Blanket -- is scheduled to air next Monday ... but according to Oprah's website, the talk show host is airing a show the Friday before entitled "200 Adult Men Who Were Molested Come Forward."
Interestingly ... the Jacksons had beef with Oprah over her programming decisions back in 2005 ... when she did a show on pedophilia during jury deliberations in Michael Jackson's molestation trial.
A rep for Oprah's production company tells TMZ, "There is no connection whatsoever between the two shows. This is purely coincidental."
In-O-ppropriate55% Yes
45% No
Total Votes: 77,557You are not allowed to view links.
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Login11/3/2010 12:50 AM PDT by TMZ Staff Two of Michael Jackson's children are adamant -- some of the soon-to-be released MJ song tracks are frauds.
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As we have been reporting, Sony will be releasing a Michael Jackson album before Christmas, featuring 10 - 12 original tracks. We're told 5 of the tracks were recorded at the New Jersey home of record producer Eddie Cascio.
Michael and his kids stayed at Cascio's family home for 4 months in 2007, when the tracks were recorded, along with remixes that were released on the Thriller 25 Album.
The Jackson family believes the Cassio tracks in question were fakes -- sung by a Michael Jackson sound-alike. We're told Prince says he was upstairs at the Cascio's house when many of the tracks were recorded and was able to hear the music, and none of what he heard matches the Sony tracks.
We're also told Paris is "adamant" -- she does not believe her dad's voice is on the tracks in question.
But the estate claims there are sound experts who say conclusively the tracks are the real deal.
People connected with the Sony project believe the kids are being "manipulated" by Katherine Jackson and other family members who don't want the album released.
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Login11/3/2010 6:30 AM PDT by TMZ Staff Cirque du Soleil is unveiling the images that will drive what could be the biggest show under the big top ever -- driven by Michael Jackson's music ... and TMZ got hold of the image that will drive the production.
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The world tour is a partnership between the MJ Estate and Cirque -- each sharing 50% of the profits. It will kick off in the Fall of next year in Canada, and work its way south to the US of A.
The show will end up with a permanent home at the MGM Mirage hotel in Las Vegas -- probably in late 2012. Cirque has already released sketches of what the show will look like.
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Login11/3/2010 9:00 AM PDT by TMZ Staff We took your questions today on everything -- including Mel Gibson's deposition, Cirque du Soleil's new Michael Jackson show, and Levi Johnston unloading on Sarah Palin.
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Login11/3/2010 4:30 PM PDT by TMZ Staff An official MJ fan group ain't buying Oprah's "purely coincidental" excuse -- telling us, they are "angry and disappointed" that she's airing her interview with MJ's kids days after a special on child molestation.
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A rep for the Official Michael Jackson Fans of Southern California tells TMZ, “We are both angry and disappointed in Oprah’s constant need to reference child molestation shows prior to airing Michael Jackson related episodes. Her tone seems to speak volumes.”
Oprah called the whole thing "purely coincidental" ... but MJ fans aren't convinced. The rep adds, “How can something so obvious be a coincidence?"
As we previously reported, Oprah's big interview with Michael Jackson's children is scheduled to air next Monday -- three days after Friday's big show ... entitled "200 Adult Men Who Were Molested Come Forward."
Coincidence?76% No
24% Yes
Total Votes: 59,774
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Login11/4/2010 2:02 PM PDT by TMZ Staff Sony Music isn't buying the claim of Katherine Jackson and two of Michael Jackson's kids ... that some of the tracks on a soon-to-be-released MJ album are fake -- because one of the tracks in question is about to be released on michaeljackson.com on Monday.
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The song -- "Breaking News" -- was recorded in 2007, at the New Jersey home of Eddie Cascio. Jackson and his kids lived in the house for 4 months while Michael was recording. We're told Prince, Paris and Katherine now believe the Cascio tracks are fake -- not Michael's voice.
But Sony has done a bunch of voice authentications, and the record company is convinced it's the real deal. So a teaser will be released tomorrow, and the full song will be on the MJ website for one week, beginning Monday.
We're told 3 tracks recorded at the Cascio house will be included on the full album, which will be released on December 14.
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Login11/5/2010 9:45 AM PDT by TMZ Staff Sony has just released a teaser to Michael Jackson's new album "MICHAEL" due out next month ... but there's a big controversy over whether some of the vocals are real or fake.
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LoginIn the teaser, which promotes the album's big song, "Breaking News," all we hear from Michael Jackson is a brief scream.
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LoginThe question ... is it Michael Jackson's scream or that of an impostor???
By the way ... someone we know has heard the entire album and says it's "unbelievably good." Our spy says some of the tracks sound a little like Justin Timberlake, but they are all Michael.
Michael's "Breaking News" scream ...50% Fake
50% Real
Total Votes: 32,120
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Login11/5/2010 10:30 AM PDT by TMZ Staff We took your questions on everything -- including Michael Jackson's new song, Miley Cyrus drinking in Spain, and Lil Wayne's strip club jail-release party.
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Login11/6/2010 12:10 AM PDT by TMZ Staff The official Michael Jackson fan group that lashed out against the timing of Oprah's molestation special is now going after CNN ... after a guest analyst referred to them as "knuckleheads."
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A rep for the Official MJ Fans of Southern California tells us they're pissed that "Showbiz Tonight" guest analyst Lauren Lake labeled them the "Official Knuckleheads of California" ... after they spoke out against O's decision to run her interview with MJ's kids one episode after her special on child molestation.
OMJFSC is "outraged" that "Showbiz" would allow Lake to comment on something "she clearly knows nothing about."
The group argues that Oprah already showed her colors back in 2005 ... when she aired a special on pedophilia during Michael Jackson's molestation trial ... adding Lake simply has her "head in the sand" on the issue.
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Login11/5/2010 10:00 PM PDT by TMZ Staff Michael Jackson's mother has decided to let the world listen to a brand new unreleased MJ song -- and, taking a shot at Sony, one she claims is 100% authentic.
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LoginThe song -- "Opis None" -- was pulled from the archives of JacksonSecretVault.com ... a company in which Katherine Jackson is a partner. The company owns nearly 300 unreleased MJ tracks ... along with never-before-seen video and memorabilia.
Howard Mann, Katherine's partner in the company, tells TMZ, "In an effort to overcome the confusion as to the authenticity of the track the estate has recently released we want to give an actual authentic Michael Jackson track to the world ... for free."
Sony released a teaser of an upcoming MJ album, which various experts have authenticated as the real deal.
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Login11/7/2010 7:12 AM PST by TMZ Staff It seems the Michael Jackson song TMZ posted Friday has created some bad blood in Michael's family.
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We posted an MJ song on Friday -- "Opis None" -- along with a statement from Katherine Jackson's business partner, Howard Mann. Mann, who said he was speaking for Katherine, seemed to be taking a shot at Sony's upcoming MJ album by saying Mann and Katherine wanted to let people hear "an actual authentic Michael Jackson track to the world."
But Jackie Jackson has now twittered, "I just spoke with my Mother and she did NOT authorize the release of the demo track called Opis None."
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LoginAnd Taj Jackson -- Tito's son -- also tweeted, "Just talked to my grandma. She didn't even know about the 'song,' nor did she authorize it. We are getting to the bottom of this."
Here's what's interesting -- Howard Mann has inserted himself right smack in the middle of Katherine Jackson's business deals, including the Oprah appearance in which Katherine is pitching her book about MJ.
This could be an opportunity for the Michael Jackson Estate to finally get Katherine on board.
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Login11/7/2010 7:40 AM PST by TMZ Staff Add La Toya Jackson to the list of Jackson family members who don't think the new song "Breaking News" really contains Michael Jackson's voice.
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LoginAs we previously reported, Michael's mom, Katherine, and two of his kids, Prince and Paris, don't believe it's really Michael's voice on the song Sony released on Friday.
When we asked La Toya about it yesterday, she told us, "I listened to it ... It doesn't sound like him."
Also, bad news for Oprah ... she might not have a viewer in La Toya for O's big Jackson episode tomorrow.
By the way ... numerous experts and people associated with the recording of the album say it is indeed Michael's voice.
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Login11/7/2010 9:00 AM PST by TMZ Staff Prince has always been a strange and mysterious man -- but now he's found a way to magically appear and then disappear from the cover of the new Michael Jackson album.
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The cover to the album, "Michael," is a copy of a painting from 2009. If you look closely ... you can see Prince's unique symbol inside of a circle (upper right). But now, when you go to Sony's website to buy the CD, Prince's glyph has magically disappeared.
The website DrFunkenberry.com, which first took note of the symbol, claims to have spoken to Prince's people, who told them, "No permission was granted. Sony Entertainment has removed the symbol."
This is what it sounds like ... when Prince's lawyers send you a takedown notice.
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Login11/7/2010 8:23 AM PST by TMZ Staff The guy behind the website JacksonSecretVault.com -- the one who called out the Jackson estate for releasing a song he insinuated wasn't "authentic" -- now has a big "authenticity" problem of his own.
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Howard Mann, Katherine Jackson's business partner, now says the song his website released Saturday was not "unreleased" as he advertised, but rather a "remake." Pretty big difference.
Mann told TMZ on Friday his site was releasing the song "Opis None" in part to "overcome the confusion" that arose from the release of the song "Breaking News."
But it turns out Mann is guilty himself of creating "confusion" by touting an unreleased song that was really a remake.
And on top of that, Mann touted that the release of "Opis None" was made with the blessing of Katherine Jackson. Now he has taken all references to Mrs. Jackson out of the advertisement they posted on Friday (see below).
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Bad timing for Mann and Katherine -- She's appearing on "Oprah" Monday to push the book she wrote on MJ as well as other projects ... projects in which she partnered with Mann.
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Login11/7/2010 12:45 PM PST by TMZ Staff A group of Michael Jackson fans have banded together and fired off a scathing letter to the people behind JacksonSecretVault.com -- calling for the site to stop the "exploitation of Michael Jackson, his grieving mother, his beloved children and his legacy."
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LoginThe letter contains a laundry list of complaints against the site, among their objections:
-- The exploitation of Michael’s elderly mother in the marketing, selling and merchandising from the Jackson Vault.
-- The use and brokering of Michael Jackson’s children to promote events, merchandise and interviews.
-- The use of the demeaning term, “Jacko” in the Jackson Vault website and press release. A degrading term that Michael himself, spoke openly against and thought was insulting.
This has all come about because of the release of a song on JacksonSecretVault.com -- which was first billed as a new song that had the blessing of Katherine Jackson ... but was later determined to be neither.
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Login11/7/2010 3:07 PM PST by Harvey Levin Hey, it's Harvey. We usually don't write first person on TMZ, but I gotta tell you what I just heard.
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Someone has played me the song "Breaking News." I'm not a music expert, but I am a Michael Jackson music fan ... and it's definitely Michael Jackson. The song -- which is awesome -- is a pretty harsh look through Michael's eyes at the media. In essence, he is saying ... You've treated me shabbily and you've hoped for my demise, but I'm back!
One of the lyrics:
"They want to see that I fall,
cause I'm Michael Jackson.
You write the words to destroy
like it's a weapon."
In another part of the song, Jackson sings:
"Everybody wanting a piece of Michael Jackson.
Reporters stalking the moves of Michael Jackson.
Just when you thought he was done,
he comes to give it again."
The song is vintage Jackson. The initial beat will remind you of "Billie Jean" and there are all sorts of MJ trademarks throughout.
When you hear it, you will not be able to suppress the image of Jackson dancing to the song.
The song was recorded at the home of music producer Eddie Cascio, when Michael Jackson was living there for four months in 2007.
As good as the song is ... it's not the first single that will be released. We're told we might be able to post a copy of "Breaking News" on TMZ as soon as late tonight.
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Login11/8/2010 12:50 AM PST by TMZ Staff Howard Mann, Katherine Jackson's business partner in JacksonSecretVault.com, screwed up royally and he knows it -- and now he's reaching out to all Michael Jackson fans to say he's sorry.
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LoginMann published a Jackson song on his website that was touted as an "unreleased MJ track" that came with the blessing of Katherine. As we previously reported ... it was neither of those things.
Mann knows that now, and in a letter to TMZ, apologizes for his "act of stupidity and random ignorance." Mann says he had no idea the track he thought was called "Opis None" was really just a version of an old track called "Destiny."
Near the end, Mann writes, "Our goal at JacksonSecretVault.com is to pay tribute to the legendary artist and artistic visionary that was and is Michael Jackson. The fans are entitled to a higher level of integrity then I demonstrated this past weekend and for that I am sorry."
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Login11/7/2010 9:07 PM PST by TMZ Staff "Breaking News," the new Michael Jackson song, was posted to MichaelJackson.com shortly after midnight ET Monday morning.
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LoginThere had been some debate in Michael's family about whether the vocals are really Michael's, but numerous experts say it is 100% definitely, positively MJ. There is little doubt, especially since we know it was recorded in 2007 at a home studio in New Jersey, the exact place and time Michael had been living with his family.
Nevertheless, we ask ...
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Login11/8/2010 10:13 AM PST by TMZ Staff It may be splitting hairs (unless you're on the receiving end) but Joe Jackson maintains he didn't beat Michael Jackson as a kid ... he used a strap ... and he'd do it all over again.
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LoginWatch Oprah call out Joe on her show today.
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Login11/8/2010 8:00 AM PST by TMZ Staff We took your questions on everything -- including Michael Jackson's new song, Lindsay Lohan reuniting with her dad, and "Girls Gone Wild" honcho Joe Francis' wedding.
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LoginPlus: TMZ TURNS 5 YEARS OLD!!!
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Login11/8/2010 9:10 AM PST by TMZ Staff Katherine Jackson told Oprah Winfrey ... it was Dr. Conrad Murray himself who broke the news that Michael Jackson was dead.
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LoginOn an episode of "Oprah" airing today, Katherine explained how everyone at the hospital was reluctant to tell her what happened to her son.
She says Dr. Murray took so long in explaining things ... she had to cut him off, saying, "'Well, what happened? How is he? Did he make it?' And he said, 'No, he's gone.'"
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Login11/9/2010 12:10 AM PST by TMZ Staff The debate over Michael Jackson's new song "Breaking News" got really heated -- and really weird -- in the TMZ newsroom when someone threw on a glove ... minus the glitter.
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Login11/9/2010 12:23 AM PST by TMZ Staff Michael Jackson's mom says Joe Jackson isn't controlling MJ's kids ... or forcing them to be the next Jackson singing group -- and she thinks that came across in the Oprah interview.
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The Jackson family rep tells TMZ Katherine Jackson believes Prince, Paris, and Blanket "expressed their own desires to be in the entertainment business" during the sitdown with O.
Katherine also says she hopes fans "don't think anyone like Joe or the family is pushing the kids" ... a not-so thinly veiled reference to Joe infamously pushing Michael and his brothers to do that whole Jackson 5 thing.
Katherine and the kids watched Monday's Oprah together -- and we're told Mama Jax was particularly happy she got to talk about, "Never Can Say Goodbye" ... her tribute book to Michael.
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Login11/9/2010 4:00 PM PST by TMZ Staff Michael Jackson's kids will not suffer the fate of their famous father ... because we've learned Katherine Jackson doesn't lay a glove on them.
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Sources connected with the family tell TMZ ... Katherine does not believe in physical discipline, and corrects Paris, Prince and Blanket by sitting them down and talking them through what they did wrong.
We're further told ... Katherine will not let Joe lay a hand on any of MJ's kids.
Joe admitted to Oprah he whipped Michael with a strap.
Turns out ... discipline is not a high priority at the Jackson compound ... because we're told MJ's kids are incredibly well-behaved.
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Login11/10/2010 11:20 AM PST by TMZ Staff Katherine Jackson could get some quick payback against Dr. Conrad Murray, with the help of the Texas Medical Board ... TMZ has learned.
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Sources tell TMZ ...the Medical Board is itching for a full copy of Michael Jackson's medical records, for the purpose of initiating license suspension/revocation proceedings. But there's a rub ... someone needs to release the records, and the board thinks Katherine has the power to do it.
As we previously reported -- the Texas Medical Board has already prohibited Dr. Murray from administering Propofol or other heavy sedatives while he continues to practice medicine at his Houston clinic. The restriction was triggered by the criminal case in California.
No word from Katherine's camp on whether she'll play ball with the Medical Board. Sources tell us the family has a complete copy of MJ's medical file chronicling the events that led to his death.
A rep for Murray tells us his legal team has "fought any attempt by anyone to strip [Murray] of his license, and will continue to do so for the doctor." They added, "His paramount concern is for his patients, particularly the patients of his Houston clinic who desperately need his care."
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Login11/11/2010 11:00 PM PST by TMZ Staff The first new Michael Jackson single will be a not-so-new duet with Akon -- a song entitled "Hold My Hand" that was originally leaked in 2008.
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Epic Records/Sony Music just announced the lead single off the upcoming album "Michael" -- and "Hold My Hand" will be released this coming Monday, November 15 on michaeljackson.com.
Akon and MJ recorded the track back in 2007 ... a raw, incomplete version was eventually leaked to the public.
The new album will feature a total of 10 tracks -- including the controversial "Breaking News" -- when it's released December 14.
Here's the version that came out in 2008.
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Login11/12/2010 12:55 AM PST by TMZ Staff Katherine Jackson has been bitterly complaining the Michael Jackson Estate is not giving her enough money, and now we know what she's done to supplement her income in a big way.
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LoginTMZ has obtained a contract Katherine signed with Vintage Pop Media (VPM), the company that owns tens of thousands of photos, videos and other MJ items. Under the deal -- which is not sanctioned by the MJ Estate -- Katherine agreed to participate in the production of "The Katherine Jackson Story," some sort of MJ documentary set to music. Katherine also agreed to pen the book that was just released, "Never Can Say Goodbye."
In return for her work, VPM -- owned by her controversial business partner Howard Mann -- agreed to pay Katherine 25% of the net profits with a minimum monthly guarantee of $10,000-a-month. But here's what's really interesting ... there's no end date for the $10-grand-a-month, so if you read the contract literally, VPM agrees to pay Katherine at least $10k-a-month for the rest of her life.
And get this. The contract also says Katherine has the legal right to "forever bind" Michael's kids, Prince, Paris and Blanket. According to sources familiar with the MJ Estate, Katherine does not have the power to contractually bind Michael's kids.
Katherine is already raking in $26,000-a-month from the MJ Estate, but she's complaining she wants more. Looks like she found it.
Howard Mann tells TMZ, "This is one of several agreements with Mrs. Jackson. This was a starting point in our relationship."
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Login11/12/2010 3:30 PM PST by TMZ Staff It's Harvey ... I've just heard Michael Jackson's first single, "Hold My Hand" -- not the one that leaked a few years ago, but the one Sony is about to release. First of all, it's great -- slower than a lot of MJ's songs.
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Our sources say Akon recently came back to the studio to lay down more vocals and really put the finishing touches on it. It sounds more produced than the "Breaking News" song that was put online this week.
It's a classic, Akon-type song and it seems like Michael takes on Akon's style. His voice fluctuates like Akon's and there's a similar tonal quality.
As for "Breaking News," I just heard the finished version. It's more produced than the one Sony put online and sounds more classic MJ.
This is going to be a huge album.
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Login11/13/2010 8:13 AM PST by TMZ Staff Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am wants no part of the new Michael Jackson album -- because he feels the entire thing goes against everything Michael stood for.
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Will.i.am tells EW, "Whoever put it out and is profiting off of it, I want to see how cold they are ... He just wasn't any ordinary artist. He was a hands-on person. To me it's disrespectful. There's no honoring."
His biggest issue, it seems, is using unfinished MJ tracks -- something he feels the King of Pop never would have stood for: "Michael Jackson songs are finished when Michael says they’re finished ... Maybe if I never worked with him I wouldn’t have this perspective. He was very particular about how he wanted his vocals, the reverb he used ... he was that hands-on."
It's worth noting ... the album is put out by Sony, through Michael's estate. So Michael's kids are the ones who stand to make money off this.
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Login11/14/2010 9:04 PM PST by TMZ Staff The first official single from the new Michael Jackson album was just released on MichaelJackson.com -- "Hold My Hand" featuring Akon.
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LoginAs we previously reported, Akon returned to the studio recently to put the finishing touches on the track.
The full album is due out December 14.
"Hold My Hand"93% 10
6% 8
1% 5
Total Votes: 1,235,750
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Login11/15/2010 12:45 PM PST by TMZ Staff We took your questions on everything -- including Mel Gibson admitting to slapping, not hitting, Oksana ... Michael Jackson's new album, and Sarah Palin hitting ratings gold for TLC.
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LoginPlus: Lindsay's parents waging war on each other.
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Login11/15/2010 3:10 PM PST by TMZ Staff For the first time in years ... a brand new Michael Jackson music video has surfaced ... one that MJ first began working on back in 2003.
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LoginEarlier today, the long awaited video for the 2003 MJ song "One More Chance" mysteriously appeared online ... and TMZ has confirmed it's the real deal.
Michael first began to work on the shoot back in '03 -- but had to put everything on hold to deal with the raid on Neverland.
As we first reported, MJ's people had been working to put the finishing touches on the video ... and now that it's complete, they plan to include it with a Michael Jackson box set called "Vision" that will be released later this month.
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Login11/16/2010 12:40 AM PST by TMZ Staff Akon not only disagrees with Will I.Am's criticism that the release of the new MJ album is "disrespectful" ... Akon believes Michael would have WANTED it to come out.
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LoginAkon was at LAX yesterday ... and told us that working with Michael on the song "Hold My Hand" was a "dream come true ... it was epic."
As for Will's comments, Akon says he "honestly disagrees" ... adding, "I don't see anything disrespectful about it ... these albums would have come out if [MJ] was alive or dead so I think this helps to keep his legacy alive."
Based on all the fans who rated the song a 10-out-of-10 on our poll ... we think the public agrees with Akon.
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Login11/16/2010 5:00 PM PST by TMZ Staff Akon and Will.i.am are going toe-to-toe over Michael Jackson's new album -- and this battle is going to be an all out ... sensible discussion? We'll see about that.
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Check out TMZ on TV -- click here to see your local listings!
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Login11/17/2010 12:20 AM PST by TMZ Staff It's the most bizarre casting call we've ever seen -- the people behind Michael Jackson's new music video for "Hold My Hand" are in the market for some incredibly ironic talent ... a person with no hands.
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The listing was posted yesterday on an LA casting network -- billed as a "low budget" project -- and among the available roles ... 10 dancers, several real-life couples, a mother and child for a baptism ... and "a disabled person with no hands."
The director Mark Pellington tells TMZ, "The video is a spiritual collage of MJ's legacy told through a visual mosaic exploring the themes of life" -- but based on the name of the song, we can only guess why they'd need someone without the requisite appendages.
We're told they shot Akon's part Monday night -- and according to sources close to the production, a green screen came in mighty handy.
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Login11/18/2010 4:30 AM PST by TMZ Staff Randy Jackson went on a tear on Twitter Wednesday night, swearing some of the songs on Sony's upcoming Michael Jackson album are fake.
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Jackson tweeted, "Some of the songs are him, and some aren't. I would be [sic] my life on that ... I know this may seem harsh, but this is the truth, as I know it..."
Pretty much every expert who has analyzed the tracks says the voice is MJ's, but Randy is undeterred.
And he gets conspiratorial: "But what's worse then [sic] harsh is that my brother isn't here, and ll these people are more concerned about making money off his death...They could care less about why and how he died, or maybe they already know."
Randy also claims co-executor John McClain "didn't care about the quality or how complete the vocals were."
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Login11/19/2010 12:50 AM PST by TMZ Staff The people casting the new MJ music video have made it clear they won't hire anyone belonging to a union-esque group called "Dancers Alliance" -- but TMZ has learned the DA is claiming it's pure "discrimination."
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The casting notice for the "Hold My Hand" video calls for 10 professional dancers (ages 15-25) ... but specifically states that they won't hire anyone from the "Dancer's Alliance" ... a group dedicated to protecting dancer's wages and working conditions.
TMZ spoke with a rep from the group who tells us that cutting out D.A. dancers "suggests that the production is discriminating against dancers who are educated and support both their community and their agents."
The rep tells us that as long as a company offers "equitable rates" and the project has been cleared with the agents -- then the D.A. has no issues with allowing their members to dance.
Calls to the music video producers have not been returned.
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Login11/19/2010 11:36 AM PST by TMZ Staff Not that we're trying to flatter ourselves, but don't people in Bahrain get TMZ?
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AQ Business Consultants has filed a petition in the Michael Jackson Estate case, asking the judge for permission to belatedly file a creditor's claim, on grounds it didn't know there was a time limit in asking for money.
AQ claims it helped Michael refinance $320,000,000 in loans, for which it was entitled to a $3.2 million fee. AQ claims it's still owed $1.2 mil.
The deadline for filing a claim has passed, but AQ claims it didn't get proper notice.
Howard Weitzman, the lawyer for the Estate, tells TMZ, "I don't believe the claim has any merit but they're late in filing regardless."
But here's the thing ... TMZ is big in Bahrain, so what's the deal?
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Login11/22/2010 9:32 AM PST by TMZ Staff Michael Jackson is NOT DEAD -- he's still alive ... just like Elvis ... this according to a famous music producer who worked with MJ all the way to the possibly not-so-bitter end.
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Super producer Teddy Riley -- who worked with MJ on the "Dangerous" album and produced the song "Breaking News" on the upcoming Sony album -- has reignited the Michael Jackson conspiracy theory after twittering that he believes MJ is alive ... somewhere.
Riley wrote, "If people can think Elvis is still alive why the F#*@ I cant [sic] think Michael is still alive."
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Just one day before the tweet, Riley received a message from a fan who wrote, "Akon said he believes Michael is in hiding and will be coming back one day. Im curious to know what ya think bout that."
Riley responded, "AKON IS MY FRIEND AND WE THINK ALIKE."
So, we gotta ask ...
Did MJ fake his death?92% Yes
8% No
Total Votes: 811,850
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Login11/22/2010 10:00 AM PST by TMZ Staff We took your questions on everything -- including Mel and Oksana back in court over child custody, Lindsay Lohan allowed to drive again, and Capri Anderson's criminal complaint against Charlie Sheen.
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LoginPlus: Michael Jackson is still alive ... at least according to the King of Pop's old music producer.
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Login11/22/2010 10:49 AM PST by TMZ Staff The man who claims he was Michael Jackson's manager says he was so honest when he turned over a secret stash of MJ money ... the MJ Estate should return the favor by opening its books to him.
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Dr. Tohme Tohme claims in new legal docs the Estate owes him 15% of Jacko's earnings while Tohme allegedly worked for him, but the big wigs who administer the estate won't open their books so he can figure out how much to demand.
Tohme says the Estate isn't giving him credit for turning over $5.5 million dollars of Michael's money shortly after he died -- money Tohme says he was secretly holding for the singer. And, Tohme boasts in legal documents obtained by TMZ, he didn't even deduct his fee. Tohme's argument -- being honest should have its rewards.
The Estate doesn't look kindly on Tohme, and they've shut him out.
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Login11/23/2010 12:25 AM PST by TMZ Staff Michael Jackson's new music video for "Hold My Hand" will be to die for ... TMZ has learned.
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Sources tell TMZ a shoot for the MJ/Akon music video took place yesterday at an airplane hanger in Tustin, CA -- and it involved a whole bunch of extras ... and a very heavenly theme.
We're told the group of extras -- which included a bunch of die-hard MJ fans -- were asked to gather outside the hanger ... and when the giant doors opened, the place was pitch black ... except for one bright light at the end.
Our spies say the extras were then asked to walk towards the light ... symbolizing their journey into heaven.
Should be one [s:2agsemlh]hell[/s:2agsemlh] heck of a music video.
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Login11/23/2010 6:45 AM PST by TMZ Staff Simon Cowell got right back to his roots last night -- finally weighing in on the new Michael Jackson song ... right before he totally took a shot at new "Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez ... we think.
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Login11/23/2010 9:00 AM PST by TMZ Staff We took your questions on everything -- including Charlie Sheen's text messages to Capri Anderson, Lindsay Lohan getting daddy's car, and the owners of the L.A. Dodgers are finally divorced.
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LoginPlus: Miley Cyrus turns 18!
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Login11/28/2010 12:55 AM PST by TMZ Staff The music video for Michael Jackson's song with Akon features dozens of extras ... but only one of them is a pint-sized version of MJ.
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LoginTMZ obtained video and photos taken last week from the set of the video for "Hold My Hand." One Jackson fan was featured doing a few of MJ's famous dance moves. You can hear another fan say about the kid, "That there is the opportunity of a lifetime."
As we first reported, a group of MJ fans were recruited to walk into an open airport hangar -- meant to symbolize "walking into the light" (see the pics below).
A source on the set told us the director was telling people the video would air on ABC on December 6.
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Login11/30/2010 12:15 AM PST by TMZ Staff The kid busting out the insane moves in Michael Jackson's new music video "Hold My Hand" has rhythm in his blood -- because the boy is directly related to Billy Blanks -- the King of Tae Bo.
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9-year-old Michael Isaac Blanks is Billy Blanks' nephew -- and the kid has been performing as an MJ wannabe for years.
In fact, just last year Michael's MJ impersonation even caught the eye of "This Is It" director Kenny Ortega -- who called Blanks "a real prodigy" at a dancing event for Nigel Lythgoe's Dizzy Feet Foundation.
Judging from the footage we got at the MJ video shoot this weekend -- Kenny knows what he's talking about.
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Login11/29/2010 5:40 PM PST by TMZ Staff TMZ has learned ... everyone is moving out of the Jackson family compound in Encino while the house undergoes extensive renovations ... and when the dust settles, another Jackson 5 will be personae non gratae.
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We've learned Katherine Jackson and company are in the process of packing boxes and will leave the family home in early December for several months during the remodel.
But there's a bigger story here. As TMZ first reported, after the infamous "stun gun" incident at the home -- in March, when Jaafar allegedly threatened to shock Blanket -- Katherine asked Jaafar's mother, Alejandra, to take her 5 kids and move.
As we told you, Katherine and the Michael Jackson Estate generously offered Alejandra and her brood a condo MJ owned in the San Fernando Valley, but Alejandra wanted a lot more -- thus the stand off.
Now we're told Katherine is not letting Alejandra back in the house after the remodel. The condo offer still stands, but if she doesn't accept she'll have to find somewhere else to live with Jaafar, Jermajesty, Dante and Randy, Jr.
But one of Alejandra's kids is getting a reprieve from Katherine. We're told 20-year-old Genevieve will be staying with Katherine and Michael's kids in a temporary home during the remodel, and she will be the lone child of Alejandra who will be welcomed back to Hayvenhurst.
We're told Alejandra just left with some of her kids to Japan.
Sayonara.
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Login11/30/2010 6:05 AM PST by TMZ Staff A new Michael Jackson song titled "Much Too Soon" was just unveiled on iTunes -- a song that is undeniably MJ.
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LoginThe song was written by MJ around the time he did the "Thriller" album -- and according to the iTunes description, "Michael always liked it but never found the right home for it."
The song will be featured on the upcoming album "Michael," which is scheduled for a December 14 release.
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Login11/30/2010 4:25 PM PST by TMZ Staff If at first you don't succeed ... Joe Jackson has refiled the Michael Jackson wrongful death lawsuit against Dr. Conrad Murray.
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LoginA federal judge threw out Joe's claim, ruling the case should have been filed in a California state court. So Joe's lawyer has now refiled the case in L.A. County Superior Court.
Joe is alleging that Dr. Murray was negligent in administering the Propofol that killed the singer.
Joe is also suing Applied Pharmacy Services in Las Vegas, that sold the drug to Murray.
