Despite of Robert Friedman’s constant attempts to white-wash him,
Frank Dileo is a scam artist whose veracity shouldn't be trusted.
Frank 'Tookie' Dileo was hired by Michael Jackson in August 1983. At the time, Dileo was the Vice President of promotion at Epic Records. Dileo had no experience as a manager. Industry observers questioned Michael’s decision. What drew Michael to Dileo? Walter Yetnikoff wrote in his book “Tookie, like all great promo men, could sell. He was a fast talker and a slick operator.”
Dileo claims Michael rehired him as his manager in March 2009. This is a blatant lie, concocted after Michael's death. Dileo is part of an elaborate conspiracy against Michael Jackson. He was never hired….by Michael Jackson anyway…Dileo was brought into Michael’s life by Randy Phillips. The entrance of Frank Dileo and Leonard Rowe into Michael's life are intertwined and pertains to AllGood Entertainment. This topic will be covered in detail in a later blogpost.
Michael Jackson never rehired Frank Dileo as his manager.
Dileo misrepresented himself as Michael’s manager to AllGood Entertainment- a concert promoter aspiring to organize a Jackson Family Show in Texas.
Frank Dileoand his business partner, Mark Lamicka, signed a binder agreement with AllGood Entertainment on November 26, 2008. The binder was signed on behalf of Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and the Jackson brothers. Frank Dileo represented NONE of these artists.
Dileo and Lamicka had no intention of fulfilling their end of the bargain. Their modus operandi is to swindle promoters out of upfront fees, in AllGood's case, $2 million binder fee plus $550,000 commission.
AllGood Entertainment came across a federal lawsuit where Mark Lamicka scammed 2 promoters. AllGood and its investors grew uncomfortable giving Dileo any monies before they receive a contract with Michael’s signature. Dileo stated he wouldn’t talk to Michael before he received the monies. The parties went onto a limbo, attempting to negotiate. Finally, in February 2009, AllGood Entertainment moved onto Plan B: Enter Leonard Rowe.
Failing to scam AllGood Entertainment, Dileo and Lamicka, moved onto their next prey: Enter Citadel. Dileo et al. signed a binder with Citadel on April 1, 2009, promising a Michael Jackson concert in Trinidad and Tobago in the fall of 2009. As per the binder agreement, Citadel transferred $300,000 to Dileo. After Michael’s death, Citadel requested its money back but Dileo refused.
Both Citadel and AllGood Entertainment are currently litigating Frank Dileo.
If Dileo was Michael’s manager, he wouldn’t have signed a binder with Citadel for Michael Jackson to perform in Trinidad, knowing that Michael would be in London.
If Dileo was Michael’s manager, AEG wouldn’t have responded on April 11, 2009 to AllGood Entertainment’s cease and desist letter by stating “Mr Dileo doesn’t involve AEG in any manner whatsoever.”
If Dileo was Michael’s manager, he would have handled the UCLA Press Conference, NOT Thome Thome who Dileo claims were fired on May 5, 2009. Apparently Tohme Tohme didn't get the termination letter, just as Leonard Rowe didn't get his termination letter that Frank Dileo claims he sent out!
Where was Dileo during the UCLA Press conference? Right on the stage (1:35)
Dileo is a conman, to say the least, who is aiding other conmen in cover-up
of an elaborate conspiracy against Michael Jackson. Dileo who was making his living by scamming promoters is now being rewarded grandiosely. He is collecting royalties as This Is It movie, he got paid from the Estate for managerial fees and he was appointed to the Sony/ATV Board AFTER Michael’s death.
The description that best suits Frank Dileo came from his unofficial defense attorney, Roger Friedman. "Hustlers, gypsies, tramps and thieves sneak around the Jackson saga to see if there is any money for them."
Concert promoters who never came up with the money and never had real agreement are suing Jacko and former (like in the 80s) manager Frank dileo, claiming that they'd agreed to be part of some kind of Jackson family tour with the Jackson 5 and Janet Jackson. Good luck: Dileo does not represent Jackson.
Concert promoter Patrick Allocco sued Jackson today, along with AEG and Jackson's long ago former manager Frank Dileo- long ago as in 20 years.
AEG started negotiating with Jackson in 2007. Dileo wasn't Jackson's manager then and isn't now technically. Dileo has only been working with Michael recently again and still, I am told, has NO formal written agreement with him.
While all the hustlers, gypsies, tramps and thieves sneak around the Jackson saga to see if there is any money for them the Kind of Pop actually rehearsing the Show. Frank Dileo may be back as the official manager.
Unbeknownst to Michael, Sony started strategizing against him prior to Invincible.
After MJ announced that he was leaving Sony in 2002, the stakes had gone up. Michael was no longer perceived as a Sony artist but a business partner. Michael had the option to dissolve the LLC which would have cost Sony massive deficit.
Before the Invincible album and after Michael extracted himself from the Sony contract, a media firestorm erupted about his financial woes, catapulting into rumors that he was forced to sell his stake in Beatles Catalog. Media quoted anonymous sources, reporting the details of Michael’s financial matters that only a few were privy to. Roger Friedman openly cited Sony insiders.
The leaks emanated from the upper echelon of Sony, aiming to discourage investors from loaning to Michael by portraying him unviable for financial backing.
May 09, 2001 To refute the reports, Michael issued a Press Release:
“I want to clarify a silly rumor. The Beatles Catalog is not for sale,
has never been for sale and will never be for sale”
June 12, 2001 Michael meets with Sony executives at the Hit Factory Studio to present them his next album: Invincible
Michael wants “UnBreakable” to be the first single of the album. He has an elaborate video concept. Sony declines and chooses “You Rock My World”. Sony brings in Hype Williams to propose a video concept and direct it.
July 2001 Dissatisfied with Hype Williams’ proposal, Michael hires Paul Hunter to direct his own video concept for You Rock My World.
July 17-19, 2001 Sony sent a radio program director to an all-expenses-paid-trip in exchange of airplay for Jennifer Lopez’s “I am Real” song
Aug 13-21 2001 Michael shoots You Rock My World music video, directed by Paul Hunter, featuring Chris Tucker and Marlon Brando.
Aug 17, 2001 "You Rock My World" was leaked to two New York radio stations. It was first played by WJTM-FM at 6 p.m., with WKTU-FM airing it 45 min later.
Both stations played the song every 2 hours until 6 p.m. the next day but Sony called the program director for both stations, Frankie Blue, and asked him to STOP playing 'You Rock My World'
Aug 22, 2001 You Rock My World is released worldwide, except USA
American charts are calculated based on both radio play AND sales. Not releasing the single commercially adversely affected the song’s place in charts. Sony’s bogus excuse was that the single could harm the sales of the album but apparently this concern was reserved only to Invincible album
Sony released 9 singles from Michael Jackson “Dangerous” album (1991)
Sony released 6 singles from Michael Jackson “HIStory” album (1995)
Sony released 5 singles from Destiny’s Child “Survivor” album (2001)
Sony released 4 singles from Jennifer Lopez “JLO” album (2001)
Sony released 6 singles from Celion Dion “A New Day has Come” album (2002)
A #1 single is an essential, cost effective promotional tool for an album. It builds anticipation and hype for the record buying customers & the retailers. A Billboard chart analyst said “It was a huge mistake not to release the single”
At Michael’s request, Jay Z was featured in “You Rock My World Remix” . In March 2002 VIBE magazine interview, Michael is asked about the Jay Z remix.
VIBE: Why did you choose Jay-Z for the remix of “You Rock My World“? Michael: He’s hip, the new thing, and he’s with the kids today. They like his work. He has tapped into the nerve of popular culture. It just made good sense.
In return, Michael provided background vocals to Jay Z’s “Girls Girls Girls" which was supposed to be released as a single. Sony barred Jay Z from releasing the song with Michael Jackson vocals. So Jay Z refused Sony to release his “You Rock My World” Remix.
Jay Z released "Girls Girls Girls" as a hidden track in his "BluePrint" album. You will NOT see the song in album track listing. After the last song of the CD, there is a 25 second silence, followed by "Girls Girls Girls".
Sony had NO problems whatsoever when Brandy used Michael Jackson vocals on her song “It’s Not Worth It" on her Feb 2002 album "Full Moon".
Sony’s problem wasn’t that Jay Z used Michael’s vocals but that JayZ was featured in “Your Rock My World” remix which God forbid benefited the Invincible album sales that Sony was deliberately sabotaging.
In layman terms, payola is when record companies pay radio stations to play specified artists and songs on the radio, regardless of their quality or popularity. This bribe came in forms of TVs, DVD Players, digital cameras, laptops, trips, car rentals, hotel stays, concert tickets, cash, etc
The investigation revealed that Sony employees concealed the bribes to radio stations, by using fictitious "contest winners" and make it appear as though the money and gifts were going to radio listeners instead of station employees.
Below are some confidential Sony emails, dating back to 2001, bribing radios to play artists like Celion Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Beyonce, etc.
One email reads “Can we say we are sending it to the radio station but just use Mike address (*Michael Saunders, program director). Because a lot of stuff gets lost when you send it to station WINK WINK"
A Sony employee wrote “What do I have to do to get AudioSlave on WKSS
this week?!!? Whatever you can dream up, I can make it happen.”
A program director for WKSE-FM received flight tickets in exchange for adding Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" song into radio playlist.
Sony even used MJ concert tickets to bribe radios to play OTHER artists!!!
Sony acknowledged the fraudulent practice of payola and settled for $10 million.
While Sony violated federal laws, bribing to promote its other artists, it went out of its way to sabotage Michael Jackson's Invincible album. While Sony was bribing radio stations to promote its other artists, it called in to STOP radio stations from playing, without any bribes, Michael Jackson’s “You Rock My World”.
When Michael and his fans accused Sony of deliberately sabotaging Invincible, media accused Michael for assigning the blame to Sony for Invincible's failure. To date, no media outlet had the integrity to report the true extent and nature of the deliberate Sony sabotage on Michael Jackson’s Invincible album.
September 7 & 10 2001 Michael organized 2 Madison Garden Square concerts to promote Invincible. Sony sent a memo to its worldwide offices, instructing them not to participate in the promotion of the concerts. Michael requested from Sony to place an ad promoting Invincible during the televised broadcast. Sony declined. Strangely enough, Sony did place an ad promoting Jennifer Lopez’s album in her TV special that aired a week after Michael’s.
In 2001, the only times Michael sang “You Rock My World” was the only 2 times he performed it on MGS promotional concerts that he himself organized.
Sep 11, 2001 9/11 attacks
Sep 16, 2001 Michael announces that he will produce a charity song to fundraise for the families of 9/11 victims.
“I want to do something to help those who lost their mothers and fathers. Those are our people. Those are our children. Those are our parents."
Sony refuses to fund the song so MJ pawned his own diamond-watch to fund it.
Sep 21, 2001 Michael records the song “You Are My Life” and he likes it so much that he decides to add it to the tracklist of Invincible, at the last minute.
He performed 'Man In The Mirror' and 'What More Can I Give'
Oct 22, 2001 Michael recorded Spanish version of “What More Can I Give”
–Todo Para Ti
Oct 30, 2001 Invincible album is released worldwide
Nov 6, 2001 Butterfly was released in USA as radio play ONLY. It wasn't released commercially anywhere in the world.
Nov 1, 2001 MJ finished “What More Can I Give”, he wants it to be released immediately. Sony stoops to using a charity song produced out of love, to corner Michael: If he wanted to release it badly enough, Michael had to give up on his stake in Sony/ATV. Michael counter-offered to produce a Sony Playstation game and to participate in Sony movie projects for FREE. Sony declined, Michael had to give up on his charity song that he himself had to fund.
Nov 7, 2001 To promote Invincible album on his own, Michael organized his first ever in-store signing event in New York.
Dec 03, 2001 “Cry” was released worldwide, except USA
Michael was displeased with the video concept Sony proposed. Sony won't fund HIS video concept so Michael refuses to appear in the video. Sony filmed and released the Cry video without Michael’s participation. Jan 9 2002 Michael appears on American Music Awards to accept ‘Artist of The Century’ Award. Sony doesn’t advertise Invincible. Instead promotional material from 1995 HIStory album was shown.
When he appeared on April 24 at Apollo Theater for "Every Vote counts" Democratic FundRaiser with Bill Clinton, Michael performed “Dangerous,
Black or White & Heal the World”.
Why was Michael Jackson performing old songs when his Invincible album was sinking down the charts?
Michael was forbidden by Sony to perform from his Invincible album.
February 2002 Sony intensified its financial pressure on Michael.
February 2002 Despite of his personal feelings about touring, Michael wants to
do a World Tour to settle his loan with Sony. February 27, 2002 Michael received a Grammy nomination for 'Best Male Pop Vocal Performance' for You Rock My World. Sony informes Michael that he couldn’t perform any material from Invincible album. This restriction prevented Michael from performing the very song for which he received a Grammy nomination, as well as any other song from Invincible. Beleaguered Michael cancelled his Grammy Award appearance.
March 16, 2002 Michael attends David Gest & Liza Minnelli wedding in NY. He invites several trusted fans to his suite to explain the situation with Sony and asks fans to push the promotion of Invincible.March 2002 After heated debates with Sony about Unbreakable video budget, Michael decides to finance & produce it himself. He hires Bret Ratner to direct it.
March 4, 2002 Roger Friedman quoted a Sony insider “Sony Music Publishing's President Richard Rowe is now in constant contact with Michael Jackson. The reason? It's time for Jackson to relinquish his half of the Beatles' catalog to Sony. Sony will either make him a cash offer for the catalog or just call the note but it's going to happen. Richard Rowe is on the phone with him all the time. Sony's fiscal year ends March 31, which is impetus for Rowe to work out the deal quickly. Sony Corp.'s stock price is just about half of what it was last May.”
March 6, 2002 “We are not in discussions with Mr. Jackson over the sale of his share of the ATV catalog. These rumors are completely baseless." –Sony
March 8, 2002 “Michael Jackson's financial problems are real, folks, make no mistake about it. And Sony Music's denial shouldn't make anyone feel better about the situation. A Sony business insider confirmed for me that "foreclose" would have been the appropriate word. Indeed, this is a mighty good spin-doctoring on Sony's part since they wouldn't have to buy the Catalog they would actually be foreclosing on it” –Roger Friedman
March 2002 3 scheduled appearances are cancelled due to Sony-MJ dispute.
March 20, 2002 Sony tells Michael not to bother with the Unbreakable video.
Sony halts ALL Invincible promotions, offering no explanation to consumers.
March 2002Invincible became Invisible 5 months after its release. The album disappeared from Sony’s “international priority” list. In comparison, HIStory album had stayed on the list for 2 years.
April 11 2002 FanClub MJ Hideout reports “After receiving thousands of protests from fans around the world, the Epic headquarters in New York now answer that, simply, they do nothing for Invincible because Michael Jackson is not an important artist for the company”
Apr 24, 2002 Michael is in NY to appear at “Every Vote Counts” Democratic Fundraiser with Bill Clinton and American Bandstand 50th Anniversary Program.
3 Anti-Sony demonstrations are jointly organized by several fanclubs, one in front of Sony headquarters in Manhattan, one in front of NBC studios (airing American Bandstand 50th Anniversary) and one in front of Apollo Theater (hosting the Democratic fundraiser)
April 28 2002 Michael Jackson fanclubs issued a joint Statement, exposing Sony’s sabotage of the Invincible album as a strategy to acquire full control of the Beatles Catalog.
Worldwide Fanclubs organize to re-launch Invincible album.
April 2002 Martin Bashir approaches Uri Geller to express his interest for a documentary on Michael Jackson (Source: Bashir 2005 Court Testimony)
Michael’s great flaw is that he is easily swayed by conmen and charlatans.
He's vulnerable to all kinds of come-ons”
-Roger Friedman
To better understand the intricate machinations against Michael, it helps to delve into his business affairs and colleagues. To sort it out, let’s go back some.
TOMMY MOTTOLA BACKGROUND
Tommy Mottola, Allen Grubman & David Geffen came as a package.Mottola the music manager, Grubman the music attorney and Geffen the entertainment mogul. Together, they conspired against Walter Yetnikoff so Mottola could succeed his seat. Michael Jackson’s influence over Sony was instrumental in the take-over. In a convoluted turn of events, when he came to power, Mottola conspired against Michael who, in turn, ended Mottola’s 15 year tenure at Sony.
Mottola always had a love for music. Through grade school and junior high, he played the trumpet for the school’s band. Playing it so well, in fact, that he won a scholarship to a private school. In eighth grade, he stopped playing the trumpet because, he said, “it was not a cool instrument”.He switched to playing guitar. At 13, Mottola was the guitarist for a band, called Exotics which played
at beach clubs, churches, weddings and bar mitzvahs.
Mottola didn’t like school and partied hard. His parents were against the path he was taking so they sent him off to a military academy in New Jersey. He offered a deal to his parents: he'd stay out of trouble if they let him come home. Only after 6 months and 3 episodes of running away, he ended up back home.
While in college, he took acting classes and began dating Lisa Clark, the daughter of ABC Records founder Sam Clark. He played small roles as an extra in about eight films.His passion was singing. At 17, he had a contract as a singer with CBS’s Epic Records. At 18, Mottola released 2 records: “Woman Without Love” and “Evil Woman”. He recorded under the name T.D. Valentine.
While working with Epic, he befriended Sandy Linzer, a producer & songwriter who introduced Mottola to a lawyer friend of hers, Allan Grubman.
While promoting his records, Mottola found himself taking a different direction in music industry. He said “The obsession with singing started to wear off. I started to get interested in music publishing”. When he was 20, Mottola took a job at Chappell Music, a publishing giant. At 22, he married Lisa Clark. Mottola spent 8 years learning about production, marketing, and promotion while working at the pop music division of Chappell Music. After leaving Chappell Music, in 1975, Mottola formed his own management company, Don Tommy Enterprises, which later was renamed Champion Entertainment.
Mottola and Grubman who became close friends over the years have ambition in common. The duo befriended Walter Yetnikoff, the President of CBS Records.
When Jackson 5 left Motown in 1976, they had signed with CBS Records.
TOMMY MOTTOLA CONSPIRES AGAINST WALTER YETNIKOFF
"Insecurity and vanity made me an easy mark for ass kissers. Enter Tommy Mottola and Allen Grubman. Mottola and Grubman were like drugs, I could always turn to them to soothe my ego. Mottola was man's man who knew guns, boats and women. Unlike corporate types that bored me to tears, Tommy entertained me with tales from the fast lane. He listened worshippinly as I described the challenges of running my worldwide operation. He lavished praise on my abilities. He made me feel great. I felt like the guy’s brother. In Mottola, I'd find a brother who would take a bullet for me (or so I thought)"
-Walter Yetnikoff, CBS President/ Sony CEO
Sony acquired CBS Records in January 1988 for $2 billion.
A year before Sony’s CBS takeover, Yetnikoff took heat from the media for promoting Mottola to a senior position. “Tommy finally convinced me to appoint him head of the domestic division of CBS Records. The Press screamed that he wasn’t qualified. What the Hell, he was my friend” wrote Yetnikoff in his book.‘Walter could have done better by opening the L.A. phone book and choosing at random’ wrote the Press.Mottola himself admitted that he knew nothing of budgets or board of directors. “It's really only all about music. It’s not like a big rocket scientist kind of philosophy or anything” said Mottola.
Entertainment Industry is packed with lawyers. Many of them don't formally practice law in the conventional sense but their skills in deal-making and contracts makes them an asset. Walter Yetnikoff is a trained lawyer. Mottola took his lawyer friend Allan Grubman to where ever he went. When Yetnikoff brought Tommy Mottola to CBS, Grubman came with the package.
Yetnikoff signed artists, Mottola managed them, Grubman represented them.
“Tommy is extremely smart” Yetnikoff said of Mottola. When Yetnikoff found out just how smart Mottola was, his sovereignty at Sony Empire was brought to an end by the man he mentored and considered a ‘brother’.
Mariah Carey & Tommy Mottola
An 18 year old Mariah Carey was working as a waitress, coat check girl, beauty salon janitor, and part-time backup singer to make ends meet. In 1988, Mariah attended a party hosted by CBS blues artist Brenda Starr. Mariah gave a demo tape to Mottola who listened to the tape in his limo. He knew immediately that he could make her a star. Soon, Mottola started having an extramarital affair with Mariah Carey.Mottola denied any romance. "With God as my witness, nothing's going on between us” Mottola told the reporters. The relationship was common knowledge at CBS. The extracurricular didn't bother Yetnikoff who awarded Mottola a $3 million bonus after he'd only been on the job a few months.
John Branca & Michael Jackson
When John Branca started working with Michael in 1980, Michael’s net worth was barely a million dollars. Ten years later, Branca’s negotiating skills increased Michael’s net worth to $300 million.
David Geffen, Michael Jackson & Madonna
Forbes Magazine named David Geffen ‘the richest man in Hollywood’. Geffen had a reputation for being an intuitive show-business genius. He was also arrogant and temperamental. Geffen earned a respectable standing in both music and film world. Michael felt that if he listened to Geffen’s advice, he too, could be a mogul like Geffen. Michael hung unto Geffen’s every word the way he used to hang on to Branca’s. But unlike Branca, Geffen really kissed up to Michael.
Michael was to deliver ‘Decade’, a greatest Hits album with three to five new songs in August of 1989. Branca had negotiated this deal with CBS for $18 million as an advance and $3 million as a gift to Michael from CBS.
David Geffen talked Michael out of ‘Decade’. Geffen started discussing with Michael his relationship with CBS Records. Geffen convinced Michael that CBS was making more money off of Michael than he was making for himself.Geffen advised Michael to find a loophole and get out of his CBS contract. Prior to this time, Michael had an outstanding relationship with Walter Yetnikoff. He even invited Walter Yetnikoff to the stage during 1984 Grammy's (0:50).
Geffen owned his own record label (Geffen Records) and he was trying to lure Michael to sign with his own label. Branca advised Michael against leaving CBS. Michael still owed CBS 4 more albums and CBS would sue for the albums owed. Branca and Geffen had a heated argument, Branca told Geffen to mind his own business, Geffen hung up on Branca then called Michael to tell him that the reason why Michael didn’t have a good deal with CBS was because of Branca’s close relationship with the company President, Walter Yetnikoff.
Couple of days later, Branca arranged a meeting with Michael. The meeting didn’t go well. The next day, Branca received a letter, informing him that his services were no longer required by Michael Jackson.
“Michael Jackson first fired Frank Dileo, my former employee and loyal supporter and then fired John Branca, another guy who liked me. Michael’s new lawyer? Allen Grubman” wrote Yetnikoff in his book.
Tommy has always been power-hungry" said Mickey Schulhof, Chairman of Sony Music Entertainment (Mottola boss) in 1991, replaced by Mottola in 1995. Schulhof knew that a number of industry figures were assisting in Mottola in rising up the chain of command. The most formidable of them was David Geffen, the billionaire record impresario and implacable Yetnikoff foe. Geffen urged Michael Jackson, Yetnikoff's most prized act, to leave CBS. Jackson was unwilling to do that but did drop several key members (*Dileo and Branca) of his entourage closely identified with Yetnikoff. In their place, he installed figures tightly linked to Geffen. Notable among them was an attorney Tommy had recommended to Geffen years before, Allen Grubman. Oblivious to the forces which were gathering against him, in June 1990 Yetnikoff authorised a deal for Mottola to receive an estimated 15 million over the next 5 years, not including annual bonuses. Mottola meanwhile was doing some negotiating of his own.
“Grubman put together a new contract for Michael that I considered outrageous. It gave him his own label with the promise to earn his regular high-share royalties in addition to the half the profits from his label.
Yetnikoff: In my legal opinion, profits plus royalties violates other artists
Mottola: No it doesn’t. His income from the label is separate
Yetnikoff: Bullshit, any accountant worth his salt will see it as a disguised-royalty. [Bruce] Springsteen’s people will go crazy
Mottola: I am giving Springsteen a full royalty rate on CDs
Yetnikoff: What! Do it with Springsteen and you will have Billy Joel’s people up your ass. You are losing it Tommy
Mottola: I am not the one losing it, Walter
Yetnikoff: What if I call Michael and tell him that If his lawyers insists on this unreasonable deal, I will put out a quickie CD of his greatest Hits! There is he wants less right now than a greatest hits collection and we have all the necessary rights!
Michael Jackson who was always a magnet for conmen in a mile of his radius was being used by executors playing office politics. Michael’s $1 Billion Contract with Sony in 1991 came hard on the heels of Tommy Mottola convincing Michael to side with him against Walter Yetnikoff.
Mottola had cajoled Bruce Springsteen with a full royalty rate on CDs. Michael was swayed with an attractive contract that promised not only financial upgrade but also his true passion: movies.Under the terms of his deal, Michael would star in his first full-length feature film, produced by Sony’s Columbia Pictures. The new contract also promised Michael a new record label, Nation Records. "He will be developing young and budding talent and he will be the magnet to attract superstars to leave their current recording company to come to Sony" said Tommy Mottola.
The New York Times weighed in with a withering assessment of Mottola in December 1991, headlined ‘Sony Music’s Big Spender’. The story lambasted Mottola for signing a series of "rich unprecedented deals”.
“Smelling blood in the water, the media sharks flashed their teeth. Billboard quoted Jon Landau (*Bruce Springsteen manager). He said that my relationship with him and Springsteen has ended. Clearly, Landau had been talking to Geffen, Geffen had been talking to Grubman and Grubman had been talking to Mottola. The Press made it look like my 2 biggest artists, Michael and Springsteen were deserting me. Were they? All I had to do was to call them. Why didn’t I? I was afraid they wouldn’t take my calls. I Was afraid that they had, in fact, transferred their loyalties to Geffen, Grubman and Mottola. I was afraid of the truth.”
“I was slowly getting the idea that Mottola was getting ready to run me out. Every time Tommy came near my dog, a gentle spirit, the dog growled like the devil himself was approaching. It was time to have it out with Tommy. I had made a place for him, just as I had make a place for Grubman, in the highest of the music business. He owed me. The very least he owed me the truth about his back-biting. I had to talk to Mottola but Mottola was nowhere to be found. Someone said he was sailing in his boat around Hamptons. I had a friend who had a boat who agreed to help me find Mottola. I spent all day, searching for Mottola’s boat. What was in my head? If I found him what would I do? Cajole him? Kill him? Force him to tell me the truth? Get him to confess his betrayal? I never found the boat. On Monday morning, I was called into Norio Ogha’s office.”
“Norio Ogha, the man I made wealthy gave me the news standing up. ‘The board of directors has met and decided that you should take a sabbatical’ He didn’t shake my hand, he didn’t use the work ‘fired’, he simply vanished. ‘Please exit through the side door’ a security guard told me. Later I learned that in the adjoining room, Ogha was meeting with Mottola, already planning the new regime” -Walter Yetnikoff
Grubman convinced Michael Jackson to support Mottola in his battle to take over the Walter Yetnikoff’s job. It was Jackson's support for Mottola that swayed Sony's decision to take Mottola over Yetnikoff” -Lynton Guest
When he came to power, Mottola, far from redeeming his promises to give Michael’s career a fresh impetus, abandoned him in favor of new artists. With his eyes on Michael’s music publishing Catalogs, Mottola conspired against Michael.
Mottola felt he had to prove himself as an executive who could outdo Yetnikoff. Mottola determined that the company had 2 major flaws: 1- It lacked development of new artists, remaining anchored by great artists, but nevertheless, past their prime 2- Company’s domestic and International arms weren’t operating as a coherent unit.
Mottola became completely immersed in Mariah Carey’s career, acting as her manager, assigning his business affiliations to advance her professional life.
In June 1993, Mottola married Mariah Carey. Mariah’s career was soaring, and Mottola was guiding it every step of the way. He approved her material, oversaw her arrangements, checked her promotion and assigned Allen Grubman as her attorney. "Allen Grubman is my best friend in the world. End of subject. Over and out" Mottola said in response to questions about the conflict of interest.
Contrary to popular belief amongst fans, sabotage against Michael by his business partner, Sony, started way before the Invincible album. Bear in mind that Michael isn’t just another artist for Sony, Michael has % 50 stake in Sony/ATV, they are business partners. Mottola’s love of Music Publishing started only when he was 20. Mottola saw in Michael a great artist yet an artist past his prime. What made Michael an important commodity to Sony was his back catalog and his %50 share in Sony /ATV Catalog.
"On July 11, 1993, I was told about a case to discredit Michael Jackson. It was clear to see that this was in the planning stages for some time. My boss said the case was to prove MJ was a ‘chicken hawk’ (*slang for child molester) and was contributing to the delinquency of a minor" -A Private Investigator on conspiracy against MJ
After 1993 child molestation allegation, Michael’s album sales dropped. He called Michael Schulhof to lament that he wasn't to blame for the drop in album sales but it was Mottola’s outsize focus to promote Mariah Carey.
The decisions that appears mundane to fans were strategically planned by executors of Sony, intended to sabotage Michael’s career thus, his finances.
'INVINCIBLE' WASN'T THE FIRST MJ ALBUM SABOTAGED BY SONY
“Sony, after the Chandler affair, wanted to release a single CD of Jackson’s greatest Hits (HIStory) while Jackson insisted a batch of new songs. The double CD was the messy result. It did, however, alert the powers that be at Sony, led by Tommy Mottola, to the fact that they could use contractual requirements for their own purposes, in the process, making some decisions which, on the face of it, appear totally bizarre."
"In 1997, only two years after ‘HIStory’, Sony released a strange hybrid CD titled ‘Blood On The Dance Floor- HIStory In The Mix”. Before the recording started, Sony invoked its right to 10 new songs. Jackson didn’t agree with Sony’s interpretation of their contract. After intense negotiations, a compromise was reached which resulted a CD containing 5 new songs plus 8 remixes of tracks from ‘HIStory’. What seems to be a normal negotiation process was actually part of a campaign to manipulate Jackson in the interest of Sony. Usually, the interest of the artist and the record label coincide. In the case of Jackson and Sony, they were now massively divergent. Jackson was experiencing a different attitude from his record company that he had enjoyed in the past."
"Sony understood perfectly that Jackson would refuse to do something but they would a compromise. Jackson would see this as a victory since what he had originally demanded was modified after the singer’s opposition. So when 5 new songs and 8 remixes were agreed for ‘Blood On The Dance Floor’ Jackson thought he had outsmarted the suits. It was huge mistake. To release a CD with only 5 songs coupled with remixes of his album released only 2 years prior confused the record buying public. It was half-assed Michael Jackson, as If he could be bothered to produce a whole new CD."
"None of this, of course, was made public. Sony had to be seen to be supporting Jackson. Record labels owe the duty of care to artists. They should conduct their business properly, otherwise they could be in the breach of contract. They should certainly not attempt to sabotage the career of one of their artists."
"Consequently, the world sale of the CD were a pathetic 4 million, real disaster for Michael Jackson. It is a failure that boosted Sony of their strategy and convinced them that they are on the right track. Jackson moaned incessantly to Tommy Mottola but his complaints were seen as sour grapes. All the blame for the fiasco was poured onto Jackson’s head."
“Randy Taraborelli wrote that 'After Blood On The Dance Floor' disappointed, he was never a company priority. Far from being surprised by the sales, Sony engineered the outcome from the outset. Taraborelli might be right in the conventional sense when he states that Michael Jackson was never a high priority but in fact, Jackson remained a high priority for Sony. Not to help sell records but to get rid of the singer while gaining control of his back catalog and more importantly, acquiring Sony/ATV. To achieve this objective, Jackson had to fail in a way that enabled Sony to appear blameless” -Lynton Guest
STAY WITH ME...
Acknowledments:
'The Trials and tribulations of Michael Jackson' by Lynton Guest
Are youconflicted about buying the upcoming "Michael Jackson" album?
Michael's fans would never knowingly hurt his interests. I believe majority of fans are uninformed and acting out of misguided good intentions. Will you please take the time to consider some things before making your purchase?
It is NOT just "1 album" or "1 fan". Each album purchased by worldwide fans will add up and the compounding effect will adversary affect Michael's legacy.
Since Michael’s unfortunate passing, fans didn’t have much to exhale about. Amidst our confusion, helplessness and grief for what feels like an eternity, fans greet the release of the upcoming album as a way to connect with Michael.
“I have been a vulnerable target for people who want money” Michael said. It holds more true than ever after his death. With so much injustice he endured in life and continues to be subjected in death, we owe it to Michael to consider the wellbeing of him & his children in heart…since not too many in his circle does so.
“Until I burry my friend, we are not even thinking of this stuff” Randy Phillips of AEG said about producing a “tribute” consisting of This Is It rehearsal footage.
"A lot of decisions were made between Tim Leiweke & I while I was standing outside the emergency room. The first thing we did was have our security close off the Staples Center, shut down the production and put all of OUR intellectual property into a vault so nobody could get near it or leave with it" -RANDY PHILLIPS
With what authority Mr Phillips confiscated "Michael's personal footage"? The idea of making a movie out of rehearsal footage came to Mr Phillips quick!
Opportunitists have turned Michael's death into a business venture. Whilst fans condemn this dispicable exploitation, they are the very ones enabling it.
Elizabeth Taylor's words about tabloids can also be applied to MJ exploiters (6:51)
Enough of exploiting Michael! Enough of exploiting Michael's children!
Only you, the public can accomplish this simply by not buying their garbage!
Only you can put them out of business. Only you and wouldn't that be great?
Since Michael’s death, Sony has released a Greatest Hits CD, a worldwide movie, a DVD Hits boxset, a PlayStation3 game. It is releasing a new album and another DVD boxset next month. In the meantime, the criminal trial for the man’s death didn’t even start yet. In January 2011, a judge will decide IF there is enough evidence to charge Conrad Murray with involuntary manslaughter.
Jermaine tweeted that Sony didn't want to name the album “The King”. They named it “Michael”. Michael Jackson’s This Is It. Michael Jackson's new album. How could that be? Michael died on June 25, 2009. They are NOT Michael’s.
An artist CHOOSES what he shares with his fans. Michael chose NOT to release these demos. He was very particular about materials with his name attached. His unreleased demos are unreleased for reasons that were valid to MICHAEL. We should respect the artist! The demos aren't the property of his fans. Moreover, it isn't Sony's or the executors' place to collaborate to complete these demos and exploit them as Michael's. Final product is NOT Michael's vision. Michael didn't give his blessing for this album.
Van Gogh left behind unfinished paintings which remains unfinished to date. No painter was delusional to think that they are par to finish what Van Gogh started. If a painter did finish painting them, are they still Van Gogh?
Michael Jackson is an exceptional artist, he is dubbed the Greatest Entertainer of All Time. For Sony to retain a producer and impersonators to complete Michael Jackson’s unfinished demos and serve the mutilation that is the upcoming album is plain disrespectful. Michael Jackson fans are fans of HIS vision, HIS output, NOT a pseudo interpretation by Michael-Jackson wannabes.
Fans are so blinded that they don't even realise that Sony implied that Michael's work is so ordinary that any wanna-be can finish it. Aren't you least bit offended?
In 2002, Michael did NOT even wait to finish his contract term. He immediately extricated himself from his contract and he never went back to doing business with Sony. It is due to John Branca, a former attorney who was terminated in Feb 2003 due to his “tight business relationship" to Mottola that Sony is back to distributing Michael's songs -something Michael wasn't willing to do in life.
It took Michael’s death and a forged Will to take by force from Michael what he wouldn’t give up in life. In July 2002, Michael announced that he was leaving Sony. He made it very clear that he wasn’t willing to release via Sony. He referred to leaving Sony as “GOOD BUSINESS” (6:58). Surely, Branca knew first hand and better than fans that Michael despised Sony. Yet, as soon as he was appointed an executor thanks to a Will he himself forged, who does Branca deal Michael’s unreleased songs to? $ONY!
“I go through Hell touring” Michael had said. Yet when he was at the precipice of bankruptcy in 2009, it is precisely what he chose to do, to go thru HELL and tour than to release an album with Sony.
Even when his back was against the corner, it wasn't Michael's choice to make his unreleased work public and doing so via Sony so what right does anyone have to make such decision over his dead body?
Michael is an artist with an extraordinary relationship with his fans. We don’t revere him just because he can sing and dance, we genuinely love the man. He interrupted his speeches to say “I Love You More”. He cherished notes & gifts by fans and he passed us notes with loving messages. He sent pizza for fans who camped outside of his hotel. He brought food to his followers. He always stopped his convoy to greet fans. He paid for limo and airfare for his fans who were stuck in New York on 9/11. In his good times or bad, we could always count on Michael to communicate with us, rather than hearing lies from media.
After his death, his estate and his family changed this dynamic and they act like we don't exist until it is time to promote something with Michael's name on it. We owe it to Michael to stand in solidarity and NOT enable mutilation of his art, stealing from his children and exploitation of his brand.
Some misconceptions or excuses by fans:
1-Michael didn’t have problem with Sony, his problem was with Tommy Mottola
Michael had a problem with SONY, Mottola was just the head of Sony back then. The world thought the protests in 2002 was about Sony sabotaging the Invincible. In reality, the discord between Michael Jackson and Sony started way BEFORE the Invincible album and it is about the Catalog that the parties co-own.
Michael shouted from a megaphone “SONY sucks”. The signs he held “SONY sucks” “SONY is phony” “SONY is baloney”, SONY Kills Music” speak volumes.
"Record Companies really do conspire against artists, they lie, they steal, they do everything they can.People from James Brown to Sammy Davis Jr., some of the real pioneers that inspired me to be an entertainer, are always on tour, because if they stop touring, they would go hungry. Record companies have to start treating their artists with respect, honor and financial justice.''~MICHAEL JACKSON
"We're definitely considering a lawsuit. We've asserted claims against Sony. These are claims for breach of an agreement and fiduciary duties. We have Enron-like accounting claims concerning the under-reporting of revenues to Michael Jackson as well as other alleged improper accounting practices" ~MARTY SINGER, former MJ attorney
"We believe that the amount of record sales attributed to Michael is underestimated. We believe that the financial records are inflated and not accurate. There are numerous artists who are deceived by record companies who overwhelm them with lawyers, accountants, publicists, double-talk, false practices and shady business dealings.
We want to assure all that together we can fight racism in the music business without limitation. The Jackson family hopes to serve as a vehicle for black artists past and present. There are numerous stories of our elder artists being cheated out of their life's work. We demand that Sony Music Corporation sign a full disclosure clause agreeing to justify each and every artist's account, record sales, distribution cost, and publicity accounts.
Michael Jackson is the foundation for Sony Music. He is the cornerstone upon which others were able to build a career. We believe that Sony has escaped responsibility for its own history by seeking to undermine our brother Michael to fulfill their own self prophesy."~JERMAINE JACKSON
"Michael has his reasons for speaking out like this. He never speaks out, so obviously there is a good reason for it, and he knows what he's doing." ~JACKIE JACKSON
"When I get back home, the phone was ringing. It was a big-shot Washington DC lawyer considering suing the major labels for defrauding artists. He wants to signs me up as a consigliere for his case.
- What overall philosophy drives the companies?
- Pay the artist as little as you can. Tie up the artist as long as you can. Recoup as often as you can.
- What are the most egregious ways that the companies cheat?
- Royalties are never paid %100. You paid on %85 and called the other %15 percent breakage, even though breakage only applies to shellac records from the forties and fifties. You pay the artists half royalties on their overseas sales. You say that is due to cost of setting up your subsidiaries. On foreign sales, the company benefits from a tax credit on the artists' royalties. The royalties has nothing to do with the company but the company pays less taxes. Meanwhile the artist doesn't even know what's happening. You charge at least the half of video costs to the artists. You charge the artist the cost of packaging. That would be %10 percent -or $1 on the wholesale $10 price of a CD -when actual packaging costs might be ¢25. It goes on an on. There are ways to pump up those costs on paper so that the royalties are delayed or permanently denied.
- And the artists' lawyers never objected?
- The artists' lawyers are as greedy as the artists and the labels. The artists' lawyers are going for huge advances for their clients and themselves. They didn't give a shit about the small print. it was all about making the big bucks.
- So it was corrupt?
- Morally maybe but legally it was in the documents no one bothered to read." ~WALTER YETNIKOFF, former Sony Chairman
The above except from Mr Yetnikoff's book "Howling At The Book" shines a bright light at the time when Michael was clueless and shocked to find out that his contract with Sony stipulated that he had to deliver certain number of albums to Sony each year. For every album he didn't deliver, Sony added more years to when the mechanical copyrights would revert back to him. Michael had his adviors look into the matter and found out that the firm that represented him (Branca's firm) also represented Sony.
"There's a lot of conspiracy going on. A lot of it. All around me"~MICHAEL JACKSON
In 2003, Interfor (an investigation firm) was hired to look into suspicious people around Michael. Upon this investigation, Branca was immediately terminated via fax. Michael didn't even so much offer an explanation! Branca was the one who brokered the Beatles Catalog for Michael, merged it with Sony. Being so easily disposed of had to hurt. Come on, who fires Branca, "#1 music publishing lawyer in the country" according to Marty Bandier, chairman of Sony.
Branca's termination letter instructed that he return the ORIGINALS of ALL MJ documents. Branca was to receive only COPIES! Branca should NOT have in his possession in 2009 MJ Will or Barry Siegel resignation letter. He was supposed to return them in 2003!Alleghed Will should have been declared NULL & VOID. We owe it to corruption in CA judicial system and Sony Power that Branca still remains an executive.Sony has the power to declare snow is black, Jason Malachi vocals are Michael's, the forged Will is valid, murder is involuntary manslaughter!
Whether or not Branca was "rehired" 8 days before Michael's death (how convenient!) is a motto point. Even If he was rehired (which is as likely as Michael hiring Frank Dileo, Joel Katz or Conrad Murray), that would NOT legally reinstate him as the executor to 2002 Will. If Michael wanted Branca to remain an executor of his Last Will, they would have had to draw a NEW Will.
David LeGrand's court testimony about Interfor investigation below:
Starting 2002, we heard Michael expressed concern for his life. He often talked of “conspiracy”. These concerns started AFTER his relationship with Sony went south. He was referring to SONY, conspiring against him to acquire his Catalog.
“They want my Catalog and they will kill me for it” –MICHAEL JACKSON
Where was Sony in 2005 Trial? Sony didn't even show up at Michael's public memorial. Now that there is money to be made exploiting an artist that wanted NOTHING to do with Sony, they are right there with their hands out.
"It is quite incredible and a testament that through both the Chandler scandal of 1993 and Jackson's trial of 2005, Sony was merely mentioned in the same breath as the star. Sony had made huge amounts of cash from Michael Jackson and the company connived in promoting the singer's bizarre image. Surely, they had a duty of care totheir artist, didn't they?
When Martin Bashir was forced into the Santa Maria Court to testify in 2005, he was accompanied by a bevy of lawyers, provided and paid for by ABC. My investigation have failed to turn up one example of a similar show of support from Sony for Michael Jackson, either in 1993, when no criminal offence was prosecuted or in the Arvizo case ten years later. As for Sony, Jackson came to resemble one of those Soviet politburo members, who, when removed from power, was also erased from all photographs as if he never existed."~LYNTON GUEST
2-Michael must have made up with Sony because he released albums via Sony after he said he was leaving Sony
Michael never made up with Sony and doing business with Sony wasn’t an option even during his financially taxing times in 2009. When Michael extricated himself early from his Sony Contract, it was agreed by parties that Sony would release Michael’s back Catalog of songs. The albums were part of the agreement, freeing Michael from the Sony Contract.
3-But if we don’t buy the album, Michael’s legacy will be adversely affected, the album will sink in charts and people will think we abandoned Michael
Akon said of releasing Hold My Hand "It HELPS keep his legacy going". It seems to be the theme among people exploiting Michael. As if Michael's legacy needs "help" from Akon or 50 Cent, otherwise, it would fall flat on its face!!!!
Will I Am had the same opportunity to monetize his collaborations with Michael but he refuses. I commend Will I Am for choosing integrity over money. And fans send him our gratitude for his loyalty and respect for Michael.
Michael built his legacy with hard work and diligence. He was meticulous. He left behind an unshakable legacy which is forever embedded in World Culture. His legacy will outlive us all. Future generations will be just as captivated and inspired by him as we are. His legacy is NOT determined by charts or album sales.
Just because Sony attached “Michael” doesn’t mean this album is Michael’s. So what If the album sinks on charts, let it! The world media is well aware that some fans won’t do business with Sony while others are disheartened that Sony retained an impersonator to mutilate Michael’s unfinished demos and attempted to deceive fans. Who do we owe explanation to? Michael’s own children and family is against the album. We have been very vocal. The executors, Sony and world media heard our sentiments, they will understand if the album isn't a success. It is NOT Michael’s album!
Making this album a success will show executors, Sony and artists who collaborated with Michael that they can always count on fans to pony up megabucks for anything with Michael's name on it. By witholding our bucks, we can discourage Branca from favoring Sony in future deals. We would also send the executors a loud message that we will NOT tolerate the mutilation or cheapening of Michael's art!
4-But if we don’t buy, won't his children will get affected financially? Michael's children are the very ones opposing this album. That is akin to Michael himself opposing. Will you cross Michael's children to get this album?
Katherine and Michael’s children receive a monthly allowance each month. The alleged Will that monitors pay-out to Michael’s own mother and children has NO LIMIT to how often and how much executors pay to themselves. When Katherine wanted to be briefed in Estate dealings, executors acted like she wanted the Sun and the Moon. She didn't want a decision making power, she just wanted to know what's going on in the Estate, it is fair, right? When Katherine asked Branca to provide her a copy of AEG contract, they called her request "burdensome, voluminous and INVASIVE"! Executors are now asking that the Estate dealings are sealed so their court filings aren't made public by media the way it has been.
Just last year, Michael’s Estate made over 1 Billion dollars. At the time of his death, his debt was $500 million. Estate generated, just last year alone, DOUBLE the outstanding debt. So why did Branca choose to restructure the $300 million loan instead of paying it off? Why is the Estate still in probate when it generated enough to settle ALL outstanding debt? Where did the money go? It surely didn't go to Katherine and the children!
You will be rewarding the executors and Sony by buying this album, NOT Michael’s children and NOT Katherine. The rightful owners of these songs are Paris, Prince and Blanket. Let them grow up and decide what to do with the unfinished demos. It is THEIR call, NOT Branca’s, NOT Sony’s.
If we are so quick to shake hands with Michael’s known adversaries, how are we any different? What does such move tell Michael's children about our loyalty? Yes extremely intelligent but Paris, Prince and Blanket are still kids. When they grow up, we want them to look back and see that we had their wellbeing in our hearts and that out loyalty to Michael extends beyond his death.
We all feel that our voices are muted. 2 things are for sure: Conrad Murray will get away scotch free, not even getting probation and BOTH of Michael's Catalogs will be sold to Sony. The hands of fans and Jackson Family are tied. But this is the ONE TIME that we hold the trump card. We can bang our heads in the name of “fighting for justice” but if we are NOT willing to play our cards right, we don’t have a winning chance. However powerful Sony may be, in THIS, fans have the power. Recognise your power, it is called buying power, don't give it away. Our buying power is our ONLY bargaining chip.
You will abandon Michael NOT when you don’t buy the album but when you buy it.
I don’t condone piracy but under current circumstances, all is fair. Taryll Jackson tweeted that only 7 out of 10 songs are Michael's. 2 duets have been online for years. "The Way You Love Me" was already released by Sony in 2004. 2 songs have been leaked. If you have a burning desire, download the songs.
Notice the difference between Sony in Jan 2009 and Sony in Sep 2010? That is compliments of MJ fans. The money you pay to Sony contributes to its financial stability to buy Michael’s Catalogs. Sony is the backer for Michael's $300 loan until Sep 2011, until then the Catalog is safe. Lets hope that by then Branca will be booted. Meanwhile, lets not contribute to Sony Empire.
Sony is Michael's BUSINESS PARTNER. Entertainment Industry is cut-throat, you saw in 2002 how Sony operates. It drove Michael Jackson, a gentle man who rarely complained, to publically protesting Sony. The worldwide fan-clubs and fans stood by Michael in his fight against Sony, now you are prepared to do business with it? Did your loyalty expire on June 25, 2009?
Sony deliberately sabotaged Invincible and Michael couldn't reap its rewards when he was alive. Michael pawned his own diamond watch to produce "What More Can I Give" because Sony refused to fund it . It was a charity song to fundraise for 9/11 victims. Sony used this charity song to corner Michael, if he wanted to release it bad enough, he would give up his Sony/ATV Catalog. Michael counter-offered to participate in Sony game and movie projects FREE OF CHARGE in exchange for the release of the charity song. SONY DECLINED.
"I hate how Sony have no problem promoting this album now that he is dead but refused to promote Invincible while he was alive" ~KAREN FAYE
Sony's mantra when it comes to Michael is "What More Can We Get". It would be sad if it was also the mantra of loyal fans.
His GREATEST legacy are his children. "Keeping Michael's legacy going" means protecting the wellbeing of his children and cherishing what he WILLINGLY shared with his fans. Michael's art, released or unreleased belongs to his children.
Until MJ3 grow up to take charge of the Estate and stand to receive %100 of the profits, we should NOT buy.
"It's just 1 album". Imagine every worldwide fan thinking the same. Sony has more than album sales in mind. If we aren't conscious, we will be aiding Sony 1 album at a time in snatching what Michael guarded with his dear life...
I thank you for your time of consideration.
Related Reads:
"You are my family, my children are YOUR children" -MICHAEL JACKSON
"Michael Jackson songs are finished when Michael says they’re finished. He was very particular about how he wanted his vocals, the reverb he used, he was that hands-on. How you gonna release Michael Jackson when Michael Jackson ain't here to bless it? Now that he is not part of the process, why would you put a record out like that? I just think that's disrespectful. What's wrong with what he already contributed to the world? You don't disrespect someone after they are gone! How much can you suck from his energy? Freaking parasites!" -WILL.I.AM
Michael Jackson Uncovers Conspiracy "In what could be one of the biggest conspiracies in entertainment history, documents have been sent to Michael Jackson and his representatives which reveal a deliberate plan by some former attorneys as well as associates and advisers to force Mr Jackson into involuntary bankruptcy. Michael Jackson was neither shocked nor surprised. He's always been suspicious that some of those whom he entrusted to act on his behalf may not have acted in his best interests" -RAYMONE BAIN STATEMENT, 2006
Michael Jackson private Investigator Speaks Out "On July the 11th 1993, I got the call to come over to The Bosses house to have a drink, and that is when I was told about working a case to discredit Michael Jackson. And be around for the first calls. It was then clear to see this was in the planning stages for some time. My boss said the case was to prove MJ was a ‘chicken hawk’, and was contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The Devils are in the details of what happened"
Michael was beset with trials and tribulations which, on face of it, were unconnected to each other. There was the prosecution on child abuse charges, the downturn in record sales, the financial catastrophes and the struggles to retain ownership of assets such as Sony/ATV, his back catalog and Neverland. Yet far from being coincidental, everywhere we detected the hidden hand of Sony, attempting to orchastrate events." -LYNTON GUEST, author of “The Trials of Michael Jackson"
