Surprised this story hasn't garnered more traction. It's a pretty big scandal and admission.

https://www.vibe.com/2018/08/sony-music-admits-to-releasing-fake-michael-jackson-songs/

Jessica McKinney | August 23, 2018 - 8:32 pm

Sony Confesses To Releasing Fake Michael Jackson Music

In 2010, several songs were released that were said to be recorded by the late Michael Jackson. Four years later, one fan questioned the music’s validity, leading many to believe the music was fraudulent. Now, nearly three years after the scandal, Sony Music Entertainment has admitted to releasing and selling fake tunes by the late legend.

The fake songs reportedly appeared on the 2010 posthumous album Michael. The songs in question include: “Monster,” “Keep Your Head Up,” and “Breaking News.” In court documents obtained by Karen Civil, Vera Servoa – the fan who kickstarted the investigation into the fake MJ songs – filed a civil suit, accusing Jackson’s longtime friends Eddie Cascio, James Victor Porte, and his production company, Angelikson Productions LLC of creating and selling music through Sony and the Jackson estate.

Cascio and Porte initially claimed that the songs were recorded in Cascio’s basement in 2007. Serova and the Jackson family, contested those claims however. While the singles sounded similar to MJ’s sound, they said Michael never recorded them. Serova testified in the Los Angeles Superior Court that they were recorded by an impersonator named Jason Malachi.

Consequently, Sony Music Entertainment conceded in court, that it had released fake singles. It’s unclear if fans or Jackson’s estate will be awarded for the criminal behavior or whether there will be an monetary punishment for Sony.

Also, more here:

http://hiphop-n-more.com/...ous-album/

Tbh, those songs sounded fake from the get-go. Surely there'll be repercussions for Sony and the goons who tried to piss on MJ's legacy.

[Edited 8/23/18 18:49pm]

If his last name is Malarkey, then what do you expect?

It was quite obvious that it wasn't really Michael, which is why I STILL refuse to even buy that CD now.

Damn. I remember an orger posting Jason Malachi music a few years back.

Like the fans didn't know... They sure raised a big STINK over the fake songs when MJ passed on... Don't try to fool hardcore knowledgeable music fans... My worst nightmare is that this will be tried with Prince...

purplethunder3121 said:

Like the fans didn't know... They sure raised a big STINK over the fake songs when MJ passed on... Don't try to fool hardcore knowledgeable music fans... My worst nightmare is that this will be tried with Prince...

Yuuuuup

Goddess4Real said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Like the fans didn't know... They sure raised a big STINK over the fake songs when MJ passed on... Don't try to fool hardcore knowledgeable music fans... My worst nightmare is that this will be tried with Prince...

Yuuuuup

Although, that would be nuts considering how many unreleased songs P has...that a lot of us already have.

Scorp said:

Been sayin it for 8 years before they dropped the release Right out the gate

As has pretty much every fan.

anc282 said:

If his last name is Malarkey, then what do you expect?

It was quite obvious that it wasn't really Michael, which is why I STILL refuse to even buy that CD now.

Yeah. Me neither. Not even when I saw it in the second hand bin for 5 €. Couldn't bring myself to it.

They reviewed a song on our national celebrity news program when the album first came out and they immediately knew it wasn't MJ.

By the way, MJ would never sing "I'm Michael Jackson" or his own name in any bragging context for that matter. He wasn't about that.

[Edited 8/24/18 2:59am]

A lot of anger, but at least they have fallen on their sword and admitted it, plus there are 7 genuine songs on that CD. I have 2 copies for some reason, bought 1 in 2011 out of a bargain bin and got another when I bought Adrian Grant's book, Invincible and a Poster book together, the 2nd copy of Michael was like an extra.

.

I can't imagine fake Prince songs as numerous threads here have proven no one could imitate him very well and laughable rip offs like Exotic Storm (Who gave us the line "Bombs be dropping everywhere, they better not harm yo silky hair"), Georgio (Sex Appeal), Jak, Sexual Harassment (We want Prince), Yasuyuki Okamura and Carlton (Not Banks, but had an album called Savage), fans would spot the fakes in a heartbeat, plus the vault keeps on giving.

.

The Michael Jackson vault has less and being the more popular artist, fakes are more likely to come out of the woodwork.

This is the bit that makes me go WTFFFF

https://edm.com/news/sony...kson-songs


"They argued they had the right to sell the songs as Michael Jackson’s even if the iconic artist wasn’t the singer"

Insane

Scorp said:

Those producers are full of shit.

When Jackson's family and collaborators initially raised concerns about the vocals in 2010, the two producers were asked to bring forward any evidence that Jackson was the true vocalist, such as handwritten lyrics, outtake vocals and photos or videos of him recording the songs.

But the producers claimed they had no evidence because Jackson valued his privacy too much to be photographed in the studio, and because they had deleted all the King of Pop’s outtake vocals to make space on a computer hard drive.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/...y-13131713

[Edited 8/24/18 7:33am]

HAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAH

HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

HAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAHA!!

THose ASSHOLES!

I'm glad someone had the funds and time to devote to put them in their place (eventually, with this flawed legal system that prevents a lot of musicians and artists from contesting these sorts of things)

I knew it was all wrong at the start as well.. I DID pay to PLAY them a few times on a jukebox to illustrate the fakeness of it all to others who simply had no clue.

I want my 8 dollars back!

(I know that's not as catchy as posting a GIF of that TWO DOLLARS!! kid from BETTER OFF DEAD, but it'll have to do)


HAHAHA

precisely what was said before.. aside from the fact that it DIDN'T SOUND LIKE MICHAEL... the rhythm was so lame, and plastic, and self referential, also... KEEP YOUR HEAD UP was a weak vocal. Weak fragile vocal spiced up with cut and pasted scowls and yelps from the real MJ, further degraded generationally to sound like they were from the same set.

Shit... if they hired ME to do it, I'd have at least gotten close

...but the truth of the matter was it was obvious. The songs were weak as well, and had no evidence of any of Michael's styling. Nor his breathing

I hope they have to pay a ton of $$$ and lose more "prestige" again. hopefully this will negate some of their transactions....and well.... that ATV catalogue is still SOLD so.... I dunno..

I'd like to see the expression on someone who thought it was always legit, and even sung these songs. That would be priceless..

[Edited 8/24/18 8:42am]

Fans who purchaed this CD should be allowed to get a partial refund from Sony.This is false advertising.

SoulAlive said:

Just by the cover it looked fake. I'm sure alot of his fans didn't buy it anyway, just the casual fan. Still I'd be pissed to get fake music from my fav. dead singers.

SoulAlive said:

Fans who purchaed this CD should be allowed to get a partial refund from Sony.This is false advertising.

that ..and punitive damage

EmmaMcG said:

SoulAlive said:

Fans who purchaed this CD should be allowed to get a partial refund from Sony.This is false advertising.

I'd go along with that. Mind you, the album was only €9.99 so I don't think I'll bother chasing them up over it.

You really ought to... Wouldn't know how to verify it though. I'm almost certain most people lost those receipts from 2010. A bar code SKU would be general and unverifiable... But they need to pay for that shit. Its the only way they'll hurt.

https://variety.com/2018/...202916324/


Their retort has come back quickly. They balk that SONY has "admitted" anything; rather that it was the phrasing of an argument necessary to address the appeal.

(YES, lawyer talk gets verbose and convoluted. )

2045RadicalMattZ said:

2045RadicalMattZ said:

My sis in law gave me that CD as a Xmas gift a while back. I don't know if I should keep it or trash it..

MOST of the songs at least were actual Mike songs but us real fans knew better that ALL of the Cascio tracks were dupes. They really tried and argued up and down about it being real SMFH!!! Got their asses.