MICHAEL, JOEL, THE PRINCE & L.A.: Showbiz newshound Roger Friedman of FoxNews.com has sniffed out a secret pow-wow at London’s Dorchester Hotel that included Michael Jackson, his homie the Prince of Bahrain, Atlanta attorney Joel Katz and IDJ chief L.A. Reid. Writes Friedman: “My sources say that Katz has come to represent the Prince in a deal that would fund a record label for Jackson at Island Def Jam’s parent, Universal Music Group. Katz is not new to the Jackson picture. I’m told he represented Jackson’s brother Jermaine for many years in the mid-'80s... Coincidentally—that is, if you believe in coincidences—Katz represents Reid as well (Jackson probably does not know this. Maybe someone at the Dorchester can show him this column). It was Katz who negotiated Reid’s deal that made him head of Arista Records in 2000. He also got him out of that deal and made the current one at Universal.” (10/6a)

THE EMANCIPATION OF JACKSON: The above is intriguing stuff, although it was actually Allen Grubman who made Reid's current deal at IDJ. Katz did indeed rep Reid when the latter was living in Atlanta running LaFace, and they remain good friends. It should also be noted that John Branca continues to function as Jackson's music biz attorney. The most intriguing part is this: If Jackson made a deal with IDJ and actually listened to Reid about the making of his next record, he could conceivably have hits again—look what this ace A&R man did for Mariah Carey and her prolonged slump. Reid gets the urban/pop world as well as anybody ever has, and this dialed-in dude could be the answer to Jackson’s career problems. (10/6a)

http://www.hitsdailydoubl...ormill.cgi
[Edited 10/6/05 19:51pm]

I find it hard to believe that no one cares about this news since everything from MJ's used tissues to the merits/demerits of the 13th song on Invincible is discussed ad nauseum.

He's gonna have his own label? What happened to MJJ? Sounds like a good deal to me ,his best deal since LA Reid is a big fan.

By the way, what happened to his Katrina charity single? I know I"ve been a bit out of touch lately, but I haven't heard any news about it...

CandaceS said:

I was thinking th esame thing. They had Usher and others talking about how excited they were to be apart of it. We still havent heard anything.

Whatever MJ does, we certianly havent heard the last from him. He cant end his now. Hes only in his 40s. He's got alot more to give.

dreamfactory313 said:

I hope you are right, but actually he is pretty close to 50. While I don't think he will retire - I don't think his performances around 2001 and 2002 were up to par with the likes of The Bad and Dangerous and even HIStory tour. The dude is getting older. It happens to everyone. It is just kind of sad to see he has kind of lost some of his "touch" due to age. However..he still dances the crap out of Justin and Usher - which in these days and ages - says a lot.