More Problems for SONY

Well it looks like MJ ain't the only ones having problems with SONY!

MORE PROBLEMS FOR SONY

Tuesday, July 16, 2002
By Roger Friedman
Maybe it was produced by a guy with a porno past, but who cares? A clip of "What More Can I Give?," Michael Jackson's famously unreleased charity single, is now available for listening right here at the Fox411. After months of collecting dust, now fans can make their own minds up.

You can hear Celine Dion, Ricky Martin and Luther Vandross, as well as Jackson's high-pitched mellifluous tones. That's Mariah Carey doing "oo-woos" in the background. The song is a melodic cousin of Jackson's 1985 hit "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."

Now that Jackson is off Sony Records, the only question remains is why doesn't some other enterprising record company step in and release "What More Can I Give?" as a first anniversary tribute to the September 11 families? It would seem appropriate. I can't believe that the artists who participated wouldn't sign off on such an effort. If the Sony performers who are involved can't releases from their company, then public sentiment would dictate a boycott of their regular records.

Meanwhile, Sony Music may have bigger problems than its fight with Jackson. I am told that Celine Dion's husband/manager Rene Angelil is livid that his wife's current Sony/Epic Records album A New Day Has Come has been a flop. The CD has sold 2 million copies, which is a lot for most artists but nothing for Dion. Equally bad in sales is Marc Anthony, whose Mended CD is stuck around 350,000 copies. His previous effort for Sony was a huge hit with many hit singles. Neither Dion nor Anthony has had a hit single from their new albums.

But even worse is the Men in Black 2 soundtrack. Even though the movie has been an enormous hit, the album — by actor/rapper Will Smith, called Born to Reign — has sold a measly 104,000 copies thus far. Smith previously had managed to score big rap hits while at the same time being a box office star. Compounding the embarrassment is the fact the MIB2 is a Sony movie.

All of this bodes poorly for Ricky Martin, who's getting ready to release a new album this fall. After the monster success of "Livin' La Vida Loca," Martin took a subsequent misstep with his Sound Loaded album. If Sony doesn't turn his third English language effort into a hit, Martin may not so quick to support Tommy Mottola in the press.

If all of that doesn't sound good, there's more bad news lurking around the corner. The word from the Sony building at 55 Madison Ave. is that John David Kalodner, the venerable eccentric and beloved producer behind Aerosmith, Kansas and Journey's greatest triumphs — and who's been with Sony since it was just Columbia Records — may not have his contract renewed next winter. Observers have already noted that Kalodner's entire department has recently been laid off. Ironically, Aerosmith's new greatest hits package — which is mostly Kalodner's work — is the lone bright spot these days for Sony on the Billboard/Soundscan charts.

Michael is just the *latest* Sony artist to have problems with that label.There will soon be others...


***Jamiroquai---Their latest CD "A Funk Odyssey" hasn't taken off in America,and the word is that leader Jay Kay is none too pleased.I'm pissed too because this CD is filled with potential hits.Songs like "Love Foolosphy" and "Corner of the Earth" should be all over the radio!!

***Lauryn Hill---Unlike MJ,she has chosen to take a quieter,less dramatic approach to battling Sony...lol...she is simply not communicating with them! They are pissed because she won't reveal her tour plans,or when her next studio album will be ready for release.They're also pissed because she has refused to do any promotion for her recent "Unplugged" CD,which has barely gone platinum as a result.No doubt,she also shares Michael's view that there is alot of racism in the music biz.

***Marc Anthony---His latest CD "Mended" is not being promoted well.Marc is doing his part (he's currently on tour),but Sony couldn't even get his latest single ("I've Got You") on MTV and on many radio playlists.The previous single "I Need You" barely made a dent on the charts.Unless they revive the CD with a hit single soon,things could get real messy.


And,lastly,there are *RUMOURS* that Tommy Mottola himself could be without a job soon,unless he gets things together at Sony Records.Stay tuned!!

But wait there's more...

New lawyer watching
Jacko's backo


Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson may be ready to take his battle with Sony Music chief Tommy Mottola to court - but don't bet on any case ever reaching trial.


Jackson, who already has O.J. Simpson attorney Johnnie Cochran on his team, has signed top Hollywood litigator Martin Singer.


Word is that Singer, whose clients include Bruce Willis, Sly Stallone, Eddie Murphy and Russell Crowe, is exploring a lawsuit against Sony.


The barrister declined to say if litigation was imminent. Singer did say, though, "We believe Sony intentionally tried to sabotage" Jackson's "Invincible" CD.


A Sony spokesman argued that "Sony Music has done everything in its power to establish and maintain Mr. Jackson as the world's biggest superstar - and to imply anything other than Sony Music's complete and total support for Mr. Jackson over the past 15 years is, simply put, ridiculous."


Singer contends that the music giant "failed to properly market" Jackson's last album. While Jackson claims racism is behind the alleged neglect, Singer is concentrating on the business aspects.


"He had the biggest TV special in 2001," says Singer. "Sony did not buy one commercial on that special. Why would they not do that? It may not be in their economic interests for the album to do well."


The attorney says Sony execs may have wanted "Invincible" to be "a flop" to "justify" to Sony Corp. Chairman Nobuyuki Idei Jackson's departure from the label.


Singer declined to comment on a report by Foxnews.com's Roger Friedman that Jackson has correspondence from Mottola in which the executive allegedly threatens to ruin his career.


Singer does say that "Tommy Mottola wouldn't return Michael's calls for four to five months. When they talked, it was a very bad phone call." Word is, Mottola was riled when a fed-up Jackson complained to Idei personally.


Some insiders think neither Mottola nor Jackson wants this squabble in an open courtroom.


"The Japanese would never want this played out in a trial," says a source close to the dispute. "As for Michael, if you were his lawyer, would you put him on the stand? Somebody is going to blink."

I heard that the Japanese (who own Sony) are considering replacing Tommy Mottola.They're not too pleased with the accusations that MJ and others are making against Sony (they ADORED Mariah Carey and blame Tommy for letting her go).Stay tuned!

Of course Sony sabbotaged Invincible!
Two singles takes the piss,
and neither of them available at retail.

the author of the post is a bit-two faced. ya know: roger freidmen. i would be suspicious of what he says since it is apparent he quickly changes sides.

DavidEye said:

that's what i heard. he was FOOLISH to let mariah go.
unlike other sultty girls, she can actually SING. and WRITE and Co-produce. if i was record label, she would be one of the first to be on mine.

i heard that tommy's contract has yet to be renewed. hoepfully he will be out of a job.

I don't think Motolla really cares if he loses his job or not--but it does sound like he's going to be the fall guy in all this.
You know Sony wants to fully own all the back catalog music of the Beatles, Sly Stone, etc that Sony and MJ own together, by pressuring him to pay back the money lent on 'Invincible' and other projects.

Motolla will get a huge severance and then land softly at another record company with less problems. Won't be WB, they're sales are way down.