Jackson parts with Bahrain label - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...380654.stm

Pop star Michael Jackson has parted company with a record label based in the Gulf state of Bahrain.
Earlier this year, the Two Seas label announced it would release the singer's new album, his first since 2001.

At the time it was reported that Two Seas was a joint venture between Jackson and a member of the Bahraini royal family, Abdulla Hamad Al-Khalifa.

But Jackson's US spokeswoman, Raymone Bain, says the singer is no longer affiliated with the label.

Guy Holmes, chairman of UK label Gut Records, had been named manager of Two Seas, and was expected to oversee the production of Jackson's new album.

But his company told the BBC no deal had ever been formalised with the US pop star.

Jackson, 48, has now formed a new company, the Michael Jackson Company, which will look after his business affairs, and may act as a recording label for his next record - due in 2007.

Reports in the music press suggest the album will be produced by Teddy Riley, who previously worked with Jackson on hits such as Remember The Time and Jam.

But the singer's spokeswoman was unable to confirm these reports.

Jackson has lived in the Middle East since being acquitted of child abuse charges in 2005, but he has continued to face a series of legal challenges in the US.

His most recent recording project, a charity single for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, has yet to see the light of day.

is anyone surprised?

Michael can't seem to get anything done these days.I feel sorry for his fans that are waiting for new music from him.

Not surprised at all and this is exactly why I don't get excited when I hear about deals, labels, amusement parks, etc. I have an I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it attitude.

This is actually a good thing. Michael was going to bomb bad if he released an album through a middle eastern indie label. Get with Teddy Riley, get with a major US label, do it how it's supposed be done, no pussy-footing around. I'm sure Michael Jackson will have his album out in 2007. He'll most probably do it through Sony BMG, he'll never leave, he knows he can make big bucks there despite any problems he may have had with the label in the past. I know for sure now that this will be a big album.

Teddy Riley's sound is old and outdated.Do you really think he should work with him again?

SoulAlive said:

Next to Quincy Jones he's one of the few producers who can bring out the best in Michael.

an interesting fact: 'Thriller' took only two months to record.

These days,it takes Michael 4 or 5 years to record an album

SoulAlive said:

LaToya recorded this beauty in only one hour...


[Edited 9/26/06 6:39am]

I don't think it matters at the moment who might or might not produce it.

We've got more chance of seeing Halley's Comet in 2007 than a new MJ album
[Edited 9/26/06 7:02am]

This is great news - now the Katrina charity single will get released!

thedoorkeeper said:

Sha'mon, y'all! Did anyone expect this would happen? Mikey wants worldwide distribution from a known label. If he wasn't happy with Sony, why would he be happy with any lesser-known distributor?

He'll come back to Sony (or vice versa). I'm sure of it.

TommyRoss said:

i'm thinking it's because, maybe, (and that's a BIG "maybe") he's become known as somewhat damaged goods by the big companies.

hee-heeeee!

another lawsuit?

He just just give open lectures on college campuses. He could talk about legal stuff, gay rights, parenting, how to live in a circus, debt relief...something.

TommyRoss said:

Agreed

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Strange how this so-called "damaged goods" man STILL outsells artist who have the media kissing their asses and who appear on every TV "show" promoting their albums or on every magazine cover. You know, just saying.

Btw, has Raymone OFFICIALLY confirmed that Michael has left the Bahrain lable(I hope that he has) or is Roger Friedman spinning, AGAIN? You know he will have to backtrack tomorrow and try to pretend that what he meant was something else. Roger always backtracks.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Michael Jackson has yet to release a studio album to sell under 10 million, damaged goods? not quite. any and every label I'm sure wants Michael Jackson recording for them, can they afford him? that's another story

Times have changed now. He's done too little for too long and been too lazy. It's not like 95 when he was still Michael Fucking Jackson and was making his comeback only 2 years after his latest tour. People thought he was weird but he was still Michael Fucking Jackson. Now he's just Michael Jackson or Wacko Jacko. The only way he can be Michael Fucking Jackson again is if he comes back strong musically. I have my doubts whether he can do that or not. He may just have too much baggage at this point. I hope can do it though.

skyecute said:

regardless of how many copies his CDs sell,his career is severely damaged.Stop being in denial! Record sales only tell part of the story.

Michael's in Ireland and has been for ages now, yet the media are still hellbent on ending every MJ article with how he's been residing in the Middle East which hasn't been the case for months now.

I doubt we'll see a new record from MJ in 2007. For some reason I have a hard time believing that he's recording in Ireland with Teddy Riley.
[Edited 9/27/06 5:59am]

WildStyle said:

I agree!

It is really time well for sometime now, PUT UP or SHUT time!

But he is still stuck in that 1986-On promotion style of not doing anything but release "Jacko"- Personal stories? He is just lazy, it is allot easier to release a stupid personal story, then get off your lazy ass and actually try something new.

He is still doing this with but no one cares even the media doesnt pick these ups really:

I started a new record label (6 months later, I am leaving it)
I am broke (I am not broke) (then I am broke)
I am getting married
etc,etc,etc

It's like hey dude are you a musican or just some media/news whore? Do you ever just work??

Put up or Shut up! Get in shape, turn your microphone on and actually sing live, learn new dance moves, learn a musical instrument if your to old to dance now.

Psst.. It is not 1983 anymore. He is to lazy to do anything but release a story from time to time just hoping the public will think of him for a few days.

I agree,Michael is too lazy! He needs to either do a new project (album/tour) or just retire already.It's unfair to his fans,the way he keeps them hanging,hoping for a new project.Madonna has already done THREEalbums and THREE tours in this decade alone! It's time for MJ to get off his lazy ass and get committed to his art again.

skyecute said:

I love how people are so touchy and try to turn the argument around. You're right - nothing anyone would consider "damaged good" about a mannequin in a Diana Ross wig that touched kiddies' private parts. Nobody said a thing about record sales. You try convincing a record company that they can take the public's attention off of that and back to his music. It's not happening.



...
[Edited 9/27/06 6:32am]

TommyRoss said:

Precisely.I'm amazed at how many of his fans are in denial.They truly don't think that his career is in trouble.At the very least,MJ has alot of "image problems" that could derail any planned comeback.And that's putting it mildly.

SoulAlive said:

exactamundo. for those of you who honestly think that michael's career is gonna automatically patch itself up despite what's been going down with 'im within the past decade and everybody's gonna forget about all that shit, you're sadly mistaken. just like tommy stated, record sales don't mean anything. it ain't 1982 anymore.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Mike followed up a circus trial with more bizarre behavior.

MJ took a really big hit not only with the trial but also with his antics and stunts surrounding the case (from the jail-abuse allegations, the pajamas, etc.) and his bizarre actions since (moving to Bahrain, stiffing his Neverland employees, visiting a mall dressed in female Bahrainian dress...)

These are not actions that scream: "Sign me!" More like: "Commit me." He needs some real help, and the chances are remote that he's going to receive it.

ThreadBare said:

Because he will never seek it out. Like many sick people, he (I'm guessing) doesn't think he's sick. It's a shame, really.