November 2019 Sharing MJ news and comment from the World Wide Web

• New title and opening date announced for MJ Musical It was announced last month that the nervously awaited Jackson musical has a new title – it will now be simply known as MJ: The Musical. According to the production spokesperson Rick Miramontez, “As the show has evolved through its development process, the production felt that MJ was a better and stronger choice than relying on the title of any one individual song.” An official website has also been launched which announces that tickets will go on sale Jan 15, 2020 for performances beginning Jul 6, 2020. The Estate released a statement which says (in part): “Some of you have expressed concern about Lynn Nottage. Let us assure you that Lynn Nottage is a huge fan. We are always careful about selecting the creative talent who will work on a Michael Jackson project. She was ambushed by the UK tabloid reporter and statements made in casual conversation were taken out of context and have been misconstrued. No show we ever create about Michael will be anything other than truthful and positive, and of course we would never validate the lies and slander that have been perpetrated by Reed, Robson, Safechuck and HBO in what the fans have called a ‘bullcrapumentary.’” Read the complete text here. Editorial • HBO files motion to delay further action ahead of appeal This month’s newsletter is a few days late because I have just Last month The MJ Estate won its case for public arbitration returned from a trip to Finland to see the Michael Jackson On the with HBO over the film. However, HBO Wall art exhibition at the Espoo Museum of Modern Art, just has now filed a motion with the court requesting a halt to outside the capital, Helsinki. Despite all the publicity and fan proceedings so it can lodge an appeal against the judge’s reviews I have read, I was more impressed by the exhibition than I ruling in favour of the Estate. A hearing on HBO’s motion is had dared hope. I came away reflecting on the various ways the scheduled for 7 November. Thanks to AndJustice4Some for artists had depicted Michael, and the inspiration they had derived providing access to the filed document on Scribd. The from his life and work. Some of it I agreed with, some I didn’t. Estate’s response was reported by Deadline. “This bogus But it was hard not to be impressed by the diverse artistic appeal is nothing more than HBO’s latest desperate attempt to responses to the King of Pop and all that he represents in popular cover up the truth about its shoddy journalism,” Bryan culture and the history of the entertainment industry. Freedman said in a statement. “For seven months HBO has

At different locations on my trip, whether in Helsinki or in tried and failed to avoid a public arbitration…This appeal, Singapore or Hong Kong (stop-overs before and after my sojourn which is its latest Hail Mary attempt, is even more pathetic in Finland) I happily listened to Michael’s music being broadcast than all of its other attempts to avoid public scrutiny. If HBO over PA systems in stores and shopping malls. The Hard Rock truly wanted to avoid a judgment, it should have thought about Café Helsinki gives pride of place to a ‘life mask’ created to mold that before it aided and abetted a one-sided documentary his werewolf makeup; and at the Hard Rock Hotel on without any journalistic integrity and in which the subjects have Singapore’s Sentosa Island, a large black and white concert photo a huge motivation to lie – namely the millions of dollars for from the tour adorns a hallway off the lobby. At Raffles Hotel, which they are suing the Estate. Our client will never stop until staff told me exactly what suites Michael had reserved when he justice is served.” [Excerpt] visited in 1993. (The answer is: all of them!) Finally, at the sound and light show at Garden by the Bay, part of the musical • Estate acquires Sly and Family Stone catalogue soundtrack was a children’s choir singing “We are the World”. Long a matter of dispute, the fate of the music catalogue of Singing along to the familiar words amongst the famous Sly and the Family Stone songs appears to have been settled. “Supertrees” I felt reassured that it’s not just us hardcore fans who As reported on Pitchfork, the Michael Jackson Estate has now continue to #amplifyMJ. acquired the majority ownership of the U.S. rights to Sly and the Family Stone’s catalog. (The Estate also owns the entirety I’m sure articles and MJ Studies Today columns will result from of the band’s catalog outside the ). In a press my experiences on this trip, but for now, let’s revisit the MJ-related release on the acquisition agreement, Sly Stone said, “Thank news of recent weeks. You Mijac (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the MJ Estate, added: “Sly and Happy reading, and happy Michaeling! the Family Stone were a force for enlightenment and positive

change, a message that Michael believed in. He recognized Kerry Hennigan [Sly Stone]’s genius and the power of his words and music Kerry Hennigan which is why he first acquired the catalog and why we at Global MJ Pilgrim (“I’m with the doll”) MIJAC follow in Michael’s footsteps today." Editor 'A Candle for Michael Newsletter' Admin: Michael Jackson's short film 'Ghosts' fan group Other Court Up-dates Blog: https://kerryhennigan.wordpress.com • * A decision in the case of the French MJ Fans vs Robson and Safechuck has been postponed until December. The Calendar of MJ Events court has said they would like to hear from all parties involved but has not yet heard from Wade Robson. The court will

reconvene on the matter on Dec 5. Read the details in MJ Until 26 Jan - Michael Jackson On the Wall, Espoo, Finland Vibe’s blog. 8 Nov – Christophe Boulmé book signing of his book “Michael” at * The Hollywood Reporter advises that the Michael Jackson FNAC music store, Le Mans, France. Details here. Estate has refused to pay Tohme Tohme his settlement money unless he agrees to a non-disparagement clause. The 25 Nov – Major Love Prayer Day www.majorloveprayer.org article states that the seven-year old lawsuit “appears to be back on with a Los Angeles Superior Court judge refusing to 1 Dec – Forever the Best Show about the King of Pop, Paris enforce an oral settlement agreement.” 6 – 8 Dec – MJ “Man in the Mirror” musical, Tuen Mun Town Hall Auditorium, Hong Kong. • 10th Anniversary of release of “This Is It” movie October 28/29 this year was the 10th anniversary of the 13-14 Dec – In the Studio with MJ 2019, Berlin release on film of “Michael Jackson’s This Is It”. Musical 22 Dec - Man in The Mirror - Tribute to Michael Jackson, House of director for the show, Michael Bearden, posted the following Blues, Orlando, FL. on Twitter: “This Is It was released on this day 10 yrs ago. I have not watched the film in 10 yrs.(personal choice) I lived 25 Dec – Christmas Day / Major Love Prayer Day the on and off camera moments. I’m holding on to that. Still, www.majorloveprayer.org I’m so grateful for the film so many still find solace in. For that, 15 Jan – Ticket sales open for MJ: The Musical I’m truly grateful! M~ #thisisit #MJ” His post included some footage of Michael instructing the band. View it here.

News of Note

• Michael Jackson tops Forbes list once again Forbes’ annual list of the top earning deceased celebrities has once again revealed the enduring earning power of Michael Jackson’s legacy. Michael’s total of US$60 million put him ahead (again) of second-placed Elvis Presley ($39m) and Charles Schulz ($38m). Zack O'Malley Greenburg reported, “The King of Pop’s streaming surged despite recent controversy: 2.1 billion U.S. spins, up from 1.8 billion a year ago. With proceeds flowing from his Mijac Music catalog, a Las Vegas show and a long-term deal with Sony, he retains his postmortem cash crown for the seventh consecutive year.”

Forbes’ list measures pretax income from October 1, 2018 through October 1, 2019. The numbers are compiled with the help of data from Nielsen Music, IMDBPro and interviews with industry insiders. Fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted. Zack (author of the book “Michael Jackson, Inc”) further reported that the drop in Michael’s figures from last year had nothing to do with “Leaving Neverland”. “Last year’s figure included a onetime windfall of nearly $300 million for the sale of Jackson’s stake in EMI Music Publishing, as well as a new record deal with Sony and cash from a CBS Halloween special; this year’s total was always bound to be a fraction of 2019’s. But even after his early 2019 reckoning, Jackson’s U.S. streaming totals actually edged up from 1.8 billion to 2.1 billion, an increase of 17%.”

• Michael and ‘Thriller’ dominate Halloween Despite the year’s controversies, Michael Jackson and in • New delux box set and other This Is It merchandise particular “Thriller” dominated Halloween 2019. Thriller was In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the highest grossing the most streamed Halloween song and the concerted efforts concert/rehearsal film, the Estate of Michael Jackson of dedicated MJ fans pushed the track to #1 on Amazon’s Top announced the release of a delux (i.e. expensive) box set 100 Paid pop songs chart. The Thriller dance was performed featuring a repressing of the 4-LP set on translucent blue by “zombies” at parties and Thrill the World events ranging vinyl, a 60 page photo book, a 3D enhanced Blu-ray disc of from Moscow, Russia to Christchurch, . People the film, lenticular concert tickets, a limited-edition numbered magazine conceded that “Michael Jackson’s Halloween hit box with a built-in sound-responsive LED light panel on the ‘Thriller’ is as popular as ever despite Leaving Neverland front cover. Ther are only 1000 sets available. To pre-order fallout.” JaD @JaDversary on Twitter provided a compilation visit https://shop-eu.michaeljackson.com/products/this-is-it- video of “the overwhelming love of #MichaelJackson & 10th-anniversary-box-set Click here to see a short video of #Thriller displayed this year for Halloween! The love was felt the box set. There are also new This Is It T-shirts, hoodies all over the world & MJ is here to stay.” and caps available via the official MJ on-line store.

• “Square One” documentary success • RIP Ed Cherney – engineer Danny Wu’s documentary on the 1993 allegations against Off the Wall recording engineer Ed Cherney passed away Michael Jackson screened to a full house in London last October 22 as a result of cancer. Brad Sundberg paid tribute month ahead of its release on YouTube. The London to Ed, who was one of the first “big boy” engineers he met screening, hosted by the #MJInnocent campaign, created when Brad got his first job at Westlake Studios. “He was such a demand for tickets it had to be moved to a larger funny and helpful and very kind to a young kid who barely venue. A review of the film appeared on MTO News with a knew a mic cable from a patch cord.” Ed was aged 69. link to the film on YouTube. • Heal LA fundraising Halloween party at Havenhurst • Pop-corn crunching MJ in the studio - audio Prince Jackson’s Heal LA Foundation held an invitation-only Fan Lois Bay recently tweeted about Michael’s known love for Halloween costume party at $1000 a head at the Jackson popcorn (and hot sauce). As she notes, his prank calls to compound in Havenhurst last month, where he spoke to the celebrity friends with a mouth full of popcorn are legendary. press about following the example of his Dad. Particularly But who would have thought he’d be crunching it in the amusing were the stories he and his cousins, Taj, TJ and studio? Listen to the audio to hear for yourself. Taryll told of taking Michael trick or treating. Watch the video here. • “Thriller Live” director/choreographer’s book now out Director Gary Lloyd’s autobiographical book titled “My Life with • “Are you chewing gum, Michael?” “Yes, and it’s WONDERFUL” Michael” looks at his journey working with the legacy of A humerous video snippet appeared on Twitter recently, Michael Jackson through the hit London show “Thriller Live”, shared by ellen @agenttbarton. Taj Jackson retweeted it with one of the longest running shows in West End history. As the comment “I miss this man. I miss my uncle. I was truly reported in Broadway World, “The book (released Monday blessed to be his nephew.” The footage shows Michael and 28 October) explores Lloyd's life growing up as a driven and 3T in a hotel where Michael is chewing away happily on his determined male dancer in the 1980s and as an aspiring favourite gum. Watch it here. choreographer/director, and how the inspiration of Michael Jackson's work paved the way for this continued relationship.” A Candle for Michael Newsletter – November 2019 Editorial comment, layout and design © Kerry Hennigan 2019