Michael Jackson Auditorium Still Covered

Unfortunately the letters on the "Michael Jackson Auditorium" in the King of Pop's former elementary school are still covered.

Recent video (November 4th, 2008):
http://se.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=3117052

Michael Jackson Owned Properties

I have made a research on Michael Jackson's known properties. Below you may see an overview:

Jackson Family home in Gary (Recent picture above)
According to the official papers the property's current total value is over $19.000 and owned by the Jackson Heirs Trust (Katherine and Joseph Jackson). Some sources says that Jackson bought the property back in early 2003. There are no liens or unpaid taxes on the property.

Jackson Family home in Encino
The Jackson Family compound is worth around $3 million. According to the official papers, the home is owned by Jackson himself. There are no unpaid taxes on the property, but a $4 million mortage lien.

Katherine Jackson's home in Las Vegas
The property's title once bought by Michael to Katherine has been moved to the "Land Title of Nevada Inc." back in 2003 in Katherine and Joseph Jackson's bankruptcy case. According to several sources, Katherine still has the rights to stay in the home. There are no liens or unpaid taxes on the property.

Neverland Valley Ranch
Jackson did not visit the famous ranch since his 2005 acquittal. The farm is owned by a joint venture between Jackson and Colony Capital (Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC) since late 2008. There are no unpaid taxes on the property, but a $24.5 million mortage lien.

Los Angeles property
Jackson reportedly owns a Century City hideout, but no further information is known about this property.

Rented mansions
According to the media reports, Jackson recently rents two mansions, one in Las Vegas and the other in Beverly Hills.

Thriller Live's Michael Jackson Boys

Above you may see pictures about the three young guys playing Michael Jackson in the new "Thriller Live" musical starting today in the West End.

Update On The New Michael Jackson Catalouge Box Set

The fans who already ordered the new Michael Jackson Catalouge Box Set have been informed by Julien's Auction, that the item will not be shipped until after March, 2009.

Michael Jackson Events Calendar

I just added a Michael Jackson Events Calendar to my blog, that you may find on the right side. Busy months are coming...

As well you can easily add my blog to your favourite RSS Reader.

New Motown Compilations

As a part of the "Motown 50" celebration, Michael Jackson's former record label will release new compilations both from the King of Pop and the Jackson 5:

January 27, 2008: Jackson 5 - Love Songs

February, 2008: Hello World - The Motown Solo Collection

Motown 50 - Jackson 5 In Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum

Michael Jackson's former record label, Motown will celebrate it's 50th anniversary this year. The official celebration will kick off on January 12, 2008.

Motown and "Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum" launches a new exhibition today containing items from the Chicago Motown Museum. Among others some Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson memorablia can be seen there.

"The Jacksons - An American Dream" On TV

The Hungarian "TV2" television channel will show "The Jacksons - An American Dream" movie on January 13-14, 2008 (in two parts).

Updates In Syl Johnson Case

A status hearing / telephone conference held on 12/30/08 before the Honorable Marvin E. Aspen Judge.

If the parties can not agree on a settlement, the parties are to file with the Court a joint detailed discovery plan, with a courtesy copy to Chambers.

Next hearing: 2/17/09

Some Tidbits

Some tidbits:

- The 2SeasRecords.com website has been removed following the settlement between Michael Jackson and the Bahrain Prince.

- The "Miss Cast Away And The Island Girls" movie will be shown on several TV channels around the globe (Hungarian RTL - December 31, 2008 8:50pm).

"Thriller" Re-Release

Legacy Recordings will re-release Michael Jackson's original "Thriller" album next January (12th in USA).

Updates On New Michael Jackson Releases

As it's been reported on many websites, Michael Jackson will release new official figures through his "Triumph International Inc." (the products are licensed by "Ecbizz Japan Co. Ltd." from "MJ Marketing (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd.") together with "Hot Toys Japan Co. Inc.".

Three different types will be available for the public:

- January 20, 2009: CosBaby - Michael Jackson Thriller Student figure
The figure will be available in the Japanese HMV stores only in a limited number edition (for sale in Hong-Kong and Japan only).

http://www.hottoys.jp/michaeljackson/thrillerstudent/page-thrillerstudent_big.jpg

- January 20, 2009: CosBaby - Michael Jackson figures
Jackson and Hot Toys will release 7 figures, six of them known prior to the order and one surprise (for sale in Hong-Kong and Japan only).

http://www.hottoys.jp/michaeljackson/mjcosbaby/page-mjcosbaby_big.jpg

- February 20, 2008: MIcon - Billie Jean figure
This new "larger then life" release can be changed on 38 points!

http://www.hottoys.jp/michaeljackson/mj_history/page-mj_history_big.jpg

Michael Jackson's Licensing Issues

Updates to my December 6th, 2008 post regarding Michael Jackson's licensing business issues:

- Jackson's original licence owner company "Triumph International Inc." (TI) has been suspended for sure both in California and Delaware. However in the very same year someone registered "Triumph International LLC" in Delaware. It's still unclear if the second company does belong to Jackson.

- It seems that "TI" is still the sole licence owner of Jackson's merchandising rights worldwide, however "TI" sold these rights in Europe to "MJ Licensing LLC" (MJL) until June 2012. Jackson most probably has a 75% stake in MJL.

- Jackson has established "MJ Marketing (Asia-Pacific) PTE LTD" (MJM) through "TI" back in 2002. The company is still active and handles Jackson's merchandising businesses in Asia ("MJ Japan", the Japanese clothing line, the new Thriller figures all does belong to "MJM").

- I have reported about another merchandising company of Jackson's called "Michael Jackson Mystery Holding Ltd". The Hong-Kong based company once responsible for the "Mystery" drink has been suspended this August.

- "MJ Company LLC" is still a mystery for many reasons. The company is still active in California, and was responsible for Jackson's touring plans after the "HIStory" era.


There is still a lot to do with Jackson's merchandising businesses. It seems that the star and his people has to negoiate with third parties to resolve these matters.

Schaffel Case Closed

A dismissal order has been filed in the Schaffel vs. Jackson case on December 23, 2008.

One more case has gone.

Legal Updates

Updates to my November 27th, 2008 post:

Billie Jean Jackson vs. Michael Jackson
Updates: No next court hearing yet.

Ola Ray vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Optimum Productions Inc.,
Updates: The case has been dismissed on 12/03/08! The Judge ordered that the Plaintiff did not show the cause of the case.

Sylvester Johnson vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Will Smith, Tupac Shakur, etc
Updates: Johnson demands for $75.000 from Jackson saying that the King of Pop used his 70s hit without a prior consent from the copyright owner. MiJac Music has been already dismissed in the case (04/01/08). Next hearing on 12/30/08

Roberto Hernandez vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Muhammad Basheer, Jackson International LLC
Updates: No updates.

Ayscough & Marrar vs. Michael Joe Jackson, MJJ Productions Inc., Fire Mountain Services LLC
Updates: The case has been closed, however Jackson's filed his briefs. Next hearing on 02/19/09

Marc F. Schaffel vs. Michael Joe Jackson, Fire Mountain Services LLC, MJJ Productions Inc.
Updates: The case has been closed, however Jackson's filed his briefs. Next hearing on 12/22/08


Jackson is involved in several other copyright infrigment cases (through MiJac Music or Sony/ATV Music Publishing) as Plaintiff. Still NO serious cases from two left out.

Rare Michael Jackson Photo

Michael Jackson and Bob Hope.

Official Michael Jackson Websites

Below you may see an overview of Michael Jackson's official websites available:

http://www.michaeljackson.com - Owned and operated by Sony BMG Music Entertainment

Local Michael Jackson websites owned and operated by Sony BMG Music Entertainment:
http://www.michaeljackson.de
http://www.michaeljackson-officiel.fr
http://www.michaeljackson.com.es
http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/International/Special/MichaelJackson
http://www.sonybmg.com.au/artist/info.do?artistId=2768
http://www.michaeljackson.co.uk (unavailable at the moment)

Social networking pages operated by Sony BMG Music Entertainment:
http://www.youtube.com/michaeljackson
http://michaeljackson.imeem.com
http://myspace.com/michaeljackson
http://www.facebook.com/michaeljackson
http://ilike.com/artists/michael+jackson

"King of Pop" project's local websites owned and operated by Sony BMG Music Entertainment:
http://www.bandit.fm/genx/michaeljackson
http://www.mj50jp.com
http://www.sonybmg.com.hk/michaeljackson
http://globosat.globo.com/multishow/tv/hotsite/michaeljackson/encerramento.asp

http://www.mjvisionary.com - Official website for "Visionary - The Video Singles"

http://epicrecords.com/EpicCenter/mjj - Official website for "MJJ Music"

http://www.sonyatv.com - Jackson and Sony's joint venture

http://www.mjjapan.com - License owner of Jackson merchandises in Asia
http://www.wakita-inc.co.jp/mj.html - Official Jackson clothes
http://kingofpop.jp - Official Jackson online contents
http://www.coraboruta.co.jp/plan/?p=ml_b - Official Jackson mobilephone

Upcoming Michael Jackson Releases

I just did a full research for new Michael Jackson releases (no re-releases), but did not find more then this two below:

Title: King of Pop - French Edition
Format: 2 CD / 3 CD
Release Date: December 16, 2008.
Region: International
Label: Sony BMG Music Entertainment
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41gPPTdEsaL._SS500_.jpg

Title: The Collection of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson
Format: Box Set (6 books)
Release Date: December 12, 2008.
Region: International
Label: Julien's Auctions
http://www.juliensauctions.com/images/auctions/2009/michael-jackson/signed-catalogs.jpg

Most probably we will have surprises next year just in 2008. Remember the "Thriller 25" album, the new singles and the "King of Pop" project. These releases generated huge media and public attention, incredible sales for Jackson fully supported by his fans, the music lowers and his previous record labels.

New Official Thriller T-Shirt

'MJ Licensing LLC' officially licensed this Thriller T-shirt with the song's lyrics on the back.

This item has been released on November 28, 2008.

Michael Jackson's Business Issues

Michael Jackson's people did not only resolve his legal issues, but rebuilded his financial empire as well.

Below you may see an overview of Jackson's known business entities:

MANAGEMENT

Name: MJJ Legacy LLC
Profile: Management (Newly established, exact profile still unknown, accounting firm: Holthouse, Carlin & Van Trigt LLP, legal firm: Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP)
Established: 9-22-2008
Status: Active

Name: MJJ Productions LLC and Inc.
Profile: Management (Old company, re-activated for copyright reasons)
Established: Re-activated on 07-31-2008 (10-30-1979)
Status: Active

Name: Michael Jackson Co. LLC
Profile: Management (Established in the "Raymone Bain era", it's future is still unknown)
Established: 06-13-2006
Status: Active

MUSIC PRODUCTION

Name: MJJ Kingdom LLC
Profile: Music production (Newly established, exact profile still unknown, headed by Peter M. Lopez from Kleinberg Lopez Lange Cuddy Edel & Klein LLP, legal firm: Robin C. Gilden from Reish Luftman Reicher & Cohen LLP)
Established: 08-08-2008
Status: Active

Name: MJJ Music Inc. (Joint venture with Sony)
Profile: Music label
Established: 17-09-1997
Status: Active

Name: MJJ Records LLC
Profile: Music label
Established: 08-15-1997
Status: Cancelled on 04-26-2002

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Name: MJJ Ventures Inc.
Profile: Video production (Old company, re-activated for copyright reasons)
Established: 2-26-1991
Status: Active

LICENSING

Name: MJ Licensing LLC
Profile: Licensing
Established: 10-10-2003 (Re-activated on 04-18-2007)
Status: Active

Name: Triumph International Inc.
Profile: Licensing
Established: 07-19-1982
Status: Cancelled on 03-01-2003

PUBLISHING

Name: MiJac Music Inc. (under Waner-Tamerlane Publishing)
Profile: Publishing
Established: 1979
Status: Active

Name: Sony ATV Music Publishing LLC
Profile: Publishing
Established: 11-02-1995
Status: Active

Name: MJ ATV Publishing Trust (Jackson's 50% stake in Sony ATV Music Publishing LLC)
Profile: Publishing
Established: 02-09-1999
Status: Active

Name: MJ Publishing LLC (Jackson's 100% stake in Mijac Music Inc.)
Profile: Publishing
Established: 11-30-1998
Status: Inactive

Name: New Horizon Trust
Profile: Publishing
Established: 02-10-2006
Status: Active

Name: New Horizon Trust II.
Profile: Publishing
Established: 11-09-2007
Status: Active

Name: New Horizon Trust III.
Profile: Publishing
Established: 11-13-2007
Status: Active

Name: Sony MJ Music Publishing LLC
Profile: Publishing
Established: 11-02-1995
Status: Active

Name: MJ Sony Music Trust
Profile: Publishing
Established: 1995
Status: Cancelled on 05-31-2006

PROPERTIES

Name: Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC
Profile: Properties
Established: 07-15-2008
Status: Active