Michael Jackson and SONY Xperia Mobile Phone, a Musical Partnership

When Michael Jackson was alive, he had a very special relationship with his fans.  Unlike many famous people he welcomed the attention from the fans and was often very involved with fan clubs.

He was a SONY Music artist and when he had a new album release, the fan clubs and fans were often involved in the pre-release promotion.  Sony Music would give the fan clubs promotional items or get fan club members to take part in promotional events. Before the internet became main-stream, before the age of digital downloads, when music had to be physically bought in shops

Sony Music would hold special listening parties where fans could hear a new Michael Jackson album before it went on sale in the shops.

After his death, when John Branca took over the running of The Michael Jackson Estate, he continued this special relationship and communication with fans and fanclubs.  John Branca created the MJONLINE Team, a group of people who would be the link between the fans and The Michael Jackson Estate and Sony Music. All official communications would come from the MJONLINE Team; they have a Twitter account where fans can directly talk to them for example. The MJONLINE Team also have a mailing list of fans and fan clubs, which they send press releases and any other information they want the worldwide fan community to know about.  The Michael Jackson fan community are very active on social media and fan websites.  Within minutes of the MJONLINE team sending an email to the fan club mailing list, the announcement will be circulated on social media and posted on the fan sites.

This is a two way line of communication; fans also regularly contact the MJONLINE Team about issues regarding Michael Jackson’s music or personal life. Even in death, the fans are fiercely loyal and protective of Michael Jackson.

Back in 2014, The Michael Jackson Estate partnered with SONY Mobile. Both had a new product release scheduled for that year.  The Michael Jackson Estate released a new posthumous album called XSCAPE and Sony Mobile released the Xperia Z phone.

In August 2013, there was an unauthorised leak of a new Michael Jackson song called Slave To The Rhythm.

This very quickly removed from circulation and the MJONLINE team sent out the following email.

This song had been circulating in the fan community but this was a different version and many fans began speculating that maybe it was being worked on for a new album release.

In 2014 the GSMA Mobile World Congress was held in Barcelona from 24 to 27 February.This is the main trade-show of the mobile phone industry, where all the major mobile phone company’s launch their new products.  On Sunday 23 February the Michael Jackson fan-clubs received the following email.

On Monday 24 February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Sony Mobile officially announced the partnership and that a new Michael Jackson song would be used in the promotion for the Xperia Z phone. This was part of the “One Sony “collaboration which  Kunimasa Suzuki, President and CEO of Sony Mobile Communications  explained was about about bringing the best Sony technology and content together, and taking it further to create absolutely unprecedented, evocative and unique user experiences. He also spoke about the integrated global marketing campaign for the new Sony Xperia mobile phone. The campaign is centered upon a 90 second brand film, depicting a day in the life of French dancer & choreographer Jeremié Bélingard, using the music of Michael Jackson.

Sony Mobile accelerates into 2014 and continues to deliver the “best of Sony”

4 new products and one surprise collaboration later…

The announcement was posted on the Official Michael Jackson Sony Music website http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/news/estate-michael-jackson-enters-partnership-sony-mobile and the video was uploaded to official Sony Xperia YouTube Channel

After the announcement the Michael Jackson fan community went crazy, everyone was so excited about the new music and the first official hint of a new album.

The media and fan community speculation went crazy, the media even going as far as suggesting that the album would ONLY be released through the Sony Xperia phone. Again the MJONLINE team were very quick to communicate with the Michael Jackson fan community and denied this story.

At the end of March we received another email from the MJONLINE Team, telling us to prepare for another announcement.

Later that day the full press release about the new album was released.

The announcement was  posted on the Official Michael Jackson Sony Music website http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/news/xscape-new-album-coming-may-13th Details about the new album were also announced,

A teaser video was uploaded to the Official Michael Jackson YouTube channel

Celebrating Michael Jackson’s new album XSCAPE, with Xperia Z2

As part of the partnership, Sony Xperia users would be able to receive a free copy of the new album on day of its digital release, through the Xperia™ Lounge app.

On 23 April the official track listing for the new Michael Jackson album was released on http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/news/xscape-standard-version-tracklist-revealed

Slave To The Rhythm, the song being used to promote the Sony Xperia phone was song number five on the new album.

As the album release date came closer, the MJONLINE team continued to communicate with the fanclubs  sending this email on 2 May.  The fanclubs were also given access to the official images and graphics for the new album.

On 2 May TV promotion of the new album started

As part of the pre-release promotion, Sony Music released a series of YouTube videos called The Collaborators Series. https://www.youtube.com/user/michaeljacksonVEVO/videos  These videos gave a behind the scenes look at the new Michael Jackson album. On 5 May background information about Slave To The Rhythm was released http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/news/behind-xscape-slave-rhythm

On the same day, the song was featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, a high profile chat show in America.

Finally on 13 May 2014, the album XSCAPE was released. http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/news/todays-day-xscape

Owners of Sony Xperia phones could download the album for free and stream it using Sony Musics Unlimited service.  The promotion was available until the end of May 2014 and the download had to be redeemed by the end of June 2014.

Michael Jackson’s XSCAPE available now for select Sony customers through Xperia Lounge and Music Unlimited

and now the crazies appear, the fan petitions, the fan donation pages to get money to buy Neverland, demonstrations outside Colony offices in New York… Is is any wonder they want to sell it , and be done with the Michael Jackson Fans!!!

Looking at this from a purely practical, emotionless side. The estate of Sycamore Valley / Neverland totaling around 3,00 acres is in a rural agricultural area. Whoever owns it needs to make it financially viable. Before Michael bought it, as well as the working ranch, it was also used as a filming location. Remember this is how Michael first saw it, as a location for the Say Say Say video. This is a very normal practice in California; many large rural estates allow filming on their land for a price, to bring in extra income.

Over the last 5 years, Colony have been using the estate for private hire. I very much doubt that when they took on the property they realized the full extent of the conditions of the zoning laws. They have put alot of money into the renovation and maintenance over the last 5 years and it looks like they have made a decision that the money coming in does not cover the money going out. Remember Colony are an investment company, they buy and sell emotionlessly all the time. To them this is an investment that is not viable, so they offload, nothing personal, just business.

It is very likely Colony wanted to open the property to the public. They know that like Graceland, people would pay to see the famous Neverland, especially after June 2009, with all the huge media hype and public interest. When they realized that this was not possible, I believe they have tried to keep money coming in the best they can, but now 5 years later they have had enough.

I really think the fan community are building this sale up too much, with wanting a superfan to buy it, so that it can stay the same. The reality is, that it will most likely become a vineyard or other profitable agricultural business, just like the rest of the area of Los Olivos / Santa Ynez.

It is possible that whoever buys the land around the main entrance may totally change the entrance and may not want fans visiting.

This sale will go ahead, and instead of burying their heads in the sand and petitioning Lady Gaga, or trying to club together to buy it, fans need to understand the reality of a 3,000 acre estate in a rural area owned by an investment company.

There is just so much mis information in the fan community, many fans not understanding the zoning laws or even knowing anything about the area and what the land in Los Olivos Santa Ynez is used for. Many fans twisting things to suit an agenda, who have never even been on Figueroa Mountain Road and seen how rural it is.

The fact remains; it is a property which is not making profit so the company which owns it wants to sell it. No amount of fan petitions will stop the sale. Fans cannot club together to buy it. It will be sold just like any other property in the Los Olivos area.

The Teaser

Okay. So prior to entering Mandalay Bay (where this show is an exclusive resident of) – We boarded the tram from the Luxor Hotel taking us directly to the Mandalay Bay Hotel. We were greeted with a tram car extravagantly decorated in ‘MJ One’ vinyl. All ready excited about the show – this piqued our excitement yet again.

We arrive at the hotel, and enter on the floor the show resides on. We pick up our tickets, and then go through the lobby. To our immediate right – the MJ Store. Take my advice – if you think you’ll spend a lot of money, then you’ll easily spend double that amount. Even the casual fan will come out feeling a lot lighter in terms of pocket change. The store has many exclusive items, and a lot of other items already commercially available.

Having already visited the MJ Store, we gathered toward the opening doors. The doors which take you through to the lobby – they’re ornately decorated in gold leaf – very regal and fit for a king. The ushers greet you as they ask for tickets, and are dressed from top to bottom in black, with gold embroidery throughout – topped off and completed with a black fedora.

The whole experience thus far is very impressive, and nothing like I have ever experienced before – despite going to a good number of shows.

Okay – so our tickets have been scanned, we’ve entered the lobby. We’re immediately surrounded by.. paparazzo? Taking our photos – being extremely energetic in the fact that they -must- get our photo, and already this appears to be a circus – much like the life that our dear King of Pop was more often than not surrounded in. Although this sounds a tad extreme – it was done in a very tasteful way – much unlike I’m sure Michael was ever subjected to back in his day.

The walls were covered with wallpaper featuring a collage of classic and well known song titles – again, gold and very ‘royal’ feeling.

The walls also featured two silhouette motifs – one on each opposite side of the concession counter. The concession counter featured several speciality cocktails all having a general MJ theme. Some of those include;

• ‘The One’ – Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka, Grand Marnier, Passion Fruit Puree, Fresh Orange Juice
• Never Enough – Absolut Mango Vodka, Fresh Lime Juice, Agave Nectar, Sierra Mist
• Zombie! – Bacardi Wolf Berry Rum, Cointreau, Fresh Sweet & Sour, Orange Juice
• Moon Walk – Herradura Silver Tequila, Lemonade, Pomegranate Juice
• Pop Royalty – Crown Royal Maple Whisky, Disaronno, Fresh Sweet & Sour
• Off The Charts – Absolut Orient Apple, Funkin Green Apple Puree, Red Bull Silver

Showtime!

Okay, we enter the theatre – surrounded on the walls are ‘fake’ tabloids, featuring none other than the guests who had their photos taken by the paparazzo on the way in through the lobby. Their faces plastered on a fictional daily ‘rag’ with an absurd tabloid style headline beneath or above – again, keeping in theme with the circus. The edge and mantle of the stage decorated in a Dangerous album themed motif. We take our seats, and beckoning through the theatre is a slowed tempo mix of Privacy. It cuts deep, and the hard hitting lyrics resonate through the crowd of casual and hard-core excited fans.

As you know – Michael loved to tell a story in his art – Beit with lyrics, or through his short films. Cirque have definitely gone to some lengths to keep the same premise on ‘One’. So, already there are 3 kids getting chased up and down the theatre by paparazzo, seemingly doing a very bad job at getting away from the clutches of ‘evil’. This sets the stage for what is to become an all-round story of these 3 kids discovering Michael’s world through an abundance of ‘art’ left behind.

‘Ladies and Gentleman – Michael Jackson One – By Cirque Du Soleil’ – ‘Don’t Touch.. The Glove’

Starting with a very haunting laugh of Michael, the mix of audio builds up – and literally implodes into a vast mix of Michael’s popular hits – accompanied by stunning visuals on screens surrounding the theatre. The set list goes through around 30 tracks all in all – with a hefty mix of classic Cirque and an even bigger dose of ‘Michael Jackson’. My favourite part? Dangerous/Dirty Diana. An exotic dancer clambers a pole and seductively dances to the gritty bass of Dirty Diana. The temperature rises, and for sure keeps the attention of the audience for the remainder of the performance.

You Thirsty For More?

I’m personally new into the Cirque World – but thoroughly enjoyed their craft and talent throughout the show – Through this experience, should another show catch my eye that involves Cirque through any means – I will definitely give it a go! As for MJ One – It’s off the wall. From the whole experience, right down to the finer details – It’s a must see. The costumes are second to none – and by far the best asset of the show in my opinion is the audio and visuals. If you’re a diehard fan like myself, even if you’re interested in Michael Jackson as an artist? You will not come away disappointed. Prepare to save up those pounds, euros, dollars or whichever currency you use again for another visit. MJ One will leave you thirsty for more!

On exiting the show – we were confronted with once again, a huge wall covered in Michael

Around the MJ Store, there are little Michael Jackson treasures, preserved for your enjoyment. Those include, Shoes worn by Michael – including he’s Swarovski Crystal Socks and another display with various tickets, show memorabilia and handwritten notes.

Written by Greg Spinks

ok, so yet another song has leaked and the fan community has gone into meltdown sharing download links. And with it comes all the usual crap about how this happens and who is to blame. So lets get all those urban myths out of the way and talk about the reality of these songs leaks.

People need to stop being so naive to think songs are kept in a mythical giant safe in Brancas office.

In this digital age, songs can be stolen and illegally recorded in seconds and in many cases the artist may not even be aware their work is being compromised. All it takes is for a studio tech or friend of a producer to press record on their phone. Before smart phones, they made secret copies of master tapes, or had hidden recording equipment.

So what happens next? Well the studio tech walks out with his secret recording, while the master original song is kept by the artist or recording company.

The studio tech then shares their illegal copy of the song, either for profit or as a trade.

Now we come into the secret world of traders and collectors. Despite what many may think, the Michael Jackson fan community has many layers and sections. One of those sections is the traders and collectors. These are the fans who spend their money and time gathering rare songs and footage. The songs and footage loose value every time they are shared, so the goal among the traders is to keep sharing to a minimum.

But over time, songs and footage get shared and traded and the group of people who now own an illegal copy grows and grows. Some where in the chain there is a weak link. Someone in the chain gets a copy and decides to make it public. Maybe the song has been uploaded to a public file sharing site and someone  accidently finds it. Suddenly it appears on YouTube. It only takes seconds for someone to download it from YouTube and share it. Emails are sent, omg, you have to listen, a rare song… someone else uploads it to YouTube, and within hours the song is viral.

So there you have it, thats how all these song leaks happen. There is no conspiracy, there is no big plot, it is simply that songs are in the possession of the traders. The songs are illegal copies made by people in the studio when the songs are recorded or remixed or by people who make illegal copies from the masters. The songs have been stolen from the artist or from the record company.

It amazes me that the Michael Jackson fan community can scream and shout and make all sorts of noise about protecting Michael’s legacy, yet when a new song leaks it goes viral. Do people not understand they are stealing from Michael?? Do people not understand that with every song leak they are devaluing Michael’s music and thereby harming his legacy.