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Michael Jackson’s Will Could Emerge Within Days

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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A 2002 will leaves everything to singer's mother, children and charities.
By Gil Kaufman


Michael Jackson
Photo: GAB Archive/ Getty Images

Along with the mystery of his cause of death, the status of Michael Jackson's last will and testament is one of the most vexing questions about the pop singer's legacy. For an artist whose complicated, notoriously messy finances were more newsworthy than his musical endeavors over the past decade, it is still unclear if Jackson left definitive instructions on what was to become of his assets following his death.

Some of those questions might be answered as early as Thursday (July 2), when, according to the Wall Street Journal, a lawyer for the singer could submit what is believed to be his last will, drafted in 2002. At least two other wills have emerged since Jackson's death on Thursday at the age of 50, and in a court filing on Monday, the singer's parents, Joseph and Katherine, said that they believed he died without a valid will. The Journal reported that Joseph — who Michael said in interviews had physically and emotionally abused him as a child — was not included in the 2002 will, which divided his estate among his mother, his three children and a number of charities.

A lawyer for Jackson's parents, L. Londell McMillan, wrote in an e-mail to the paper that neither he nor his clients have seen the 2002 will. "No will has been presented to family or us," said McMillan, who once represented Michael Jackson as well. "We will review any will when we see it."

McMillan was instrumental in helping Katherine Jackson get temporary custody of the singer's children on Monday, but it is unclear if the 2002 will makes any clear custody provisions for their care. On Monday, CNN reported that Joseph and Katherine had filed petitions to administrate Jackson's estate. Longtime lawyer John Branca reportedly told TMZ that he'd worked with Jackson recently and that the singer signed a will that he intends to file within 30 days.

According to the Journal, the 2002 will names veteran music-biz attorney Branca (who represented Jackson between 1980 and 2006) as co-executor of the estate, along with music executive John McClain. Branca wrote the will and he was rehired by Jackson to represent him just one week before the singer's death.

Jackson reportedly died with nearly $500 million in debt, but the Journal said his many assets — including a 50 percent share of the valuable Sony/ ATV Music Publishing catalog, with tunes from the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jonas Brothers and Lady Gaga — could possibly outweigh that debt by as much as $200 million, the Journal report said.

In addition to his share of the Sony catalog, which Jackson put up as collateral for a $300 million loan, among the other valuable assets left behind are the Mijac publishing catalog, which includes the rights to Jackson's own musical compositions. That catalog was put up as collateral for a separate $73 million loan. Among the possible major revenue generators from the estate are any unreleased recordings by Jackson, including the songs he was working on for his long-in-the-works next album and a reported 100 or more tracks he'd recorded but never released.

While Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of Jackson's children on Monday, as well as control over some of her son's personal property, he did not immediately rule no her request to take control of the children's and Jackson's estates, according to The Associated Press.

As the various fights over the assets unfold, one thing the grieving family is not yet ready for is a funeral. Joseph Jackson said on Monday that they are awaiting the outcome of a second, family-requested autopsy before making funeral plans.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Quincy Jones Blogs About Working With Michael Jackson

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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Legendary producer worked with MJ on Off the Wall, Thriller.
By Eric Ditzian


Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson in 2001

Of all the artists, producers, entertainers and celebrities who have paid tribute to Michael Jackson since his death on Thursday, perhaps the person who knows his music best is the man who launched his career as the King of Pop: Quincy Jones.

Starting with Jackson's 1979 album, Off the Wall, Jones became the singer's longtime producer, and in a revealing, intimate blog post for the Los Angeles Times, Jones wrote about Jackson's dedication to his craft, their work in the studio and how an unlikely collaboration on the set of a big-screen musical led to one of the most successful creative partnerships in pop music history.

"In 1978, [director] Sidney Lumet pulled me kicking and screaming into doing the music for 'The Wiz,' and in hindsight I'm so glad he did,"' wrote Jones. "As the scarecrow, Michael dove into the filming of 'The Wiz' with everything that he had, not only learning his lines but those of everyone in the cast. Prior to filming, Michael and I were working at my home and he asked if I could help find him a producer to work with him on his first solo album from Epic."

Jones didn't volunteer his services until he saw Jackson on set struggling with a line — the correct pronunciation of "Socrates." "It was that wonderment that I saw in his eyes that locked me in," Jones wrote. "I knew that we could go into completely unexplored territory, a place that as a jazz musician gave me goose bumps."

And so Jones, Jackson and songwriter Rod Temperton began work on Off the Wall.

"[Michael] was so shy he'd sit down and sing behind the couch with his back to me while I sat there with my hands over my eyes with the lights off," wrote Jones.

Jackson may have been introverted in the studio, but after working with a vocal coach, the Off the Wall album ended up going platinum four times and scoring four top-10 hits. For the follow-up album, Jackson and Jones had four months to complete their work, but after quickly falling behind schedule, they found themselves with just two months to finish the record.

"I told Michael that we needed a black rock 'n' roll tune — a black 'My Sharona' — and a begging tune for the album," Jones wrote. "He came back with 'Beat It' and Rod came back with 'The Lady in My Life.' Rod also brought in 'Thriller' and Michael sang his heart out on it. At one point during the session the right speaker burst into flames, which none of us had ever seen before. How's that for a sign?"

They completed the album just hours before it was due. They gave it a final listen and were shocked to find that it sounded terrible. Jackson himself was in tears. The team took two days off, reshaped the album and shortened the intro to "Billie Jean." Thriller ended up going platinum 28 times, making it the biggest-selling non-compilation album in history.

"There will be a lot written about what came next in Michael's life, but for me all of that is just noise," Jones wrote in conclusion. "I promise you in 50, 75, 100 years, what will be remembered is the music. It's no accident that almost three decades later, no matter where I go in the world, in every club and karaoke bar, like clockwork, you hear 'Billie Jean,' 'Beat It,' 'Wanna Be Starting Something,' 'Rock With You' and 'Thriller.' "

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."   Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Ashley Tisdale Talks Michael Jackson’s Influence On ‘HSM’ Cast

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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Tisdale and co-stars were eager to see director Kenny Ortega's work on Jackson's tour.
By Jocelyn Vena


Ashley Tisdale
Photo: MTV News

"High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale is still stunned by Michael Jackson's unexpected death last week. Only a day before he died, Jackson was rehearsing for his upcoming 50-date London concert series with "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega.

And though the 23-year-old actress and singer wasn't even born when Thriller came out, she told MTV News that Jackson was a big influence on her music and the work of her "HSM" castmates.

"I've loved Michael Jackson, his music, his music videos," Tisdale said. "I mean, the man made music videos what they are today. So, I've always been inspired by him. I think he's such a great dancer.

"It was definitely a shock," she added of Jackson's sudden passing. "It's really hard when a celebrity dies out of nowhere, 'cause it's very shocking ... surreal."

Tisdale was looking forward to seeing what Ortega and Jackson would be debuting on July 13, when Jackson was scheduled to kick off his This Is It tour. She said she and her "HSM" buddies were going to make the trek overseas to see it for themselves.

"We were all gonna go see him in London and go visit and watch the show," she said, adding that the show would have also included dancers from the "HSM" movies. "We had a lot of our dancers in the production as well. I know they're going through as really hard time as well. Hopefully, he's in a better place now."

Don't miss "Michael Jackson: Picking Up the Pieces," Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, featuring a special report from MTV News.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Michael Jackson Concert Ticket Refunds Begin Wednesday

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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Fans can opt for refund or to receive special souvenir tickets.
By Gil Kaufman


Michael Jackson rehearses for his "This Is It" tour in Los Angeles
Photo: Kevin Mazur/AEG/Getty Images

How much is a Michael Jackson souvenir worth? What if 750,000 other people have that same "rare" item? Beginning on Wednesday (July 1), that is the dilemma that will face MJ fans who bought tickets to the late singer's sold-out 50-show run at the O2 Arena in London. Concert promoter AEG Live announced on Monday that the fans who paid to attend the show — now canceled in light of the singer's death on Thursday — can either get fully reimbursed for their purchase or receive a keepsake copy of the ticket, which features graphics inspired and designed by Jackson himself.

AEG informed fans that they have from Wednesday until August 14 to request either the refund or the souvenir ticket at MichaelJacksonLive.com. To date, fans had reportedly shelled out more than $90 million on the tickets, priced between $82 and $124 each, with some going for much more than that on Internet auction sites. The refund will include all service charges as well.

"The world lost a kind soul who just happened to be the greatest entertainer the world has ever known. Since he loved his fans in life, it is incumbent upon us to treat them with the same reverence and respect after his death," AEG President and CEO Randy Phillips said in an announcement of the refund policy.

The concert promotions firm has been left on the hook for tens of millions of dollars as a result of Jackson's death, and officials have not yet revealed whether any of the insurance policies they took out on Jackson will cover any of those expenses. A cause of death for the 50-year-old singer has not yet been determined, but Billboard reported that if it is revealed that he died of a preexisting condition or of a drug overdose, AEG could be liable for any loss, including the estimated $30 million it sunk into the elaborate production, the $10 million it reportedly fronted Jackson and the cost of refunding the tickets.

The first of the This Is It shows was scheduled to take place on July 13. AEG reportedly recorded Jackson's run-through of the performance on Wednesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, just hours before he went into cardiac arrest and died.

Don't miss "Michael Jackson: Picking Up the Pieces," Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, featuring a special report from MTV News. 

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Michael Jackson Tried To End 50 Cent/ Game Beef

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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The Game remembers when Jackson called and offered to mediate between the rappers.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Game
Photo: MTV News

"We Are the World" and "Heal the World" were undoubtedly two of Michael Jackson's greatest songwriting and humanitarian achievements. But if MJ had been able to cool off the tension between 50 Cent and the Game, as the California rapper claims he attempted to a few years back, then Jackson could have won the Nobel Peace prize. He certainly would have earned it.

Game told MTV News that during his beef with 50, which began in 2005, Jackson actually called the Compton MC and offered to play peacekeeper between the two former friends.

"I was on tour in Canada, sitting in my room, cutting my hair," Game told MTV News, recalling Jackson's phone call. "I was messing my hair up. Then my road manager knocks on my door. Boom, boom, boom. He told me, I got MJ on the phone. I ran and snatched up the phone."

On the other end of the line was a British gentleman who connected the two musicians. A nervous Game said Jackson started the conversation by talking about music and complimenting him on his records like "Hate It or Love It" and "How We Do." Then the King of Pop asked about the rapper's children. But before the phone call ended, Jackson touched on one last topic, a sensitive matter at the time.

"He got to this one thing that makes me laugh, man." Game explained. "He said, 'I don't know how you're gonna feel about this, but I want to ask you something. I don't want you to judge me, but I don't really know everything that's going on between you and 50. But I want to be the middleman behind you putting this situation to bed.' "

Jackson wanted the two to meet, with him serving as a mediator, according to Game. The rapper mentioned Jackson's outreach in his new song, "Better on the Other Side," a tribute to the late King of Pop that features Chris Brown, Diddy, Boyz II Men and Mario Winans. A video for the track, featuring behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the record, is set to premiere online on Tuesday (June 30), Game said. On Friday, 50 Cent also released two Michael Jackson tribute tracks, "Respect It or Check It N---a" and "Where You Are."

Although 50 and Game eventually put their differences aside, Jackson wasn't involved. Game said MJ wanted all three of the artists to collaborate on a song together. But, unfortunately, nothing ever came about.

"It just never manifested," Game said.

Don't miss "Michael Jackson: Picking Up the Pieces," Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, featuring a special report from MTV News. 

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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More ‘Medical Evidence’ Confiscated From Michael Jackson Home

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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Coroner's office has removed a significant amount of prescription drugs from the late singer's house.
By Gil Kaufman


Michael Jackson
Photo: Christina Barany/Getty Images

On Monday, Los Angeles County Coroner officials paid a second visit to the Los Angeles-area home that was being rented by Michael Jackson in a search for further evidence in the 50-year-old singer's sudden passing on Thursday.

According to the Los Angeles Times, officials confiscated "additional medical evidence" from the Holmby Hills mansion in their second pass through the home, during which a team from the medical examiner's office was joined by a photographer and Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter.

While they would not specify what was found during the second search, Chief Investigator Craig Harvey told reporters that they had removed a significant amount of prescription medication from that home last week, and two large evidence bags of medical materials were taken from the home on Monday.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives have been interviewing an unknown number of doctors who treated or prescribed medication to Jackson, an unnamed law enforcement source told the paper. The source also stressed that detectives have not determined if prescription drugs played a role in the singer's death, but they hope to get a better sense of his medical condition and what medications he was taking.

An initial autopsy showed no signs of trauma or foul play, but the coroner's office has deferred determining a cause of death until the results of toxicology tests are returned, which could take four to six weeks. On Monday, Jackson's father, Joe Jackson, said the family is holding off on announcing funeral arrangements until they get some results from a second autopsy.

Don't miss "Michael Jackson: Picking Up the Pieces," Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on CBS, featuring a special report from MTV News. 

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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David Cook Remembers Michael Jackson, The Global Icon

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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'He blew pop music wide open, and made it bigger than just music, you know?' the 'American Idol' alum says.
By James Montgomery


David Cooke
Photo: MTV News

In some roundabout way, it's entirely possible that David Cook might not have won the seventh season of "American Idol" if it weren't for Michael Jackson.

See, it was his edgy take on "Billie Jean" — which was, for accuracy's sake, actually a take on Chris Cornell's version on the song — during the sixth week of the competition that took Cook from underdog to frontrunner, eventually carrying him to the "Idol" crown, a platinum-plus debut album and millions of fans around the world.

So, naturally, when he learned of the death of Jackson, he felt the need to pay respects to the man — and not just for his excellent songbook, either.

"The impact Michael Jackson has had on me as an artist is the same impact he's had on everyone ... he blew pop music wide open, and made it bigger than just music, you know?" Cook told MTV News. "That's viewed [in terms of] the short films he made for music videos, plus look at the cultural gaps: There's people that know no English except for the two words 'Michael' and 'Jackson.' And that's pretty incredible."

And that global reach is what astonishes Cook the most about Jackson. He credits the King of Pop for taking mainstream music to the mega masses ... and paving the way for all pop stars who have followed since. Without Jackson, there would be no Britney, no Beyoncé — no David Cook.

"To think that Michael Jackson as more influence on the world than presidents and world leaders, that's huge," he said. "And the fact that he was able to do that, I think, is what allows people like me to go out and perform music and have it matter in some small sense, I guess."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

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Usher: ‘I Wouldn’t Be Who I Am Today Without Michael Jackson’

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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'I think Michael Jackson is by far one of the most impactful artists in music,' singer says.
By James Montgomery


Usher
Photo: MTV News

For years now, Usher has been tapped as "the next Michael Jackson." Of course, he considers this a compliment, even if he doesn't believe the hype for a second. Because to him, there will never be another King of Pop.

"He influenced me in so many ways, more than just music ... as a humanitarian, as a philanthropist, as an artist, as an individual who transcended culture. I wouldn't be who I am today without Michael Jackson," Usher said. "They say if you ever want to be great, you've got to study who the greats studied, so, of course, I studied his moves — studied them down to a T. But there was much more to him than that. Really, he created an eclectic style of life and, throughout the years, from his childhood to his adulthood, he managed to continue to be successful, but also to continue to push the limits and push everyone's expectations."

It was the second time Usher has spoken publically about the death of Jackson — the first being a statement he released as the news of his passing spread last Thursday (June 25) — and in the days since, he's leant his voice to a Game-helmed tribute track, but he says that he'll really never stop paying homage to the King, a man he not only considers a trailblazer, but also knew as a friend, a mentor and a confidant.

"I think Michael Jackson is by far one of the most impactful artists in music ... when MTV did not play African-American videos, he took a stand and said, 'This is a must,' and you look what it became after that," Usher said. "You can't say that you are an artist in this century and [not be] influenced by Michael Jackson. I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to share the stage with him, to know him personally, and I am always going to remember him. I'll be a fan for life ... this is a tragedy to say the least, and it has affected all of us."

And though Jackson is gone, Usher said he'll always have his memories of the times they spent together, including a 2001 show in New York City where the two shared the stage. It's a moment that will be with Ush for the rest of his life — one that will probably never be topped.

"There's two highlights that I will always remember in my career," he offered. "One, sharing the stage with James Brown at the Grammys, where he named me 'the Godson of Soul,' and sharing the stage with Michael Jackson in New York City."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

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JC Chasez Recalls ‘Shooting The Breeze’ With Michael Jackson

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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'One of the best moments of working with Michael is how kind he was,' former 'NSYNC member says.
By Jocelyn Vena


JC Chasez
Photo: MTV News

Few people are lucky enough to have known Michael Jackson on a personal level. Former 'NSYNC member JC Chasez not only had the opportunity to perform with Jackson on several occasions, including at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, but was able to hang out with the superstar offstage as well.

"I think one of the best moments of working with Michael is how kind he was," Chasez recalled. "He was so gracious. He always took time out to let you know he was thankful you were there. [He] wanted to make you feel good about what you were doing up there with him." (Chasez's former 'NSYNC-mate Justin Timberlake recently shared some MJ memories with MTV U.K.)

Chasez also fondly recalls the moments when they weren't performing and when Jackson was just "eating a sandwich, talking about his day. "It was a great experience, hanging backstage, shooting the breeze," he said. "That's what I enjoyed. It was great."

Long before he got to hang with Jackson, Chasez was just a fan who used Jackson's music as an inspiration for his own career. Buying Jackson's Thriller was his first foray into becoming a music fan; later, he performed Jackson's music on the road.

"One of the first tours that 'NSYNC did on the road in America, we actually did a Jackson 5 tribute," he said. "I don't think a lot of people remember that because it was so long ago. We suited up in '70s gear and broke into a couple Jackson 5 tunes. [It was] just one more thing we learned from them."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

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‘Gossip Girl’ Star Taylor Momsen Talks The Pretty Reckless

June 30, 2009 by MTV News  
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'Music feeds my soul,' the actress says about her band.
By Jocelyn Vena


Taylor Momsen
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

If Taylor Momsen's band, the Pretty Reckless, somehow found themselves playing one of Jenny Humphrey's school dances on "Gossip Girl," does Momsen think that her fictional alter-ego would be into her music?

"I think she'd like it," Momsen told MTV News. "Her dad's a rocker. We're trying to bring rock back with the Pretty Reckless here, so I think she'd like it. She put the Ramones in her fashion, so [yes]."

It's fairly obvious that Momsen loves to show her rock side. Whether she's name-checking Nirvana, Joan Jett and Hole or hitting a red carpet in leather, bleached-blond hair and red lipstick, it's clear that Momsen and the Pretty Reckless aren't softies. "In everything I do, I'm influenced by music. Music feeds my soul," she said. "As far as style, I'm influenced by eras that had music [I] liked. Music became a persona to me."

That persona started when Momsen was a kid. If Jenny Humphrey's dad is a rocker, Taylor Momsen's dad is a rock fan. He used to play music for the "Gossip Girl" star, music that prepared her for her future job as a rock star. "I grew up listening to the Beatles on vinyl with my dad," she explained, citing "Strawberry Fields Forever" as one of her favorite songs. "So I grew up kind of listening to good records. I worked my way into Joan Jett and the Runaways records and Blondie and Garbage. Garbage became a huge influence on me."

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