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Updated News Reports 2000

December 26, 1999 - Rapper Jay Z was recently blown away with a meeting with Michael Jackson. Jay Z was at a New York recording studio when he ran into the King of Pop. Jay Z said that he was like wow thats Michael Jackson over there, he said Michael was like a shadow and he said sup and Michael said sup. Jay Z said Michael was working on a song with him and it was absolutely incrediable.[etreporter|mtv}

December 25, 1999 - Planet Jackson reported that Michael Jackson recorded a duet with a young lady and her name contains a 'y.' They can't give out her full name due to Michael Jackson's request.

December 25, 1999 - Michael's Christmas gift to all of us is the promise of great music and art for the new year. To add up to the excitement of anticipation, we have a piece of information that we would like to share with you. Of all the songs the King of Pop has recorded for his new album, there are 4 tracks that he knows will make it on the final record. Those four songs have recently been premiered to a few Sony Music executives. The impression the new material made on these selected listeners was huge. The songs were described as "Michael's best work ever." And this was not a promotional statement.In early 1995, five songs from the HIStory album were premiered to Sony Music before the recording of the album was over. The five tracks were: "Scream," "They Don't Care About Us," "Money," "Stranger In Moscow" and "Earth Song." [planetjackson]

December 22, 1999 - Once again, Sony Music has postponed the working release date of Michael's new album. The album tapes won't be ready by January as originally expected. The record company is now hoping to release a single by April, and the album by May or June. The King of Pop is still in New York working on new tracks. To this day, he has recorded 75 new songs for the album. [planetjackson]

December 21, 1999 - To All Our Fans: We want to take this time to thank all of you for your continued support and patience while we finish the new album. We are working extremely hard on it and can't wait to see you in 2000!" - 3T [Angel]

December 21, 1999 - It's been a big year for local record producer Rodney Jerkins. The Galloway Township resident had five Grammy nominations and three No. 1 hit singles. On Monday, the music phenomenon won another major honor when he was named Billboard magazine's top producer of pop singles in 1999. "I feel good. I want to have a party," Jerkins said when contacted at his Pleasantville recording studio. "It's kind of like another goal that has come true." Rodney Jerkins is currently continuing his work on the next Michael Jackson album, which is tentatively planned to be released in May or June. He is also producing songs for the next Spice Girls album. [VincentJacksonPressPlus|Caro]

December 18, 1999 - Desmond Child is currently working on two tracks for Michael Jackson's new album. Desmond Child is a famous Cuban-American writer that has been on top of the pop business for the past 25 years, producing hit songs in divergent styles for many artists. Some of Child's greatest hits as a writer/composer are Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca," Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer," Aerosmith's "Crazy," Michael Bolton's "How Can We Be Lovers" or Cher's "Just Like Jesse James," to name a few. [planetjackson]

December 18, 1999 - 3T's Taj, Taryll and T.J. Jackson have finally recorded their long-delayed duet with Michael Jackson. The song, which they described as "beautiful," has just been completed and will be featured on their new album, out late next year. Another track featuring Michael's participation will also be included on the record. [planetjackson]

December 9, 1999 - Planet Jackson treats you to some exclusive information about Michael's new album... The new record will feature a duet. Michael has recorded a ballad with a wonderful lady... Her name shall remain a secret for the time being. However, you may just know that she is not Lisa Marie, and she is a very successful artist. More...? What about knowing that one of the songs the King of Pop produced with Rodney Jerkins starts with the sound of Michael pantings. [PlanetJackson]

December 7, 1999 - A spokesman for Sony Music says that world-wide Michael Jackson's ``Thriller'' album has sold more than 46 million units since its 1982 release. The Eagles set sits at about 40 million world-wide, according to the group's manager, Irving Azoff. And if the century ends on Dec. 31, 2000, is the award a little premature? ``Thriller'' was certified for 25 million units in July 1997. The "King of Pop'' is scheduled to release a new album by early spring, Sony Music expects ``Thriller'' to pass the 26 million mark. [Reuters]

December 7, 1999 - The back page of the latest issue of Billboard Magazine (11th December, 1999) contains a four colour, full page ad from Epic Records (headline: "epic. game on"). In it, the Sony Music subsidiary lists albums due soon. They are:
Babyface
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Gloria Estefan
Ghostface Killah
Michael Jackson
Oasis
Pearl Jam
Sade
[mjni]

December 7, 1999 - Taj, Taryll and T.J. won't be coming back until mid 2000, at the earliest. They told Planet Jackson their new album will only come out after Michael's. In the meantime, they are still recording new songs and they are also participating in the production of their father's first solo album. Tito is indeed currently working on an album that could be available sometime next year. Concurrently, Taj Jackson is producing songs for a newcomer singer whose first album should be released soon. [planetjackson]

December 7, 1999 - The scoop on Michael and Janet Jackson's new albums. As the siblings prepare to remake their careers, MTV celebrates their greatest videos. ''Thriller'' and ''Rhythm Nation'' are just two of the roundbreaking videos by Michael Jackson and his lil' sis Janet you'll see on MTV's millennial countdown of the Top 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made (airing at 8 p.m. each night this week, with a marathon beginning Saturday at noon). But the superstar siblings aren't resting on their celluloid laurels. Both are currently making plans to extend their legacy of hit-making into the next century. Following the top 5 success of her duet with rapper Busta Rhymes, ''What's It Gonna Be,'' Janet is plotting more of a hip-hop course for her next album. For the first time in 15 years, she'll be working with producers other than the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who will oversee the project. Though the album is still in its early stages, Jam says that potential collaborators include top hip-hop beat makers Swizz Beatz (Eve, Jay Z.), the Neptunes (Kelis, Ol' Dirty Bastard), Missy ''Misdemeanor'' Elliott, and Darrell ''Delite'' Allamby, who produced ''What's It Gonna Be.'' Also on the short list are two old pros who've worked with Michael: Teddy Riley, the man behind Blackstreet (''No Diggety''), and Dallas Austin, the producer largely responsible for TLC's multi-platinum hybrid of hip-hip and R&B. As for Michael himself, the newly single dad recently canceled two New Year's Eve concerts so he could continue working on his album, which is taking a more mainstream R&B direction than Janet's. He's reportedly done tunes with R. Kelly, who penned Michael's last big hit ''You Are Not Alone,'' and the R&B group Dru Hill, who added a soulful note to Will Smith's hit ''Wild Wild West.'' Currently Michael is in a New York studio with producer Rodney Jerkins, the wunderkind who helmed Brandy's four-times platinum ''Never Say Never'' album, Jennifer Lopez's No. 1 single ''If You Had My Love,'' and -- most important for Michael -- Whitney Houston's comeback smash ''It's Not Right but It's Okay.'' Both Michael and Janet need big hits -- sales of their last releases dipped to career near lows. Janet's 1997 ''Velvet Rope'' was her best reviewed album ever, bu it also moved the least number of copies (3 million) since her breakthrough, ''Control.'' Michael's remix collection from that same year, ''Blood on the Dancefloor,'' sold only a half-million copies(just a remix album). And his much-heralded ''History: Past, Present, and Future Book 1'' (1995), a double album with new songs and greatest hits, moved about 3 (7 million) million units, a far cry from the sales of 1982's ''Thriller'' (25 million) or even 1991's ''Dangerous'' (6 million). Austin, who produced several of the new tracks on ''History,'' thinks the album tanked because it was too narrowly focused on Michael's troubles at the time (the allegations of child molestation, the subsequent civil trial, and out-of-court settlement). ''It was like making a record about the O.J. case,'' says Austin. ''After [the news has] been blasted on television and every other media for a year, the last thing you want to hear is a record about it.'' To wrap up the year, Michael has recorded a special ode to the millennium, ''I Have This Dream,'' with David Foster, the producer behind mega-ballads by Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. No word on when the single will be released, but he's no doubt hoping the next century will be as thrilling as the last. [enterntainmentweekly|caro]

November 30, 1999 - The latest word on the upcoming album from Michael Jackson is from Gary L. Pudney, a film and television producer who's teaming with Jackson on the singer's Edgar Allan Poe movie. Pudney tells LAUNCH that Jackson has allowed him to hear some of the music he's been working on. "I've heard just snippets, and I have to tell you--it really cooks," Pudney says. "This is going to be something, this album. He's been working on this a long time, and he's had a lot of brilliant people helping him. You know, people really want him to do well." Pudney also says that during the recording, Jackson surrounded himself with some of the most creative cutting-edge music-makers out there so that he can always stay sharp. There is no set release date for the still-untitled album. Jackson's record label had hoped to have the album available now, but Jackson's legendary perfectionism has led to the album being pushed back a few times. It now appears likely that it will be released in the spring of 2000. [BruceSimon|Caro]

November 30, 1999 - Michael Jackson describes his new untitled CD as "happy, dance, music, relationship stuff." The magazine also states that he's working on a reunion album with his brothers.

November 30, 1999 - Taken from the TV Guide interview with Michael Jackson.
TV Guide - Is there a new Michael for the new millennium?
Michael Jackson - Yeah. I have a couple of things planned. I think it's going to be totally different than what I did before. There's a song on the new album called "I Have This Dream." It's a millennium song about the world and the environment that I co-wrote with Carole Bayer Sager and David Foster.

November 30, 1999 - Missy Elliot was recently on BET's show "The Basement." When asked about her next projects, she said "Its a Secret, I really can't talk about it." [alvin|mjnfc]

November 12/30, 1999 - The word on Jackson's latest album is very good. It's due out in the spring, and he will perform a single from it at the World Music Awards (another Pudney production) in Monte Carlo. That could be a fitting cap to his recording career - plus I hear that MTV will name his "Thriller" the album of the century, and TV Guide is going to put him on its cover. [NYPost]

November 20, 1999 - Missy "Midemeanor" Elliott has issued a statement denying reports that she is working with Michael Jackson. The hip-hop mastermind was quoted in a recent interview with German TV as saying, "I am currently teaching [Michael Jackson] to rap. We are also recording a song for his new album." In a statement released to Launch, Elliott denied the report. "There's all these rumors running around that I'm working with Michael Jackson on his next album, but it's not true," she said in the statement. "I love Michael Jackson! I used to write him letters when I was little and daydream that he would come to my school and take me out of class. I hope that I get to work with him some day but unfortunately it's not happening right now." [launch|earthangel]

November 19, 1999 - Michael Jackson recently collaborated with R&B producer/songwriter Rick "Dutch" Cousin on one song for the new album. Rick "Dutch" Cousin is a Los Angeles artist that became famous producing tracks for Dru Hill, Ice Cube or 702. He also contributed to the soundtracks of Rush Hour, Wild Wild West and Dr. Dolittle. Earlier this year, Rick "Dutch" Cousin was interviewed by Gavin magazine. To the question, "Who is an artist you'd really like to work with someday?" he answered: "Michael Jackson. It just doesn't get too much better than that!" [planetjackson]

November 18, 1999 - Sony Music Media recently produced a promotional double CD set for McDonalds in Germany. Featured among the song selections is "Blame It on the Boogie" by The Jackson. The booklet enclosed within the CD case includes an ad for Michael's forthcoming album. The ad, says (in translation from German): "Finally: The new Michael Jackson album 4 years after his sensational album "HIStory" a new studio album by Michael Jackson will be released. Already, you can be sure that the King of Pop will deliver a firework of emotional ballads and great pop songs. COMING SOON." Picture [MJIFC|Philipp]

November 16, 1999 - Michael Jackson Newspage Fan Club, recently had the opportunity to talk to Will Smith. Will Smith stated that the news about Michael Jackson and him working together are actual and they were working on something. Also, Will Smith's new song "Can You Feel Me," contains a sample of "Working Day and Night" by the King of Pop.

November 13, 1999 - Missy Elliott was one of the guest performers at the European MTV Awards held in Dublin on Thursday November 11th. During the press conference that followed her stage performance with Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott was interviewed by German TV Pro 7 and said: "I am currently teaching [Michael Jackson] to rap. We are also recording a song for his new album. "It seems that the King of Pop has finally acknowledged Missy's calls to work with him!" [mjifc|planetjackson]

November 12, 1999 - The King of Pop is still contemplating new musical directions for his forthcoming album. Producer Emilio Estefan, Jr has been contacted by Michael Jackson and is currently working on two tracks for the new album. Emilio Estefan, Jr is married to singer Gloria Estefan and has executive produced all of her albums. He is also the mastermind behind the famous Cuban band Miami Sound Machine. Estefan's most recent credits include production on Ricky Martin's latest album. Should these tracks produced by Estefan appear on the new album, they would mark Michael Jackson's first recording of latin-styled music. The King of Pop is currently in New York City where he has resumed work hon his new album after a short break spent in Los Angeles. [planetjackson]

October 29, 1999 - In a recent interview to the German music channel VIVA R.Kelly talks about his work with Michael Jackson.

VIVA: Something very special for R. Kelly was the team work with Michael Jackson for whom he wrote and produced the song "You Are Not Alone". The song went straight to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
R. Kelly: It was a very great experience for me because for one I grew up with the music of Michael and I've been inspired a great deal by Michael. To actually have him call me up, call my management, saying he wants me to do a song for him was a great inspiration for me to go forward in my career. And up to the day I met him it was like a big countdown. I think it's normal when you grow up to the music of someone that has been there so long and is so large. To meet this person and knowing that this person depends on me. When an artist calls a producer he makes himself dependent on him to become # 1, to get something that comes out as a track. At this time Michael Jackson depended on me to make something come true for him. I remember a funny thing about him. I had ordered Chinese food and had put up all these Walt Disney cups all over the studio because I knew he was a big kid. I knew that. Everyone knew that. And I also got my little dog because I knew he loved animals. I couldn't afford giraffes, but I did have a dog. It broke ice and we talked. And I went to the bathroom and my manager came with me and I remember that I fell out on the floor because I just couldn't believe it. But I got back up and straightened myself out because I realized that I had to be professional. As a matter of fact I have worked with him again. I wrote and produced another song for him to come out called "Cry" that he is actually working on right now. It's always great to work with someone who is wonderful because they bring you forward. Michael was very humble. He also didn't wanna change anything. Some artists want to change songs so that they like them, but I don't go for that. I don't want to destroy the magic. I don't like messing with the magic and what you risk to reach something is what you need to keep it. Michael figured this also. [MJIFC|VIVA|Caroline]

October 21, 1999 - Sisqo and the rest of Dru Hill have also contributed material to Michael Jackson's long-awaited new record, which the singer has recently been working on out in a Los Angeles studio, according to Sony Records. [MTV|Caro]

October 18, 1999 - "We have just been informed that the planned Michael Jackson Shows in Sydney and Honolulu will be postponed to next year. Michael Jackson has decided to complete recording of his long-awaited new album. The King of Pop is conceiving a brand new show including songs from the new album, new videos, a new choreography ready for the year 2000. We respect Michael Jackson's decision and are looking forward to this spectacular project. We believe that under the given circumstances this was the right decision. We look forward to the realisation of this and other great projects under our direction. Kindest personal regards. Mama Concerts & Rau, Marcel Avram." [planetjackson|mjni]

October 13, 1999 - Sony Music and Michael Jackson have set a new planning for the release of the album. Michael has three months and a half to finish the recording of his new album. He is now expected to turn in the tapes of the album on January 31st 2000 at the latest. A first single is planned for a release by the end of February, and the album should hit the streets by late March. [planetjackson]

October 11, 1999 - Wyclef Jean revealed Saturday (Oct. 9) at NetAid that he's currently writing a song with one of the biggest artists of all time, Michael Jackson. "I'm in the studio right now with Michael Jackson...and Michael's cool," he told Launch. Wyclef later explained more about how the collaboration will work. "I'm going to write the whole song, just like I did with the Whitney Houston song ["My Love Is Your Love"]. Basically, for me to work with an artist, I have to feel a vibe, an energy--I have to be a big huge fan." At press time, there's been no song title announced and no date for release of the Wyclef/Jackson song. Wyclef will start his tour Thursday (Oct. 14) in San Diego. [DarrenDavis|Launch|Caro|NewYork]

October 8, 1999 - Wyclef Jean, who hosted the Mobo awards with Mel G, has just come out of the studio with Michael Jackson. Jackson's new album, which has been put on hold for a while, is finally going to be released in the spring next year. There have been rumours from America that he wanted to lie low to spend more time with his kids. Wyclef revealed to Radio 1 they’ve been working on three tracks together: "It’s gonna be heavy. I heard some of the album, I think it’s incredible and it’s gonna take the world by storm. The stuff that he’s done with me is funk, dance and it’s a vibe, an energy through the tracks and the vocals", he says. "I think he naturally knows the vibes. He only calls people that he really feels can bring something to the table. I think he’s looking more for the soul, the energy, the power" [BBCNews]

September 29, 1999 - Michael Jackson is currently working on his new album in New York City. One of his latest productions is a song that he recorded with Indian artist Ar Rahman. The King of Pop is always exploring new musical grounds and this collaboration with Ar Rahman should bring a new flavor to one of his songs. Ar Rahman is a popular Indian artist that appeared on stage during the "Michael Jackson & Friends" concert in Munich, Germany. The song Michael Jackson and Ar Rahman recorded together is now completed and may appear on the new album. [planetjackson]

September 29, 1999 - German TV RTL "Exclusive" today aired a Joe Jackson live interview from Bremen, Northern Germany, where he is in search for talents. Joe Jackson declared "the former family group *Jackson 5* are together again. They are in studio right now, Michael included, recording a new album, which will be released next year." [MM99]

September 27, 1999 - Next year is shaping up to be a biggie, with expected releases by major acts now appearing on labels' new-year dockets. The stellar lineup includes Babyface, Michael Jackson, Keith Sweat, Boyz II Men, Erykah Badu, and Toni Braxton. [billboard]

September 27, 1999 - The new 'Jackson 5' album is schedule for a next year release date. [mjnfc]

September 27, 1999 - The new Michael Jackson album that many of his industry friends are predicting will mark a comeback for the superstar won't see the light of stores this year after all. Superhot producer Rodney Jerkins reports the disc is "about halfway finished, but Michael's not going to put out just an album. He's got to come out with the proper bang.'' The CD has had the input of such music masterminds as David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager and Kenny "Babyface'' Edmonds, but Jerkins says, "I'm hoping to have at least 70 percent of it.'' He adds that Michael will be coming out with "a totally new sound. People are going to love it.'' The 22-year-old music whiz, who this year alone produced gold and platinum hits for WhitneyHouston, Monica, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Luther Vandross and Jennifer Lopez, will need a clone if he takes on any more assignments. [SanJose MercuryNews/Caro]

September 15, 1999 - Michael Jackson is close to reuniting with his former manager, starmaker Freddy DeMann. Sources close to Jackson told the Daily News the reclusive pop star is negotiating with DeMann — the man who helped Madonna become a superstar — to guide him through the upcoming release of his still untitled album due out by the holiday season. Jackson and his label, Sony-owned Epic Records, have already lured hit-making producers David Foster and Rodney Jerkins to the project. By tapping DeMann, Jackson is banking on a total career makeover. It was DeMann who helped Jackson earn the title King of Pop back in the late '70s and early '80s, guiding him through the release of such mega-sellers as "Thriller." "He's one of the best managers in the business," said rock star rep Allen Kovac. DeMann and Jackson could not be reached for comment. Despite their lucrative partnership, Jackson split with DeMann in the early '80s, turning to Hollywood powerbroker Sandy Gallin. More recently he has sought the counsel of the mega-rich Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, while over the past couple years, the pop star has been without a manager. If DeMann signs Jackson, it will mark the first big career move for the L.A.-based manager since splitting earlier this year with Madonna, who forced DeMann out of Maverick Records, the label they co-founded. While the parting wasn't amicable, DeMann did get to walk away with $20 million. [Daily News]

September 14, 1999 - Michael Jackson told a few fans in Paris, that his new album will be finished in four months.

September 13, 1999 - The wheels are turning for a possible Sisqo and Michael Jackson duet. But, that would happen sometime next year if it happens at all. "Me (Sisqo) and Michael never recorded a song, but from what I understand from his publicist and my publicist, Courtney Barnes, he wants to do the project, but I think it's going to be closer to the new milleneum than to my album." [eur]

September 6, 1999 - Statement from Dru Hill Press Release ''Sisqo [Dru Hill] added that the talked about collaboration between him and Michael Jackson never transpired, but, according to his publicist, it might happen "closer to the new Millennium.'' [cdnow]

August 30, 1999 - As reported before, Michael Jackson is worked with producer and song writer Mark C. Rooney for his new album. Mr. Rooney, did two songs with Jackson. It was announce today that one of the song he worked on is titled "She Was Loving Me." [mjnfc]

August 30, 1999 - Undercover website stated that, Michael Jackson will release a new, yet to be titled album in November. But as of right now, Michael's new album won't be out as scheduled.

August 19, 1999 - Island Records stated that, Sisqo from the group Dru Hill is working on a track with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. [Cnewsrelease]

August 16, 1999 - Rolling Stone Magazine stated that you should "Watch out for a Boyz II Men - Michael Jackson collaboration sometime before the end of the century."

August 15, 1999 - Taj of the band '3T' stated that '3T' have yet to decide if there will be any songs with Michael on their new album. Also, Tito from the 'Jackson 5' is working on a solo album. He has about six songs for his new album. [dejavu]

August 11, 1999 - Sony Music has rescheduled the release date of the new Michael Jackson album.The new record is now expected for a release by early 2000.[planetjackson]

August 9, 1999 - Exclusive interview with Boyz II Men by American reporter Carol U. Ozemhoya. "Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men will collaborate on music for each of our new albums, due out as the world breaks in a new century. We may also be making appearances together, including a New Year's Eve performance and a joint tour. I can't say that as fact yet. We're still working things out. It's just an idea. The show we did with Michael in Seoul was electrifying. Michael asked us to do the show in Korea awhile back. We all started talking and got a creative vibe going. It didn't take us long to decide we wanted to do a song together for each album —his and ours— and also a song for the new millennium. We're still working on our separate albums. We haven't decided yet what style the collaborations with Michael will follow. We're still vibing. We'll probably do at least one ballad with him. We hope to begin work on the songs in September. We want to do them here in Philly [Philadelphia]. The Boyz II Men album won't be ready for release until the first quarter of the new millennium. Expect to hear some different sides of the group." Nathan Morris, band member. "Michael has long been an admirer of the group, and in fact nicknamed them the ‘Kings of Vocals’. Michael and the boys have been close friends for years, and the albums provided an opportunity for them all to work together. These guys are already in the history books, but they wanted to produce one of the biggest songs of the new century. What they are about to do will be nothing short of incredible." Qadree El-Amin, band manager. [planetjackson]

August 9, 1999 - When music fans log on to MTV.com, it'll be music to their ears. Starting today, MTV.com launches MTV S-Track, the first music soundtrack developed for a Web site. DJ Scratch, well know for his work with EPMD and Busta Rhymes, has just completed tracks for the new Jay-Z album and is slated to begin working on the new Michael Jackson album. "I'm excited about working on the MTV S-Track project," said DJ Scratch. "It will help people understand and learn about the art of hip-hop production."[mtv]

August 7, 1999 - The following is a quote from one of boyband Another Level´s groupmembers. "I had the honour of hearing new songs from the new Michael Jackson album that Rodney Jerkins [and another name] is producing. All I can say is that the songs are off the hook! And I'll be one of the first to buy it!" [BigBreakFastmjweb]

August 6, 1999 - Boyz II Men have also worked with Michael on his new album. They have recorded background vocals for one of the new tracks.

August 5, 1999 - Will Smith and Michael Jackson are teaming up for a track that is to due out at the end of the year. Rodney Jerkins, who has produced records for the like of Whitney Houston, is the producer on the as yet untitled track. A source said: "Will Smith has already laid down a rap. Now they're just waiting for Michael to lay down some vocals." Jackson's last top ten hit in the UK was 'History' two years ago, whilst Will Smith has continued to focus on movies with roles in mega films such as 'Men In Black' and 'Wild Wild West'. If the song comes out before the end of the year, it is more than likely to make it to the Christmas number one. [dotmusic]

August 3, 1999 - Due to new production delays, the schedule of Sony Music for the release of Michael Jackson's album is being rearranged. The final tapes of the new album won't be turned in by August as expected. The November 9th commercial release date may be postponed. Sony Music is still hoping for a release this year but very little time is left now to meet the deadline. [planetjackson]

August 1, 1999 - Vibe magazine stated that Michael Jackson is set to release his new album in November. Michael Jackson has been watching Whitney Houston's musical rejuvenation and planning his attack. Vibe magazine hears that Michael Jackson may soon be back and that he's enlisted two boy wonders (producer Rodney Jerkins and Singer Sisco from Dru Hill) to return him to the pop charts by the end of the year. [vibe]

August 1, 1999 - Darkchild Records production team stated that, they have 'literally adopted a round-the-clock work routine at Record One to perform their hitmaking magic for their highest-profile client yet: embattled tabloid fixture and global super Michael Jackson'. [vibe]

August 1, 1999 - Rodney Jerkins: "We're trying to do something that's never been done before," Jerkins says of his creations with the King Of Pop. "[Michael] just wants [what we do] to sound totally different from whatever he hears on the radio. Hopefully when it comes out and it's done people [will] just say, 'That's just like Michael Jackson's sound.' A lot of people don't know it, but he's very much in tune with what's going on," says Rodney of Michael Jackson as he turns to the MPC. "He called me and told me how he loved the Eminem record and asked me what I thought about it. [vibe]

August 1, 1999 - Sony Music (USA) will receive sounds from Michael's new album in mid-August. The title of the new album will be finally known. The new album is schedule for November 9. 1999. [sonyfrance]

July 29, 1999   - The fans have fears the worst but more for fear of evil! After his accident in Munich. Michael Jackson quickly recovered from his emotions and went to th French capital for one week, accompanied by his two children Prince and Paris. With the program, a cinema on the fields-Elysées, of the meetings with fans, visits of castle in suburbs, a ballade in the Markets! But the King of Pop was not in the Capital to take a holidays: secret businesses signal awaited it. It held several meetings of businesses but also recorded a special title in a Parisian studio for his new album which will come out in November. [SonyMusic]

July 29, 1999   - Today, Sony Music has officially announced that they should get the tapes of Michael's new album by the end of August. The title of the album should then be revealed.[planetjackson]

July 26, 1999 - Update -   Michael Jackson is working with producer Jermaine Dupri, whose previous credits include TLC and Babyface, and whose recent work includes a duet with Stevie Wonder.

July 26, 1999 - Michael Jackson is pulling out all the stops for his new 'untitled' album, due out this fall. Mark C. Rooney is one of the many writers and producers that Michael Jackson is working with. Mr. Rooney also worked with Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, R. Kelly and Michael's nephews 3T. It's not clear, if he wrote or co-wrote songs for Michael's new album, but it's clear that he worked on two or three new songs for Michael's new album. The songs Mr. Rooney worked on are completed and set to go.

July 25, 1999 - FebMar/99 - Carole Bayer Sager worked on the song "I Have This Dream" with Michael Jackson and David Foster. She's now working on a second track, this time with Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds. Sager has high hopes for Jackson’s album; as she said, "I've heard some of Michael's album and I think it's extraordinary. I think he's going to come back bigger than when he left." Dutch newspaper reported that Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds and Michael Jackson are heading into the studio this July and the album has a Fall 1999 release date. [rhythm]

July 23, 1999 - The group BLACKstreet were being interviewed with producer Teddy Riley by MTV Jams. Teddy Riley stated that he was in the process of finishing work on the 'new Michael Jackson album'. [mtv/bubbles]

July 20, 1999 - Modern Records is pushing to release the Jackson Five album at the end of the year. If that should fail. The album will be release in March of the year 2000. It's not certain if Michael Jackson will be part of the project. [MJNFC/Meca27]

July 19, 1999 - Michael was expected to turn in song samples from the new album by the end of this month. However, due to several delays, Sony Music won't get the expected material on time. Therefore, a slight change in the schedule has been made. Michael is now expected to turn in a sampler of his new album by early August. [PlanetJackson]

July 16, 1999 - Dru Hill band member Sisqo recently spoke with the Australian music newspaper called 'Beat Magazine'. He discussed, among other things, the duet he is reportedly supposed to be recording with Michael Jackson. "You know, he(Michael Jackson) had trouble with his son and so it got postponed," Sisqo confided. "He might not even wanna do it anymore. But I still got a lot of cakes in the oven." [Beat Magazine, Nation 2 Nation]

July 3, 1999 - Michael is working in a studio on his new upcoming album. The studio is based in France. Inside the studio he did a photoshoot for the cover of his new album.[tlc]

June 26, 1999 - Most young men can only dream of getting breathless phone calls from Jennifer Lopez. But when the screen siren-turned-singer's first single, "If You Had Your Love," reached No. 1 on the pop charts last month, she immediately dialed the number of Rodney Jerkins. Jerkins is now working on tracks for Michael Jackson's comeback effort, due this fall. "Michael Jackson was my biggest wish ever," he says. "He's pushed me more than any artist or record company. We had a lot of fun; I'd play the music real loud and we'd go crazy--pumpin' fists, clappin', cheerin'. His drive is unbelievable. He would call me at 5 in the morning, in the studio, and I'd be like, 'What are you doin' up?' And he'd say, 'I just want to make sure everything's goin' right.' "There's a lot of pressure, working with a Michael Jackson or a Whitney Houston. There's no two or three pitches--if you miss once, you don't get a second chance."

June 17, 1999 - During an interview with French TV station MCM, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs was asked whether he was going to be on Michael Jackson's new album. Sitting next to him was rapper Mase (who participated in the project). Here's what the popular R&B producer said: "When I heard the stuff Michael has recorded for his new album... I'm not sure he's gonna use what we did because, you know, the songs I heard are so good..."[pj]

June 16, 1999 - Sony Music has set a USA release date of November 9, 1999 for Michael's as yet untitled and eagerly awaited new album. In Europe, the album is expected to be released a day or two in advance in order to discourage parallel import. The release date was finalized after a recent meeting between Michael and Sony Music President, Tommy Mottola, in New York. The album will be released in CD, cassette, and mini-disc formats. The previously announced release date was November 11, 1999. [pj]

June 9, 1999 - Fresh from a high of winning a third Golden Globe last March for "The Prayer" (an Andrea Bocelli / Celine Dion collaboration heard in the animated film Quest For Camelot), prolific songwriter Carole Bayer Sager is striking while the iron is hot and starting projects with Carole King and Michael Jackson. "I am keeping myself quite busy working with Carole on her new album and with Michael Jackson on a few new songs," says the writer responsible for "That's What Friends Are For," "A Groovy Kind Of Love," "On My Own," and other hits. "Musicians with their amount of genius push me harder in my craft. Plus, writing stand-alone songs is a bit harder than writing soundtrack songs. With movie music, you already have a theme to follow. Carole's album will have some beautiful vocal harmonies and love songs. "As for the King Of Pop's new album, scheduled for release this fall, Sager says, "Michael is aware of the pressure to have a hit, and he wants this album to be spectacular and full of twists you wouldn't expect from him...Michael is a sweet genuine professional who I have worked with twice before. He sang on one of my albums, and I helped him with Off The Wall." (The Sager/ David Foster-penned song, "It's The Falling In Love," appeared on Jackson's 1979 album). Rodney Jerkins (Monica, Jennifer Lopez, Whitney Houston) will produce a few of the songs Sager and Jackson co-write. It's a collaboration she describes as "new genre territory for her." Sager, who was once married to Burt Bacharach, is working with producer Foster and Jackson on a song about the millennium. Although the Backstreet Boys and Robbie Williams have used the subject as the title of a recent album and song, respectively, Sager doesn't feel competitive. "Everybody can write one. We don't have a monopoly on it, and the inspiration is the same for all of us. We are coming up on a special year that we'll never see again and that many people have never seen or never will. Ours will be a celebration of the changing times, a song for the future, which I suspect will be bright." [Launch]

June 6, 1999 - Producer Rodney Jerkins has a lot on his plate. Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine," Monica's "Angel of Mine," and Jennifer Lopez's "If You Had My Love" have all hit #1, and now everyone is fiending for the Darkchild's golden touch. Jerkins is currently working on Michael Jackson's comeback album, due this fall, and SWV's Coko's solo effort, scheduled for a late summer release. In August, he's heading to London to hook up the Spice Girls, and then back over to this side of the Atlantic to do some production work for Will Smith and Puff Daddy. This summer, Jerkins is releasing Plush, the first artist to sign to his Sony-backed label, Darkchild Records. [blaze]

June 4, 1999 - Grammy-winning country singer LeAnn Rimes will be keeping her country roots for her next CD. However, she's getting serious about moving in a more pop direction and she's now enlisted superhot producer Rodney Jerkins to help her achieve that goal. Jerkins who went from Whitney Houston's last album to masterminding the Brandy-Monica megahit, The Boy Is Mine as well as Monica's Angel Of Mine hit single will go into the studio with Rimes in July. That's right after he finishes work on Michael Jackson's upcoming disc. At that time, Rimes will be wrapping up shooting of the indie pic, Under The Mimosa, which starts next month. The 16-year-old singer chose Jerkins to produce several songs on her new disc because she was reportedly impressed with his work on Angel Of Mine, which went to No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rimes' album is expected to be out around October.[ca]

May 27, 1999 - Michael Jackson News International(MJNI) has learned that there are plans to re-issuedigitally re-mastered versions of Michael's albums 'Off the Wall,' 'Thriller,' 'Bad' and 'Dangerous' - probably early in the year 2000. There is no connection between the re-release of these albums and the as yet untitled new album from Michael, still expected but not confirmed for the Christmas season, hopefully November. In addition, with reference to the re-releases, we hear there are plans to include new songs, which were originally intended for inclusion on the albums at that time. Which songs might be included is not yet determinedas this project is still in its early planning stages.[mjni]

May 17, 1999 - Tom Sinclair of Entertainment Weekly reported this week:
“The latest Lauryn Hill rumor is false. She won't be teaming with Michael Jackson on a millennium single.  There's nothing like the Internet for spreading baseless, silly rumors, and BLAZE magazine's online news site recently fueled a juicy one when it reported that Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill were teaming up to record ''a millennium single'' called ''This Is Our Time.'' That's apparently news to Hill. ''Lauryn has not been approached by Michael about working on any such song,'' says a Hill spokesperson, who adds that his office has been bombarded with calls about the mythical project. Jackson's rep, Bob Jones, was similarly mystified: ''I don't know anything about it.'' So from whence did the apparently erroneous report originate? BLAZE Online editor Keith Murphy says he picked it up from another online news service, Support Online Hip-Hop (www.sohh.com). ''They're pretty much an authority,'' contends Murphy. If you say so. (At press time, Support Online Hip-Hop was trying to figure out where it got its information.)” [mjwn]

May 16, 1999 - The Jacksons will release their first studio album since 1989 soon, Mark Olson, President of Universal stated. The CD will include the Jackson brothers, Randy, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Michael. Michael Jackson has stated he will do three cuts on the new CD and is the executive producer. The Jackson's last CD, Victory, was produced in 1985 in which approximately 8 million copies were sold. They followed up the CD with a six month tour in the United States. This new album will also be highly promoted including a small tour through NorthAmerica.[tlc]

May 11, 1999 - Universal Marketing & Entertainment, Inc. has invested $1 million in Modern Records, Inc. to participate in the upcoming Jackson's CD and future projects. The Company will be able to invest up to an additional $2 million in the CD production. For each $1 million invested, the Company will receive a maximum of $1,666,666 returned on the CD project. The Jackson brothers - Randy, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, and Michael will feature on this CD. Michael will do three tracks on the CD. Mark Olson, President of Universal stated, ``We are very excited to have the opportunity to participate with Modern Records and the Jackson's on the CD and we anticipate other significant opportunities developing out of this relationship over the next few weeks. We believe Modern Records will be a major player in the recording business,'' stated Olson. Michael's brother Randy Jackson is the chairman of Modern Records which is a publically traded company under the symbol MDNR. [UM]

April 30, 1999 - Rodney Jerkins is one of the producers of Michael's new album. This short phone interview was made in Los Angeles a few days ago while Rodney was in between sessions. [AngelWebSite]
Interview:
Diana = Diana D'Alo (Interviewer)
Rodney = Rodney Jerkins
__________________________
DIANA: How did Michael contact you and what did he say?
Rodney: Carole Bayer Sager, the writer, called me up and said "I want you to come and write with me and Michael at my house" , then later Michael said" I don't want you to go home, I want you to stay and work on my album"
DIANA: Was it a great feeling to know Michael Jackson wants you to work for him?
Rodney: Yes, it was an incredible feeling, I felt like if I was working with my mentor. I was a huge fan of Michael since I was a little kid, I followed his career...everything he's ever done.
DIANA: What would you say about Michael and about working with him?
Rodney: He is the best, there's no other artist at his level, and I worked with many, he is great to work with because he knows exactly what he wants.
DIANA: You are so young and you have already achieved many of your dreams, is there any other goal you are pursuing, any other artist that would make you feel even prouder than working with Michael Jackson?
Rodney: No, Michael is the top, nothing higher after him, but if I believe in any artist I'm gonna work with them...
DIANA: How is Michael different to work with as opposed to the other artists you worked with?
Rodney: He is so innovative, he doesn't want the usual stuff that they play on the radio all the time, and he is very hands on.  Everything has to be as he wants it.
DIANA: Which is your favorite album of Michael's?
Rodney: Off The Wall, and Dangerous, I really liked Dangerous.
DIANA: What did you think about his last one, BOTDF,?
Rodney: I thought it wasn't his most creative, and it was more like a remix album...this one is gonna be totally different, all new material, a different sound, more songs, more melody...everyone will be able to accept it but it will be different at the same time.
DIANA: Are there many ballads?
Rodney: Well, there are two slow ballads with R. Kelly...but right now I'm concentrating on the uptempo's, you know, the stuff that will make people dance...
DIANA: Is the album finished yet?
Rodney: Almost, pretty much, probably a couple more months...
DIANA: Michael is working with other producers as well, I heard about David Foster?
Rodney: Michael is working with a lot of other people, yes, but I'm hoping that 70% of the album will be the stuff me and my team are working on.
DIANA: How many songs did you work on for this project?
Rodney: Close to 30.
DIANA: Is Michael gonna use any special technique on this record, you know how "electronica" is the big thing now, is Michael gonna use that too? How is this album gonna sound like?
Rodney: All I can tell you is that it's a sound you have never heard before in your life. Definitively different from everything else...definitively something none has heard before. It's gonna be the best album that he's ever made.
DIANA: Why is this album better then?
Rodney: I'm working on it! What I mean is that, you know, everybody has a time in their life when they are very hot, a best time creatively, and that's where I am now, if Michael had called me two years ago, I would not have been able to do the same job, I'm at my best, Michael is at his best and together we make art.
DIANA: Is there a specific theme throughout the album? You know, like HIStory was about the pain Michael suffered in those years and against the tabloids, is there a different theme now?
Rodney: Michael is happy now, he has his son, and his daughter, he has joy, not like the time when he did History when he went through that pain, now it's positive. The album is gonna be positive. His children changed everything.
DIANA: Have you met them?
Rodney: Oh yes, they are very cute, and fun! I play all the time with his son.
DIANA: Are there any songs style HTW or Earth Song dedicated to the children and the environment?
Rodney: Yes, there are....
DIANA: No titles?
Rodney: Can't give them out yet....
DIANA: What about duets? I just heard there's a rumor about a Lauryn Hill duet?
Rodney: Yes, I think that's gonna happen.
DIANA: And with Lisa Marie Presley?
Rodney: What about her?
DIANA: A duet?
Rodney: I haven't heard about that!
DIANA: Is Teddy Riley working on this project?
Rodney: Teddy did not work on this album, no.
DIANA: Would you define this as the most complex project you have worked on?
Rodney: Definitively the most complex! Yes, usually it takes me 2-3 days to finish a song, now it's taking me 8 to 10 to 15 days. It's another level, last month I made a song and now I'm still working on it building it up to make it better and better....
DIANA: Does Michael record a demo with his voice and you work on it or you create the song and then present it to him?
Rodney: I lay down a track, then I give it to Michael and then we work together and come up with a melody...
DIANA: I have heard about "I Have This Dream", supposedly the first single, did you work on it?
Rodney: No, I didn't work on that one, but it's gonna be incredible, a big big song, he wants to dedicate it to those kids victim of the war...
DIANA: Yeah, Michael is also gonna give some charity concerts this summer, actually in June...do you think he might sing some of the new songs? Will any be ready by then?
Rodney: Yeah, it's possible, it could be...
DIANA: How many hours a day do you record when you are with Michael?
Rodney: Sometimes 40 hours straight....normally 16-18 hours.
DIANA: When is the album gonna be released?
Rodney: I think they are planning a Christmas release.
DIANA: Is there a title yet?
Rodney: No, not yet...
DIANA: So, is this gonna be Michael's big US come back album? Lately he has especially concentrated on Europe...
Rodney: Yes, it's gonna be his US come back, it's true he feels very close to Europe now, but this will be an album that the whole world will want, it will be his biggest record.
DIANA: Do you have a special message to Michael's fans?
Rodney: Yes, expect the "unexpectable", this will be the most incredible album he's ever made, you will see!

April 26, 1999 - Michael Jackson is planning to record a duet with Lauryn Hill for release as a millennium single later this year. One Four Three/peermusic writer and Jackson’s friend David Foster is understood to be co-writing and producing the track - which has the working title 'This Is Our Time' - with Jackson in-between projects with Mariah Carey and Celine Dion. One Four Three boss Brian Avnet confirms Foster and Jackson are working together. "I don’t know yet what song they’re doing together - it’s going through some incarnations." A source says, "It’s very hush-hush but it’s a very Fosterised production with excerpts from points in the century, pastiched lyrical references to events like the man on the moon or Martin Luther King that will work with a video." He says, "Knowing what David’s songs sound like, it’ll probably end up with big string arrangements and everything but the kitchen sink thrown into it. It’ll certainly lend itself to the end of the year."[dotmusic]

April 13, 1999 - Rodney Jerkins only at 21, Jerkins has produced records for Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Brandy and others. He's now in the studio with Michael Jackson, who hasn't released a record since 1995's ``HIStory.'' The record will be released next year, Jerkins says. ``People say, `What are you going to do after Michael Jackson?' Everything's a challenge. If I can take a kid nobody knows about and make a record that sells 20 million records, then I've done something just as big as (working with) Michael Jackson,'' he says. ``Every project is a challenge in some way. Michael Jackson, as big as he is, is still a challenge for me. I'm trying to deliver something new that nobody's heard in a while or that nobody's ever heard. I gotta give everything I got in me.'' [aol]

April 12, 1999 - In An Interview Michael Jackson Said:
That he had 70 songs for the new album, of which he had to choose 12. He also said that after this project he was going to do an album with his brothers, and then after that, he had 3 songs to work on for 3T's album. Some of the fans asked him to sing, but he said he couldn't as he had laryngitis, and that he was having 2 days off from his work. [mjwn]

April 10, 1999 - Captain EO reports that the first album single 'I Have This Dream' composed by Michael Jackson and Carol Bayer Sager and David Foster will be released in October/November. [tlc]+[gml]

March 5, 1999 - Michael Jackson is suddenly getting a big boost from pop music's creative community. This is the word from songwriter Carol Bager Sayer. Sager -- a Best Song Oscar nominee with David Foster for Celine Dion's " The Prayer" -- is currently creating songs with Kenny (BabyFace) Edmonds for Jackson's next, yet untitled album. According to her, " Anyone I respect who has great talent, when I tell them I 'm writing for Michael, says ' Cool! I 'd like to work with him , too. ' More and more people want to work on the album." Jackson's soiled reputation and the controversies that surrounded him do not faze Carol. " All I can know is my direct experience with someone----- and my experience with Michael is of a kind, compassionate, sweet man. I 've seen him with his son, and seen the kind of fatherly love and responsibility you wish any child could have. Anything else, for me, is just rumors and gossip. " Foster and " The Boy is Mine" producer Rodney Jenkins are also contributing their talents to the new Jackson album, which is" about a third finished," says Carol. She adds, "Whatever I can do to help him make this album great, I'll gladly do."[dailynews]

March --, 1999 - Modern Records signed The Jackson's to a multi album contract and expects to complete the first album in 1999. It will mark the first time the family group has worked together in a decade and the world-wide appeal for their music and performances is expected to generate tremendous interest. The Company believes that this signal artistic relationship can be leveraged to expland exposure for the entire Modern roster of talent. [ModernRecords]