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New member
Jackson Assembles Industry Heavyweights in London
Thursday, October 06, 2005
By Roger Friedman
Jackson Seeks Deal With L.A. Reid, Bahrain Prince
When F. Scott Fitzgerald profoundly claimed that there were no second acts in the lives of Americans, he hadn’t encountered the information era. As it turns out, almost everyone has a second act, and many people have third, fourth, fifth ones, too!
That certainly can be said of Michael Jackson. On trial just a few months ago for child molestation and conspiracy, the acquitted singer was already then well into the drama that constitutes his life. The next act picks up in London, where Jackson is ensconced at the very expensive Dorchester Hotel. He’s there on the dime of the Crown Prince of Bahrain, who’s picking up the tab for everything.
Jackson and the Prince are not alone, however. They are joined right now by attorney Thomas Mesereau. Jr., who so brilliantly defended Jackson in his trial. Also there are fired-then-reinstated publicist Raymone Bain, as well as Jackson’s three “acquired” children and their nanny, Grace Rwamba.
But even more interesting are two more people new to the crowd: Atlanta music business attorney Joel Katz and Island/DefJam Records chairman Antonio L.A. Reid. Their project is simple. My sources say that Katz has come to represent the Prince in a deal that would fund a record label for Jackson at Island/DefJam’s parent, Universal Music Group.
Katz is not new to the Jackson picture. I’m told he represented Jackson’s brother Jermaine for many years in the mid-'80s. He’s listed on the credits for the Victory tour as Jermaine’s legal eagle. Coincidentally – that is, if you believe in coincidences – Katz represents Reid as well. (Jackson probably does not know this. Maybe someone at the Dorchester can show him this column.) It was Katz who negotiated Reid’s deal that made him head of Arista Records in 2000. He also got him out of that deal and made the current one at Universal.
What Jermaine gets at the end of the day is uncertain. For years Michael’s elder brother has floundered after a promising series of hits in the mid-'80s. In his memoir of life with Michael, Jackson’s former p.r. guy Bob Jones claims that Michael purposely sabotaged Jermaine’s career.
If the project comes together, and it should, the first order of business would be to record that charity single Jackson has been promising since Hurricane Katrina. Even though Stevie Wonder turned him down, Jackson has been campaigning among various stars for weeks. Katz, whose Rolodex is filled with star R&B and hip hop clients, would be a tremendous asset in lassoing contributors. First up would be James Brown, the man whose dance steps Jackson copied at an early age.
Next to be tapped, I’m told, might be Jay-Z and Beyonce, thanks to the Universal connection. Jay-Z, believe it or not, is president and chief exec of Def Jam. Beyonce is engaged to him. And so on. Universal is the number one music company right now, boasting everyone from Eminem and 50 Cent to Bon Jovi, Kanye West, and Mariah Carey. Under the right circumstances, UMG could cajole any of its stars to appear on Jackson’s single or even on a comeback album.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,171414,00.html
Thursday, October 06, 2005
By Roger Friedman
Jackson Seeks Deal With L.A. Reid, Bahrain Prince
When F. Scott Fitzgerald profoundly claimed that there were no second acts in the lives of Americans, he hadn’t encountered the information era. As it turns out, almost everyone has a second act, and many people have third, fourth, fifth ones, too!
That certainly can be said of Michael Jackson. On trial just a few months ago for child molestation and conspiracy, the acquitted singer was already then well into the drama that constitutes his life. The next act picks up in London, where Jackson is ensconced at the very expensive Dorchester Hotel. He’s there on the dime of the Crown Prince of Bahrain, who’s picking up the tab for everything.
Jackson and the Prince are not alone, however. They are joined right now by attorney Thomas Mesereau. Jr., who so brilliantly defended Jackson in his trial. Also there are fired-then-reinstated publicist Raymone Bain, as well as Jackson’s three “acquired” children and their nanny, Grace Rwamba.
But even more interesting are two more people new to the crowd: Atlanta music business attorney Joel Katz and Island/DefJam Records chairman Antonio L.A. Reid. Their project is simple. My sources say that Katz has come to represent the Prince in a deal that would fund a record label for Jackson at Island/DefJam’s parent, Universal Music Group.
Katz is not new to the Jackson picture. I’m told he represented Jackson’s brother Jermaine for many years in the mid-'80s. He’s listed on the credits for the Victory tour as Jermaine’s legal eagle. Coincidentally – that is, if you believe in coincidences – Katz represents Reid as well. (Jackson probably does not know this. Maybe someone at the Dorchester can show him this column.) It was Katz who negotiated Reid’s deal that made him head of Arista Records in 2000. He also got him out of that deal and made the current one at Universal.
What Jermaine gets at the end of the day is uncertain. For years Michael’s elder brother has floundered after a promising series of hits in the mid-'80s. In his memoir of life with Michael, Jackson’s former p.r. guy Bob Jones claims that Michael purposely sabotaged Jermaine’s career.
If the project comes together, and it should, the first order of business would be to record that charity single Jackson has been promising since Hurricane Katrina. Even though Stevie Wonder turned him down, Jackson has been campaigning among various stars for weeks. Katz, whose Rolodex is filled with star R&B and hip hop clients, would be a tremendous asset in lassoing contributors. First up would be James Brown, the man whose dance steps Jackson copied at an early age.
Next to be tapped, I’m told, might be Jay-Z and Beyonce, thanks to the Universal connection. Jay-Z, believe it or not, is president and chief exec of Def Jam. Beyonce is engaged to him. And so on. Universal is the number one music company right now, boasting everyone from Eminem and 50 Cent to Bon Jovi, Kanye West, and Mariah Carey. Under the right circumstances, UMG could cajole any of its stars to appear on Jackson’s single or even on a comeback album.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,171414,00.html