By TARIQ KHONJI

BAHRAIN-BASED record label 2 Seas Records has denied reports that it refused to hand over a Michael Jackson charity song. Fox News reported that the company was holding onto the master tapes of the charity single I Have a Dream, which was due to be released to raise money for US victims of Hurricane Katrina.

However, a 2 Seas Records spokesman said it had received no request to deliver the tapes.

“2 Seas co-operated to the utmost in every way we could,” said the spokesman.

“We paid for the whole production and gave Michael everything he needed.

“As for the delivery, there was never any request to hand over the tapes.”

The spokesman said that he wasn’t aware of Jackson’s intentions or whether the superstar intended to break his ties with Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Bahrain-based AAJ Holdings - which hired Jackson to provide advice on creating theme parks and music academies - has refused to comment on reports of a split.

Fox News again reported the separation, but a spokesman for the company said it could not comment because the matter was “still confidential”.

Internet sites have reported that the superstar plans to join forces with producer Teddy Riley, who worked with him on his Dangerous album.

They said they plan to work together on his comeback album, which is reportedly scheduled for release next year.

Recording artists said to be involved in I Have a Dream include Keisha Cole, Ciara, Snoop Dogg, Babyface and R Kelly.

It was written by Jackson in response to the disaster, which occurred in August last year and was the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in the history of the US.

Jackson first arrived in Bahrain in June last year as a private guest of Southern Governor Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

He later made Bahrain his official home.

Source: Gulf Daily News

Category: General