Washington, D.C. …..A photograph in Wednesday’s (October 11, 2006) New York Daily News, allegedly depicting Michael Jackson in women’s shoes and clothing IS NOT Michael Jackson.

Mr. Jackson has not visited Saint-Tropez in recent years, nor has he donned a women’s hat and pumps for disguise.

Mr. Jackson is demanding that the New York Daily News offer an apology and retraction, or he will refer the matter to his attorneys for further action.

Source: Raymone Bain

By Teresa Wiltz
Washington Post Staff Writer

A Veteran Player in Politics, Sports and Entertainment, Publicist Raymone Bain Is at the Top of Her Game. Is She Up to Managing Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson is going to call — from wherever he happens to be at the moment, which is a bit of a mystery. He’s going to talk about Raymone Bain, the Washington publicist who has just become his general manager.

But no . . . he’s not going to call. A personal assistant delivers this news on a patched-in transcontinental phone line. Jackson would rather converse through a different type of technological apparatus — one that doesn’t require actually speaking.

Jackson wants to talk by fax.

But no . . . the fax machine is broken. So two days later, Jackson’s assistant e-mails his answers to questions posed to him by The Washington Post. Questions about why he’s decided to put Bain — a woman who’d been mysteriously fired and then rehired in the midst of Jackson’s 2005 child abuse trial– in charge of his new company.

“I was impressed by her professionalism, her strategic thinking, and honesty,” the e-mail reads. “I watched from afar the work she had done for other clients, for example how she ushered her clients to new levels, she helped diversify their interests from politics, to charitable events, to the world of fashion. One could not pick up a newspaper or magazine that did not feature Babyface, Boyz II Men or Serena Williams . . .”

To read more of this special report about Raymone K. Bain, Michael Jackson’s spokeswoman and General Manager, please visit The Washington Post

Source: The Washington Post

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

On Wednesday, Jeffrey Borer was sentenced to six months of home detention for secretly videotaping Michael Jackson in November 2003. He will also have three years of probation and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and serve 150 hours of community service, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Shallman.

Borer’s attorney, Stanley Stone, said outside court that the terms were “very fair.”

Borer and co-defendant Arvel Jett Reeves had admitted during the trial that they installed two digital video recorders to record “a professional entertainer” and his lawyer as the pair traveled on a private jet from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara.

Borer was the former owner of XtraJet, the private jet company that operated the Gulfstream jet carrying Michael Jackson. Reeves owned Executive Aviation, which provided maintenance service for XtraJet’s aircraft fleet.

Borer instructed Reeves to obtain and install the videotaping equipment and intended “to sell these recordings to the media for a large sum of money”. Borer and Reeves each pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy. As part of the deal, federal prosecutors agreed to dismiss other charges.

Reeves was arleady sentenced in July 2006 to eight months in prison and ordered to spend six additional months in a halfway house and pay a $1,000 fine.

Source: Associated Press

The long-winded child custody case between Michael Jackson and his ex-wife Debbie Rowe has finally been settled.

Marta Almli, attorney for Rowe, confirmed that the two parties reached a conclusion concerning the custody and visitation rights of Michael’s two eldest children Prince and Paris, however no details of the settlement have yet been released.

“We’re still dealing with the details but it addresses all of the disputes between the parties,” said Almli. “I can’t say anything about the terms of the settlement but I don’t think it would have happened if both parties didn’t agree it was appealing to both of them.” Almli told the Associated Press that it “is the settlement of all the issues.”

Rowe started the case in 2003 after Michael was charged with alleged child abuse, charges that he was completely exonerated of.

Michael’s attorney in this case, Michael L. Abrams also confirmed the case had been settled to legal newspaper The Daily Journal. “My client is very satisfied with the results. Hopefully they can both get on with their lives now and be through with this litigation.”

Rowe had previously given up her parental rights in 2001, stating in a court document, “Michael has been a wonderful father to the children, and I do not wish to share any parenting responsibilities with Michael because he is doing so well without me.” She went on, “I want to forever give up any and all rights pertaining to the children because I believe that by doing so, it is in the children’s best interest.”

Source: MJNI

It has been just over five months since Michael Jackson announced that he was working on a new album with Bahrain-based 2 Seas Records, which he hoped would be released by late next year. In those five months a lot has happened!

Firstly, the deal with 2 Seas Records is no more. Michael’s spokesperson, Raymone Bain, has confirmed that the deal with Abdulla Hamad Al-Khalifa (Prince of Bahrain) had come to an end and he was no longer affiliated with the label.

Gut Records chairman Guy Holmes was said to have been the man in charge of overseeing the project when it was announced, but he told the BBC that no deal was was ever completely formalised and that he was not overseeing any new project.

If that wasn’t confusing enough for you, then how about this…

The album has NOT been put on hold despite the 2 Seas deal falling through. In fact, Michael’s new company - the Michael Jackson Company - is set to act as a record label, as well as looking after all of his business interests. As previously reported on June 27th, The MJ Company is set to phase out MJJ Productions.

So, with that little complicated change of business regime dealt with, what next for this new album? This is where it gets exciting…

Several reports have been flying around claiming this and that about any kind of new set up, but one name keeps cropping up and has been for months - Teddy Riley.

Back in May we reported that Riley (pictured above) himself confirmed that he had been working with Michael, and many outlets are again reporting of continued production between them, however Bain has denied any work has taken place in the studio.

A few new names have now entered the equation according to the Los Angeles Times. Talent manager Charles “Big Chuck” Stanton and his hip-hop producer nephew Ron “Neff U” Feemster are said to have met Michael earlier this month while he was staying in Ireland.

Stanton told the Times that they met a focused and fired-up artist. “He’s ready to take over the world.” Stanton also said that Michael has been given tracks by several producers, “He’s got some hot records. Will.i.am did one, Teddy Reilly. We’re giving Michael a lot of edgy street records. He’s putting melodies to some hard party records.”

Bain again stated that no studio time has taken place but MP3’s may have been submitted for approval. “Michael is moving very much forward with his new music,” she did say positively. “He is readying to release an album.”

Source: MJNI