‘Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition’ drops 6 places to #13 on the Official Swiss Album Charts this week.

‘Thriller’ has re-entered the Official Swiss Download Charts at #85. ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ has dropped 9 places to #88. ‘Beat It 2008′ has dropped 8 places to #97.

Source: The Official Swiss Charts

Frank DiLeo wrongly-quoted in article about Jackson family’s financial issues

A scathing story about the Jackson family in Sunday’s New York Post claims most of the famous brothers are financially strapped and waiting on the next handout from Janet, but EUR has learned that a source quoted in the article claims to have never spoken with either of the two Post writers.

“In a series of interviews with three of the nine Jackson children, two relatives and a current and former employee - over the last three years and as recently as last week - The Post learned in stunning detail just how down and out the Jacksons are,” wrote The Post’s Stacy Brown and James Fanelli.

They go on to claim that Marlon, 51, is currently stocking shelves at a Vons supermarket in San Diego, and “had to temporarily move into an extended-stay hotel.” Randy, 46, reportedly “does odd jobs, including fixing cars in a Los Angeles garage owned by a family friend. He recently claimed Michael was going to give him $1.7 million – ‘a pipe dream,’ said another brother last week.”

Brown and Fanelli say that Jackie, 56, “is struggling to manage his son Siggy’s aspiring rap career after an Internet clothing business startup and attempts to produce music failed.” They claim that Jermaine, 54, “shuttles back and forth from his girlfriend’s home in Ventura County, Calif., to his parents’ mansion in Encino, where Jackie and Randy still bunk.”

“Tito, 55, is the only brother still making music, but it’s a meager living,” the article claims. “The guitarist fronts a blues and jazz band that plays small venues and nets him $500 and $1,500 per occasional gig - a far cry from the days when the Jacksons could pull in 50,000 people at $30 a ticket.”

As for Papa Joe, the 79-year-old, according to the article, “spends most of his waking hours conjuring up schemes he hopes will replenish a bank account that once had more money than the FDIC cared to insure.”

EUR’s Lee Bailey has spoken with Michael Jackson’s former manager Frank DiLeo, who was quoted during a portion of the article about the possibility of a Jackson reunion tour to generate funds.

DiLeo was quoted as saying:

“Michael was not going to work with the family again. He was concerned only about building his legacy. He had to be bigger than Elvis.”

But DiLeo tells us he never made that statement. Furthermore, he contacted the article’s co-writer, Stacy Brown, to complain. According to DiLeo, Brown said the quote was meant to be attributed to Bob Jones, MiJac’s former director of communications and the author of “Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask.”

DiLeo told EUR:

“Stacy Brown called because he wanted me to speak at the University of - somewhere up there [in NY] - and I told him I lived in Nashville and I wasn’t able to do it, and that was the end of it. He said, ‘How are things going,’ I said, ‘Fine.’ We talked about our business in Nashville.”

Next thing DiLeo knows, he’s being quoted in the New York Post regarding Michael Jackson.

“And I don’t know what [Brown] got into with Bob Jones or whatever, but I’m not a part of that whole crew,” he said. “I never make statements and I don’t make any comments. Why they put my name in that and where they got it from – it could’ve been something from 30 years ago, for all I know.”

Source: EUR, MJFC-USA

‘Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition’ drops 11 places to #20 on the Official New Zealand Album Charts this week.

Source: New Zealand Top 40

In a recent “exclusive”, the New York Post speculates about the financial situation of the entire Jackson family clan. The article also includes an alleged quote by Frank Dileo:

How did their fortunes crumble? A slew of bad investments, poor advice, bankruptcy, stubborn pride, divorces, IRS debt, child support and a brother, Michael, who would rather give $1 million to Marlon Brando than do a concert tour or record to help make his brothers whole again.

“Michael was not going to work with the family again,” said Frank DiLeo, the manager who oversaw Michael Jackson’s ultra-successful “Bad” album and tour. “He was concerned only about building his legacy. He had to be bigger than Elvis.”

MJFC received information directly from Mr. Dileo that he never made this statement and that it is completely false.

Source: NY Post, Frank Dileo, MJFC-USA

‘Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition’ drops 7 places on the UK Albums Chart this week to #14.

Source: BBC Radio 1

‘Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition’ rises 1 place to #2 in the Australian Albums Chart this week. ‘Number Ones’ drops 5 places to #45. ‘The Essential Michael Jackson’ has re-entered at #48.

Meanwhile, ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ 2008′ drops 3 places to #15 in the Australian Singles Chart this week. It also drops 2 places to #11 in the Digital Track Chart.

Furthermore, ‘Thriller’ rises 2 places to #2 in the Australian Physical Albums Chart this week. ‘Number Ones’ drops 2 places to #41.

‘Live in Bucharest - The Dangerous Tour’ drops 5 places to #38 in the Australian DVD Charts.

Source: ARIA

According to Global Track Chart, the official global hitlist compiled and provided by Media Traffic, ‘Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition’ drops 1 place at #4 in the Global Album Chart this week with sales of more than 172,000.

The album has now sold more than 1,196,000 copies.

Source: Global Track Chart

Musician and Black Eyed Peas drummer Keith Harris gave an interview to andPOP. He was asked what his greatest achievement so far was and he replied that it definitely was working with Michael Jackson. He also talked about what it was like working with Michael.

Carley: What do you feel your greatest achievement so far has been?

Harris: I think it’s working with Michael Jackson, just having my name alongside Michael Jackson, I mean that’s big!

Carley: Is he one of your idols?

Harris: Oh, of course.

Carley: What is it like working with Michael Jackson?

Harris: It’s great! It’s just like, you know, just the awe factor, like, of sitting next to Michael Jackson and I mean, like he is talking to me, hey you see, he is talking to me! (laughs) And I mean, just knowing all the things he’s accomplished in his life and you know, I mean he started out as a kid and just killing it with his vocals and just his musicianship alone is just something to be in awe of, and just his aura and the positive energy that he brings to the studio is great, and a lot of artists don’t do that, you know, because I am such and such and such. But he is really really cool, really nice guy, like I said, it was an honour to work with him!

Click Here to watch the interview.

Source: andPOP, MJFC-USA

In the USA, Michael’s ‘Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition’ is still selling very well with 49,795 copies being sold last week, placing it at #5 on the overall album slaes chart at Hits Daily Double. Thus, sales were as high as last week with even another +1% increase.

For comparison: ‘Discipline’, the new album of Michael’s sister Janet, only sold 36,670 copies last week (-29%), dropping from #3 to #9.

Source: Hits Daily Double

‘Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition’ drops 3 places to #5 on the Swedish Album Charts this week.

Source: Sveriges Radio P3