Jackson vs Sony round 2
The Michael Jackson camp is continuing its fight with Sony, claiming that the label has axed a charity record Jackson recorded with such luminaries as Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Destiny's Child, Shakira, Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan. "What More Can I Give?" was recorded as a tribute to the victims of 11 September, with all proceeds intended for charity. Sony, however refused to release the song. Sony artist Anastacia who was also involved in the project, believes that the single should have been released. She said: "I thought that his charity song 'What More Can I Give?' should have been released. I was involved in it because I believed in it and I still do. He is a great man and an amazing talent."
The track's producer Mark Schaffel has also spoken out, telling the Sun, "Sony Music are punishing many innocent beneficiaries. This is the most blatant, disgusting act of corporate greed." Sony is suspected of purposely sabotaging Jackson's career as a result of Jackson's publicly announced decision to quit the label. Jackson decided to spill the beans on his feud with Sony last month when he attended a fan party in London. Jackson said: "I just owe Sony one more album, it's just a box set, really, with two new songs which I have written ages ago... I can do the box set, just giving them any two songs. So I'll be leaving Sony, as a free agent... owning half of Sony, I own half of Sony's publishing... and I'm leaving them, and they're very angry at me, because I just did good business, you know."
Jackson went on to tell his fans that Mariah Carey came crying to him after her divorce with Sony chief Tommy Mottola. Jackson claimed: "Mariah Carey, after the divorce of Tommy, came to me crying, crying... crying, she was crying so badly I had to hold her. She said to me, 'that this is an evil man, and Michael, this man is following me'. He tapes her phones, and he's very, very evil, she doesn't trust him. We have to continue our drive until he is terminated. We can't allow him to do this to great artists."
A source said, "Basically even if Michael walks out of Sony today he gets half the revenue that many of their artists are bringing in." Sony had previously stopped all promotion of Jackson's Invincible album, leading fans to stage demonstrations against the record label in various cities. Once Jackson has given Sony two more songs to add to a Greatest Hits CD, he will have fulfilled his contract and will sign with a new record label. He is rumoured to be considering a deal with Harrod's owner Mohammed Al Fayed. (Worldpop) Many thanks to Mariah Online.
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