News In 19/02/06

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All-star Jackson single to hit the market in 2 weeks Made in Bahrain project to raise funds for Katrina victims By Meera Ravi Staff Correspondent Michael Jackson’s much-awaited all-star charity single that will help raise funds for Hurricane Katrina victims will be ready to hit the distribution houses in two weeks. The music single titled “I Have This Dream” is currently being perfected in the final mixing by Bahrain’s Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s Two Seas Records. In a telephone interview last week, Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, told The AP, “The record is coming along great. We’ve been taking our time to perfect it and mix it.” Stars who have contributed their talent to the effort include Snoopy Dogg, R. Kelly, Ciara, Keyishia Cole, James Ingram, Jackson’s brother Jermaine, Shanice, the Rev. Shirley Caesar and the O’Jays, the prince said. The record is set for a global release to maximise its fund-raising potential. Michael Jackson announced that he would pull together a glittering array of music stars to create a music chart-buster for charity barely eight days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. “The time taken reflects the enormous logistics involved in putting together the tracks with the participation of some of the busiest stars in the international music scene as well as the legal fine-tuning involved in tying up with distribution companies,” a source close to Shaikh Abdullah told the Bahrain Tribune, “There are so many legal aspects involved that it often takes close to a year to clear all the issues and begin distributing the music. Luckily, we have been working very hard and our experts have nearly completed formalities in record time so we expect that we shall be ready to announce distribution tie-ups very soon.” The music single, in aid of Hurricane Katrina victims, will see all proceeds being channeled to the needy through reputed NGOs instead of through government or international agencies. “We believe that NGOs, with their low overheads and well-defined areas of expertise will serve our purposes best,” the source said. http://www.bahraintribune.com/ArticleDetai...10&CategoryId=1

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Madge and Jackson ready for disco chart showdown By Paul Dalgarno THE 1980s will be revisited this week when two American pop stars from the decade that style forgot slug it out for the UK number one slot. In the red corner, it’s Madonna, who a few months ago bounced back from a critical mauling for her 2003 album American Life with the best Abba-inspired tune since, well Abba, and in the blue corner, Michael Jackson, who last year was cleared of child molestation allegations but showed during the trial that he has what it takes in a long and bloody fight. SonyBMG’s Visionary campaign launches tomorrow with Jackson hoping to see himself back at the top of the UK singles chart. Combining tracks from his back catalogue with their original videos in the new dual disc format, a single will be released every Monday for the next 20 weeks. Fifty thousand numbered singles will be available each week in the UK, beginning with the 1980s smash Thriller and ending with Blood On The Dance Floor on July 3. The project builds on SonyBMG’s successful Elvis rereleases campaign last year which saw The King notch up a further three number ones in the UK. However, industry insiders think Jackson’s chances of hitting the top spot in the first week could be hampered by pop arch-rival Her Madgesty. “In the case of Elvis, the first single got to number one because it was released in January, which is traditionally a time of low record sales, but they may have left it a little late with Jackson. Next week he’ll have to compete with some pretty strong releases, particularly Madonna’s new single, Sorry,” said HMV spokesperson Gennaro Castaldo. If Madonna pips Jackson to the top spot it will be seen as a bad omen for the campaign. Thriller – taken from the 1982 album of the same name which has sold an unparalleled 51 million copies – is seen by many as Jackson’s title track . Madonna currently boasts 11 UK number ones, most recently with Hung Up from November of last year. Jackson – with seven UK number ones – last topped the charts with his 1997 track Blood On The Dance Floor. 19 February 2006 http://www.sundayherald.com/54203