Tag Archives: Cascio Tracks

Episode 093 – Season Four Christmas Special

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It’s the time of year for cookies and carols and ornaments on the tree…and The MJCast’s annual Christmas Special!

Jamon, Q, and Elise wrap up Season Four with discussion of developments in the world of Michael Jackson, including John Cameron’s terrific Musicology podcast, the “On the Wall” exhibition moving to Paris, Janet Jackson’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett’s health scare, and the inspiring results of a music scholarship which Michael Jackson established in 1984. The MJCast Correspondents also chime in, with news on the Cascio Case, MCFFC charity efforts, and the Jackson family.

It’s been a whirlwind year, full of great discussion, lots of Jackson news, and illuminating conversations with amazing guests. The team reflects on the past year, highlights favorite clips from this season’s Special episodes, and also looks to the year to come, as The MJCast continues to grow.

We want to thank our listeners for all your support throughout the year and hope that you enjoy our episodes coming up in Season 5! Happy holidays, #MJFam!

Follow Up

  • #UndieGate
  • #MoonwalkWalks #Book4 is out in the QLD wild!

News

  • John Cameron has dropped his latest episode of #JCsMusicology, focusing on Michael Jackson’s HIStory era
  • “Michael Jackson: On the Wall” exhibition has moved to the Grand Palais in Paris
  • Janet Jackson is to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
  • Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett suffered an emergency triple bypass operation and has started a GoFundMe page to help with his medical costs
  • The Cascio Case is headed to the Supreme Court of California
  • The artistic director of Louis Vuitton, Virgil Abloh, is designing a new collection based on Michael Jackson
  • Groovefunkel has released a new remix of Michael Jackson’s Thriller
  • The 1984 music scholarship fund that Michael donated has awarded scholarships to four students! (Thank you to listener Kayla Salem, of Jacksonville, Florida, for this tip.)

Season Four Highlights

Main Discussion Topic

  • A year in review.
  • What’s to come in Season 5!

Finds of the Week

Ads & Music Breaks

Correspondent Appearances

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If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on this Michael Jackson podcast episode, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Stay BAD!

Remove Cascio Tracks Now

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Eight years ago, on November 8th, 2010, Sony Music and the Estate of Michael Jackson ignored the express wishes of the Jackson family, Michael’s collaborators and his loyal fans. They released a track that they falsely stated was sung by the King of Pop, the Eddie Cascio and James Porte produced ‘Breaking News’. Five weeks later, the song and two other fakes were commercially released on an album sold to millions of fans around the world. The album, ‘Michael’, is still available for purchase through physical and digital retailers, bringing continual profits to those who were complicit in the fraud.

The time has come to once again raise our voice as one and remind Sony Music and the Estate that we will not stand for such disrespect and vandalism of Michael Jackson’s artistic legacy. Demand change. Demand they #RemoveCascioTracksNOW. We will continue our call to action through December 14th, the eight year anniversary of the ‘Michael’ album’s release, at which time we will request a formal response from Sony & the Estate. If sending an email, include the following recipients.

Sony Music CEO
Rob Stringer (rob.stringer@sonymusic.com)

Michael Jackson Estate Co-Executors
John Branca (johnb@ziffrenlaw.com)
John McClain (jmcclain2004@aol.com)

Michael Jackson Estate & Sony Music Attorneys
Howard Weitzman (hweitzman@kwikalaw.com)
Zia Modabber (zia.modabber@kattenlaw.com)

For sample email text, please feel free to personalise the below.

—

Dear Rob, John, John, Howard and Zia,

December 14th will mark the eighth anniversary since the release of Michael Jackson’s first posthumous album, ‘Michael’.

My name is [insert name here]. Unfortunately, I’m not writing to you today to express joy around your representation of the greatest entertainer who ever lived, like I’d one day hope to be able to, but to express my disappointment that there are still fake Michael Jackson songs for sale at retail outlets (online and physical) around the world even after eight years of protest from Michael’s family and fans.
The songs I am referring to are known as the Cascio tracks, a set of songs written, produced and arranged by Eddie Cascio and James Porte, sung on by vocal impersonator Jason Cupeta AKA Jason Malachi, and then sold to Sony Music. Three of them; Breaking News, Keep Your Head Up and Monster, were included on Michael’s titular debut posthumous album in 2010. I’m sure you’re aware of the controversy that ensued after ‘Breaking News’ premiered on www.michaeljackson.com eight years ago.
Regardless, any member of Michael’s family that has spoken out about this issue has said the songs are fake (including some of his beneficiaries). Most of Michael’s studio collaborators have confirmed the same thing and thousands upon thousands of his fans, yet the songs remain for sale. It concerns me greatly that Sony and Michael’s estate executors continue to defend the people who are responsible for this fraud, instead of defending Michael’s own beneficiaries and Michael’s artistic legacy itself.
This is an affront to what Michael stood for as an artist. He publicly stated he wanted to immortalise himself through his work. Michael deserves much better than this. So here’s what I am asking for…
1) All three Cascio tracks are permanently removed from sale in all retail stores around the world (digital and physical).
2) The Estate of Michael Jackson & Sony Music release public statements apologising to fans for selling fake Michael Jackson songs.
3) Fans who wish to receive a refund for the 2010 ‘Michael’ album are offered one.
I appreciate the position you found yourself in, in 2010. In fact, many fans agree that the Estate and Sony are victims of the Porte/Cascio fraud too. Im sure there were contracts signed, but I see no excuse for ignoring the advice of Michael’s own mother, a beneficiary to his Estate. The right choice would have been to not include the songs on the Michael album and to challenge Eddie Cascio and James Porte in court, but alas, it’s not too late to do the right thing, even though eight years have passed.
I hope that I don’t need to send a similar email to this one in the future, but I will continue to contact you until this matter is resolved. I would really appreciate a reply from someone this time. Let’s open the lines of communication around this.


Sincerely,

[Insert name here]

“Cause there’s a time when you’re right and you know you must fight.” – Michael Jackson.

Jamon Bull

Episode 088 – Janet Got Busy

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After a whirlwind summer of Jackson events, anniversaries, and special guests, Jamon and Q catch up on lots of news and developments in the world of Michael Jackson! On this episode, the guys welcome first-time guests Courtney and Kam, who co-host the Janet Jackson podcast, Janet Today, Janet Tomorrow, Janet Forever. The podcasting foursome chat about the story behind the new podcast, as well as updates in the world of Janet, including the buzz around her fantastic new single, ‘Made For Now’.

On the Jackson news front, the team discusses the recent media explosion around the Cascio Case, and the upcoming, limited-series podcast by Damien Shields, titled Faking Michael, which will document the history of the fraudulent tracks. They also chat about new books by Anthony King, Richard Lecocq & Francois Allard, and Vincent Paterson; the upcoming Quincy Jones documentary showing on Netflix; and the one-week run of “Thriller 3D” in IMAX theaters. Plus, they recap events at the Diamond Celebration in Las Vegas, and get updates from The MJCast correspondents.

News

  • Official Michael Jackson merchandise was been released by Culture Kings in Australia. Oh, and Cotton On.
  • Anthony King has released his first book on Michael Jackson, called Michael Jackson & Classical Music.
  • Richard Lecocq & Francois Allard’s book Michael Jackson – All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track is due for release on October 23rd
  • Netflix lands a Quincy Jones documentary for September 21 release.
  • Vincent Paterson’s autobiography, Icônes et Instincts is now available in French. The English version is coming soon!
  • Jacksonville students to benefit from 1984 donation from Michael Jackson for scholarships.
  • The article, ’60 Years of Michael Jackson, The Fashion Icon’, appears in Britain’s VOGUE magazine.
  • Damien Shields launches his Faking Michael podcast
  • Frank Cascio’s book to be turned into mini-series
  • Cascio Case media explosion and updates
  • ‘Thriller 3D’ to play in IMAX theatres for a one-week run
  • Diamond Celebration discussion
  • Audio from the ‘Diamond Celebration’ Q&A with John Branca in Las Vegas
  • Janet’s throwback video to MJ’s Remember the Time

Main Discussion Topic

  • Janet! Janet Jackson releases a new single and two new music videos for ‘Made For Now (feat. Daddy Yankee)’
  • Janet’s recent performance on Jimmy Fallon

Finds of the Week

  • Jamon – Mark Ryden shares a YouTube video in which he discusses making a frame for his original Dangerous album art piece. His original design sketches of the frame are also available here.
  • Q – A video that listener (and legendary Aussie MJ tribute artist) Paul Rizzo posted, comparing the original release and the Number Ones DVD release of the film clips for Blood On The Dance Floor, and the differences between them!

Additional Links

  • iTunes and Twitter for the Janet Today, Janet Tomorrow, Janet Forever podcast.
  • Janet discusses motherhood and learning to love her body on Eonline!e!
  • CBS Executive Les Moonves was obsessed with ruining Janet Jackson’s career article from Huffington Post.

Ad & Music Breaks

Correspondent Appearances

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If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on this Michael Jackson podcast episode, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Keep Michaeling!

Episode 067 – Joseph Vogel Special

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After an extended break from the Michael Jackson fan community, author and Merrimack College professor Dr. Joseph Vogel is back. He appears on this week’s special edition of The MJCast to mark the release of his fully revised book, ‘Earth Song: Michael Jackson and the Art of Compassion‘.  Interviewed by Jamon Bull and Charles Thomson, Vogel gives the most candid interview of his career.

After attracting criticism for his endorsement of fake tracks released on the MJ Estate’s first posthumous album, Vogel left social media several years ago. In this exclusive interview, Vogel tells The MJCast he no longer stands by his old comments and now believes the songs are fake. The Estate assured him it had evidence they were real but, over the years, he came to realise that simply wasn’t true.

Fans who boycott the Estate over the release of those songs are being perfectly reasonable, says Vogel. He hasn’t spoken to the Estate for around two years and hasn’t been approached to appear in Spike Lee’s rumoured Thriller documentary. He is now actively seeking a publisher to reprint his first MJ book – ‘Man in the Music‘ – in part so he can remove his words on the fake tracks and cease to acknowledge them as MJ songs.

Also in this bombshell interview, Vogel discusses how and why he revised his Earth Song book, why he left social media, whether the fans who turned on him were justified and what his next projects will be.

Joe’s revised edition of ‘Earth Song: Michael Jackson and the Art of Compassion’ includes fresh insights based on new evidence and interviews with key MJ collaborators, like Earth Song short film director Nick Brandt.

In addition to writing several books on Michael Jackson, Joe has appeared in the Estate’s documentaries on the Bad and Off The Wall albums and wrote the liner notes for the Estate’s Bad 25 box set.

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Episode 027 – Sony/ATV Purchase Roundtable

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Episode 027 - Sony:ATV Purchase Roundtable Show Art

On this episode of The MJCast, Q and Jamon are joined by friend of the show Damien Shields (author of Xscape Origins) for a roundtable discussion on Sony Music’s seven hundred and fifty million dollar acquisition of the Michael Jackson Estate’s 50% share in the Sony/ATV catalogue. The MJCast’s Legal Correspondent Charles Thomson and Web Assistant Jacob Rathjen also phone in to discuss their thoughts around the situation. Included in this segment is a special appearance by none other than Lynton Guest (author of The Trials of Michael Jackson) in which he offers an expert and educational analysis around the catalogue’s significance, Sony’s continual efforts to acquire it and their recent success in doing so.

In addition to this shocking news, the guys talk about the upcoming 2016 Thriller Studio Tour, Brad Sundberg’s MJU multi-day seminar, Janet Jackson‘s cancellation of more Unbreakable World Tour shows and even more MJ leaks! Lastly, Jermaine Jackson‘s record breaking bejewelled bass guitar and La Toya Jackson‘s new duet, Tehran, are also discussed. Thank-you for listening to another episode of the internets premier podcast on all things Michael Jackson and the Jackson family. We hope you enjoy this episode of The MJCast.

Discussion Topic

  • Bloomberg – Sony Music Acquires the Michael Jackson Estate’s Share of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing Catalogue for $750 000 000
  • Music Business Worldwide – Sony’s Historic Buyout of Sony/ATV: 5 Things You Need to Know
  • Forbes – Sony to Buy Michael Jackson’s Half of Sony/ATV For $750 Million
  • Wall Street Journal – Sony to Buy Out Michael Jackson Estate for Music Publishing Unit

News

  • The 2016 Thriller Studio Tour has been announced.
  • More details around Brad Sundberg’s MJU multi-day seminar have emerged. Watch a promotional YouTube video for the event here.
  • Janet Jackson cancels more Unbreakable World Tour shows and a new video for the song Dammn Baby has possibly been shot.
  • New Michael Jackson footage leaks! A rough cut of the 2 Bad sequence in Ghosts!
  • Filmmaker Dan Harmon is set to produce a surreal stop-motion movie around Michael Jackson’s pet chimp, Bubbles.
  • Jermaine Jackson sets a new world record for the most jewels on a functioning guitar by playing Let’s Get Serious for three minutes.
  • La Toya Jackson features in a new duet, Tehran, with Iranian singer Andy Madadian.

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Episode 022 – Moonwalk Talks Simulcast

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Episode 022 - Moonwalk Talks Simulcast YouTube ArtOn this first ‘simulcast’ release for The MJCast and Moonwalk Talks, Jamon and Q are joined by hip hop producer, rapper, podcast host and all ’round MJ fan extraordinaire, Jankins! The boys kick things off this week with an in depth discussion on the recently announced Spike Lee documentary Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown to Off the Wall followed by an exploration into the dozens of MJ leaks that have happened over the past week. Next, Chris Cadman’s new website, Michael Jackson Masterworks is discussed just in time for a quick ‘Skype in’ from The MJCast’s Legal Correspondent, Charles Thomson. Charles fills us in on the latest developments in the Serova Vs. Sony/Cascio/Porte/Estate lawsuit. Lastly, the recently released and controversial Greg Gorman photograph of Michael that’s on display in the Berlin Museum of Photography is analysed. We hope you enjoy this final episode before The MJCast’s first Christmas Special later in December.

News
The long awaited follow up documentary to Bad 25 by Spike Lee will premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival…and it’s called Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall.
A plethora of Michael Jackson material has been made available to the public through co-ordinated leaks over the past week, including…

  • Dangerous rehearsal footage from the Dangerous World Tour.
  • The Way You Make Me Feel rehearsal footage from the Dangerous World Tour…with Michael delivering lyrics in spoken word.
  • Behind the scenes footage of the 1993 Oprah Winfrey interview.
  • You Are Not Alone (A Cappella).
  • Best of Joy (A Cappella).
  • The HIStory World Tour live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • The HIStory World Tour live in Auckland, New Zealand).
  • The Bad World Tour live in Rome, Italy.
  • The Bad World Tour live in Tokyo, Japan.
  • The Victory Tour live in Toronto, Canada.
  • Ghosts film outtakes.
  • The 1993 version of the video for Is It Scary.
  • An alternate video version of the short film, Give in to Me.
  • An extended version of the Dangerous era Pepsi ad video featuring the song Who Is It.
  • An alternate cut of the short film, They Don’t Care About Us (Prison Version).
  • Man in the Mirror (A Cappella).
  • Seeing Voices (A Cappella).
  • Jam short film (alternate cut with previously unseen footage).

Author Chris Cadman has launched a new website entitled Michael Jackson Masterworks.
UK Journalist and The MJCast Legal Correspondent Charles Thomson unpacks the latest court documents regarding the Serova Vs. Sony/Branca/Cascio/Porte/MJJ Productions/Angelikson case. The relevant court documents can be accessed as a PDF here.
A new Michael Jackson photograph is on display at the Berlin Museum of Photography courtesy of photographer, Greg Gorman.

Discussion Topic
Our favourite MJ songs…

Our favourite MJ albums…

Our favourite MJ short films…

Our favourite MJ look/style…

  • Q – Napoleonic, 18th/19th century military inspired clothing (with special mention going to the gold HIStory World Tour opening costume)
  • Jamon – As above (as exemplified by Michael’s 1990 appearance at The White House with George Bush Sr.)
  • Jankins – The sequinned costumes on The Victory Tour

Our favourite MJ concert tour…

Our favourite Mj appearance/performance…

Finds of the Week
Jamon – The Jackson 5’s Christmas Album
Q – At the 1988 Bad concert…well the car park of Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
Jankins – Baby Be Mine cover by Bella

Additional Links
Charles Thomson’s official website, Twitter and Facebook pages
Jankins’ official website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud and YouTube pages
Moonwalk Talks website and iTunes page – subscribe today!
Michael Jackson’s Suzuki ad series
I Can’t Help It [The Reflex Edit]
Damien Shields’ website
Images from the Arno Bani photoshoot
Spike Lee’s Bad 25 documentary film
J Randy Taraborelli’s Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker on Blu-ray
Michael Jackson’s Number Ones on DVD
Michael Jackson’s HIStory on Film: Vol II on DVD
Michael Jackson’s You Rock My World video clip
Roberto Cavalli’s concept art sketches and blog post on designing for Michael
Jankins feat. Michael Jackson – Cheater music video
The MJCast and Moonwalk Talks MEGA FAN Verna Gold!
MJBeats, The Bad Tour Archive and The Michael Jackson Archives

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Episode 021 – Man Crush Monday

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Episode 021 - Mancrush Monday YouTube ArtQ and Jamon are joined by guest host Jacob Rathjen to discuss all things Michael Jackson! On Episode 021 of The MJCast, the boys discuss CNN’s publication of rare, behind-the-scenes Thriller photos, a never before seen MJ Pepsi commercial and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Lip Sync Battle performance of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation. Following this, legal correspondent Charles Thomson Skypes in to discuss exclusive breaking news regarding the class action lawsuit Vera Serova is bringing against Sony Music, Eddie Cascio and others for the 2010 posthumous album, Michael. Q shares some insights around Disney’s decision to close Captain EO at EPCOT followed by an update on Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s Say Say Say [2015 Remix] song and competition. Q, Jamon and Jacob also talk about the recent leak of the 2010 Much Too Soon stems, Stephanie Mills and Emmanual Lewis’ recent media insights into their time with Michael Jackson, Tito’s upcoming charity gig, the latest on the Billboard Music Awards Hologram court case and a fascinating ‘top ten MJ music video’s’ countdown from WatchMojo.com. As our major discussion topic, we discuss the recently leaked and never before seen Michael Jackson concert during the Dangerous World Tour in Bremen, with help from friend of the show, Anthony King. We hope you enjoy Episode 021 of the internet’s premiere Michael Jackson podcast, The MJCast.

News
Rare ‘behind the scenes’ photographs of the making of the Thriller short film have been published by CNN. They can be found in the Michael Jackson: The Making of Thriller book by legendary photography Douglas Kirkland.
A ‘new’ Michael Jackson and Pepsi commercial has leaked…featuring never before heard music! Find more out about Pepsi ad series The Chase at Anthony King’s website.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt performs Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation on Lip Sync Battle.
UK Journalist and The MJCast Legal Correspondent Charles Thomson unpacks the latest court documents regarding the Serova Vs. Sony/Branca/Cascio/Porte/MJJ Productions/Angelikson case. The relevant court documents can be accessed as a PDF here. The ‘Cascio Case’ continues amidst a newly released Times Union interview with Eddie Cascio on his relationship and work with Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson and Disney’s sci-fi short film Captain EO is to play at EPCOT for the very last time on December 6th, 2015. Listen to Captain EO: The Complete Experience from EPCOT Legacy here and watch the making of Captain EO here.
The 12″ vinyl and cd single versions of Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s Say Say Say [2015 Remix] are out! Fans can also enter into a remix competition using the instrumental version of the track.
Stems for the 2010 version of the Michael Jackson song Much Too Soon have leaked. Listen to Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel discussing the recording of his guitar parts here.
Gospel/R&B singer and Broadway actress Stephanie Mills reveals she dated the King of Pop!
Emmanuel Lewis discusses his friendship with Michael Jackson in this radio interview.
Tito Jackson is set to perform at a Canadian charity event for the Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre.
The Michael Jackson Estate has been dismissed as a defendant from the Billboard Awards/Hologram lawsuit.
WatchMojo.com’s Top 10 MJ Videos countdown

Discussion Topic
Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour concert in Bremen has leaked in full thanks to MJBeats. Watch Part I and Part II. Special thanks to Anthony King for his audio contribution analysing the show and thanks to Jackson Trader for information on Michael’s Dangerous World Tour.

Finds of the Week
Q – Annie’s personal story of Michael the humanitarian
Jamon – Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal [Annie Mix] from The Bad Mixes official promo album
Jacob – Haywire’s cover of Smooth Criminal

Additional Links
Jacob Rathjen’s Twitter and YouTube pages
Charles Thomson’s official website, Twitter and Facebook pages
Anthony King’s official website, Twitter and Facebook pages
The Jackson 5’s Alpha Bits cereal commercial
Michael’s Dream Foundation charity
Rea Day’s Facebook page. Check it out for some amazing Michael Jackson inspired art!
The Dangerous Video Megamix found on the VHS version of Dangerous: The Short Films.

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If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Michael On!