Unreleased Michael Jackson Songs Remain Locked Away, Leaving Fans in the Dark
A Treasure Trove of Unheard Music
A retired California highway patrolman, Gregg Musgrove, has made a startling discovery that has left fans of the late pop star Michael Jackson eagerly waiting for a listen. Musgrove, now a stay-at-home dad, acquired a collection of 12 unreleased Michael Jackson tracks from a storage unit in Van Nuys, California. The unit belonged to music producer Bryan Loren, who also worked with artists like Whitney Houston and Sting.
The Find
Inside the storage unit, Musgrove discovered cassette tapes and digital-audio tapes (DAT) containing the unreleased tracks, which Jackson had worked on before releasing his Grammy-nominated "Dangerous" album in 1991. The songs are a mix of previously rumored and partially leaked tracks, with a few that have never been heard before.
A Glimpse into the Creative Process
Some of the tapes include conversations between Jackson and Loren discussing the songs and the creative process. Musgrove shared that he was fascinated to hear Jackson’s voice and sense of humor, saying, "To hear Michael Jackson actually talk and kind of joke back and forth, it was really, really cool."
The Songs Themselves
The tracks include a song titled "Don’t Believe It," which appears to reference rumors about Jackson concerning sexual assault against minors. Another song, "Truth on Youth," features a rap duet with LL Cool J. The songs offer a rare glimpse into Jackson’s creative process and artistic evolution.
The Fate of the Tapes
Musgrove has been told by the Jackson estate that they own the copyright to all of Jackson’s musical recordings and compositions, making it impossible for him to release the songs publicly. The estate has clarified that they hold the master recordings in their vaults and have instructed that "nothing commercial or otherwise can be done with the DAT copies."
A Potential Windfall for Musgrove
Despite being unable to release the songs, Musgrove still stands to make a profit. He plans to offer the tapes to major auction houses, and buyers are likely to line up. In 2012, Lady Gaga purchased 55 pieces of Jackson memorabilia, including one of his crystal-studded gloves, for a reported $240,000. A jacket he wore during his "Bad" tour sold for $240,000.
Conclusion
The discovery of these unreleased Michael Jackson songs has left fans eagerly waiting for a chance to hear them. Unfortunately, it seems that the songs will remain locked away, a reminder of the complex and often frustrating world of music ownership and copyright. As the search for new music continues, fans can only hope that one day, these hidden gems will be made available to the public.
FAQs
- Who acquired the unreleased Michael Jackson songs?
Gregg Musgrove, a retired California highway patrolman, acquired the songs from a storage unit in Van Nuys, California. - How many unreleased tracks were found?
12 tracks, including some that had only been rumored to exist and others that had been partially leaked. - What is the status of the songs?
The Jackson estate owns the copyright to all of Jackson’s musical recordings and compositions, making it impossible for Musgrove to release the songs publicly. - What are the plans for the songs?
Musgrove plans to offer the tapes to major auction houses, and buyers are expected to line up.