LOS ANGELES : Michael Jackson plans to release a new album, go on a
concert tour and find a new home in Europe as he seeks to revamp
his career after the trauma of his trial on child sex charges, a
spokeswoman said Monday.
In what was called "the first of a sweeping restructuring of his
personal and business affairs," the onetime "King of Pop" also
split with his accountants, business managers and lawyers.
The 47-year-old singer expects to have a new album in 2007 and is
studying proposals for a concert tour, spokeswoman Raymone Bain
said in a statement.
Since June 2005, when he was acquitted on child molestation charges
by a California jury, Jackson has spent most of the time abroad,
mainly in Bahrain and Europe.
He has been battling financial troubles which reportedly forced him
to agree in April to sell a half share in a publishing firm which
owns the rights to Beatles songs to pay off debts estimated at 270
million dollars.
But Bain signaled that Jackson, whose "Thriller" album remains one
of the all time best sellers, still wants to be a major force in
pop.
"Mr Jackson has previously announced plans to record an album which
he predicts will be released in 2007," Bain said.
"Mr Jackson, who is currently in Ireland on personal business,
plans on relocating to Europe in the near future," she added,
without saying where this would be.
Jackson told the British tabloid, The Daily Mirror, in April that
he wanted to live in Britain or Ireland and that he had been
looking for properties.
Bain said the singer's recent appearances in Japan would be the
first in a series and that Jackson was "reviewing numerous offers"
to do concerts and that details would be announced in coming
months.
In May, Jackson accepted a "Legends Award" at the MTV Japan Video
Music Awards in Tokyo, and hundreds of screaming fans turned out to
welcome him.
The five-month trial in California in 2005 took a visible toll on
Jackson.
He had faced 10 charges, including four of child molestation.
Prosecutors portrayed him as a sexual predator, while Jackson's
lawyers insisted that he was the victim of an elaborate extortion
bid by the mother of his young accuser.
The singer left his Neverland ranch near Santa Barbara in
California which has now been virtually closed down. The zoo and
funfair on the ranch have been mothballed and most of the staff
paid off.
Bain said that as part of his financial revamp, Jackson had decided
to sever ties with his business managers, Bernstein, Fox, Whitman,
Goldman and Sloan, and also his Bahrain-based attorneys Qays Zu'bi
and Grahame Nelson.
The spokeswoman said the singer has established The Michael Jackson
Company, Inc., and plans to phase out MJJ Productions, which has
dealt with most of his public affairs. Bain said that she would be
general manager of the new company.
According to the spokeswoman, a New York business restructuring
firm, L. Londell McMillan and The McMillan Firm, would handle legal
matters in connection with his business dealings.
Jackson announced a deal in April to restructure his debts,
estimated at 270 million dollars.
The financing agreement was made with the help of Sony Corporation
of America. Jackson and Sony are co-owners of Sony/ATV Music
Publishing, which has the rights to thousands of songs, including
251 songs by the Beatles and other major hits such as Bob Dylan's
"Blowin' In the Wind".
The Los Angeles Times newspaper said that under the 325
million-dollar refinancing, Jackson would have to sell half of his
50 per cent stake in the publishing concern over the next few years
to Sony Corp. AFP/yy
