3 Michael Jackson songs removed from streamers amid rumors of fake vocals

Jessica Wang
·2 min read
3 Michael Jackson songs removed from streamers amid rumors of fake vocals

A trio of Michael Jackson songs have been removed from streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music amid persistent rumors that they feature faked vocals.

Sony Music and Jackson's estate confirmed to EW on Tuesday that the tracks "Breaking News," "Keep Your Head Up," and "Monster" — all from the late singer's posthumous 2010 compilation album Michael — had been pulled, though they stressed that the move had nothing to do with the music's authenticity.

"The Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music decided to remove the tracks 'Breaking News,' 'Monster' and 'Keep Your Head Up' as the simplest and best way to move beyond the conversation associated with these tracks once and for all," the parties said in a joint statement. "The focus remains where it belongs — on the exciting new and existing projects celebrating Michael Jackson's legacy… Nothing should be read into this action concerning the authenticity of the tracks — it is just time to move beyond the distraction surrounding them."

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson

Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images Michael Jackson

The controversy dates back to 2014, when a fan sued Jackson's estate and Sony and alleged that the three songs — reportedly recorded two years before Jackson's 2009 death from cardiac arrest — don't actually feature his vocals. Jackson's estate and Sony denied the allegations, and appeals court judges ultimately ruled in their favor, determining that the estate and Sony didn't know for certain whether Jackson sang the songs, so they weren't liable.

In the lawsuit, Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the estate, cited numerous engineers, musicians, vocal directors, executives, and musicologists consulted to determine the authenticity of the vocals. According to Variety, he said, "We have complete confidence in the results of our extensive research as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael that the vocals on the new album are his own."

Related content:

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Q1 2024 First Commonwealth Financial Corp Earnings Call

    Q1 2024 First Commonwealth Financial Corp Earnings Call

  • Scottish government coalition collapses as SNP end power-sharing with Greens

    The decision came after first minister Mr Yousaf called an emergency meeting of the Scottish cabinet to address growing tensions between the Scottish Greens and the SNP

  • Venice entry fees: How much does it cost and how does it work?

    Exclusive: The €5 ticket scheme aims ‘to safeguard the city from overtourism’ says leading transport and tourism official

  • Moulin Rouge windmill blades break off and fall into street

    A spokesperson for the venue says no-one was hurt in the incident

  • Technical glitch temporarily closed southern Norway airspace, causing delays at Oslo airport

    A technical problem caused aviation authorities in Norway to temporarily close the airspace over the south of the country Thursday, leading to significant delays at Oslo airport, one of the largest in Scandinavia. The airspace was gradually reopened after more than three hours, but delays would continue throughout the day, the state-owned airport operator said. In a statement, Avinor said “the technical error was at the Oslo Control Center, which meant that the airspace in southern Norway had major restrictions.”

  • Billie Eilish reveals why she isn't dropping singles ahead of album release

    The music superstar has opened up about why she doesn't like releasing singles before an album. "I don't like singles from albums. Every single time an artist I love puts out a single without the context of the album, I'm just already prone to hating on it. I really don't like when things are out of context. This album is like a family: I don't want one little kid to be in the middle of the room alone." On 8 April, Billie announced that she was preparing to release her highly-anticipated third full-length studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft…”

  • 28 Years Later cast announced – but Cillian Murphy fans are up in arms

    The film’s cast list is currently missing someone very important

  • Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir facing anti-graft probe in a case involving his sons

    Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is among individuals being investigated in connection with a graft probe involving his sons, the head of Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission said on Thursday. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in January served Mahathir's businessmen sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani, with notices to declare their wealth, as part of investigations into offshore financial and business records revealed by a group of news organisations. The MACC's chief commissioner Azam Baki on Thursday declined to elaborate on the investigations facing Mahathir or his sons.

  • Create a vision, empower people: six ways leaders can inspire digital transformation in higher education

    Whether it’s investing in the right tech or creating an inspiring vision, research from the professional services firm EY highlights the measures leaders can take to bring about successful transformation

  • Devin Haney calls for ‘fair’ rematch with Ryan Garcia after weigh-in fiasco

    Haney was dropped three times en route to a decision loss, after Garcia missed weight by three pounds

  • SNP's power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens collapses

    It follows the government's decision to scrap key climate targets and its response to a review into gender services.

  • Junior Andre shares touching photos from Australia visit alongside sister Princess - 'So much love'

    Junior and Princess Andre recently headed to Australia to visit their grandparents and on Wednesday, Junior shared touching photos from the family visit. See photos.

  • Trump allies Meadows and Giuliani indicted in Arizona over 2020 election interference as trial resumes – live

    Former president’s historic ‘hush money’ election interference trial is underway in New York

  • UPDATE 1-Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir facing anti-graft probe in a case involving his sons

    Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is among individuals being investigated in connection with a graft probe involving his sons, the head of Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission said on Thursday. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in January served Mahathir's businessmen sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani, with notices to declare their wealth, as part of investigations into offshore financial and business records revealed by a group of news organisations. The MACC's chief commissioner Azam Baki on Thursday declined to elaborate on the investigations facing Mahathir or his sons.

  • Ukrainian Animal Rescuers Make Perilous Journey to Save Pets Near Donetsk Frontline

    The perilous journey made by animal rescuers in Ukraine towards the frontlines in Donetsk has been documented by a journalist, who described “intense” shelling nearby as members of Animal Rescue Kharkiv recovered dogs, cats, and other pets.Alfons Cabrera told Storyful he accompanied the rescuers, Ruslan and Max, on April 21 as they left Kharkiv for Soloviove and Kurakhove in Donetsk. There they met Aliona, he said, an army medic. According to the Institute for the Study of War’s latest control-of-territory map, Soloviove is less than a mile from the latest Russian advances.Shells can be heard falling and exploding nearby at several points in Cabrera’s footage. “Just lay, because the shrapnel can fly very, very far,” one rescuer can be heard telling Cabrera as they take cover. At one point, Cabrera said, “three projectiles hit nearby” as they drove.“At the end of the day, they carry in their van eight dogs, eight cats, three goats and a rabbit,” Cabrera told Storyful.Cabrera said around 1,000 animals have been rescued by Animal Rescue Kharkiv since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Many are offered up for adoption. Credit: Alfons Cabrera via Storyful

  • Minister Roasted Over Government's 'Misleading' Defence Spending Pledge

    Stig Abell asked: "Was your government trying to con us yesterday?"

  • Meet one of Britain's youngest café owners - who customers often mistake for staff

    Meet one of Britain’s youngest business owners – who customers often mistake for staff rather than the boss. Chloe Frost, 18, opened The Baking Suite - her very own café - in October 2023. She initially considered starting an apprenticeship after finishing her A levels in June, but instead decided to follow her ‘dream’ – which had always been baking. Now, Chloe has her own place in Bromham, Beds., and neither she, nor her customers, can quite believe it. She said: “I’ve just always loved baking. After sixth form, I started making and selling celebration cakes on Instagram.

  • In Court, Donald Trump Is a Loser—and Alone

    Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily BeastIf you were a rioter at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, you may have felt the whole world was with you—or the part of the world that supported what you did.President Trump himself had urged you to march to the Capitol Building. A crowd walked alongside you down Pennsylvania Avenue. People chanted with you about attacking Mike Pence, crashed through the police lines with you, helped you to break windows and march through the building.Af

  • ‘Inside Gaza,’ ‘Edgar Hilsenrath the Masturbator’ Among 2024 Pitch Projects at Sunny Side of the Doc

    International documentary marketplace Sunny Side of the Doc has revealed the 42 projects from 21 countries that make up the official selection for its 2024 edition. As always, the projects are topical and eclectic, ranging from Helene Lam Trong’s “Inside Gaza,” that tells the inside story of the ongoing conflict in the region; to Francois-Xavier Destors’ “Edgar …

  • Grieving families looking for answers after report alleges doctor denied life-saving transplants

    Grieving families spoke at a press conference on April 24 of their search for answers after the New York Times published an article on April 18, alleging Dr. J. Steve Bynon Jr. of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center of manipulating records to ensure select patients became ineligible for receiving transplants.