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Michael Jackson Estate Report: Debt Slowly Being Erased

Roger Friedman
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8

Michael Jackson’s estate is in great shape considering how broke he was at his death. TMZ is all excited today because a filing on the estate shows that Michael was more $400 million in debt at the time of his death. This is not a headline. Readers of this column and my old column know the story quite well: Michael had borrowed more than $300 million against his ownership of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and tens of millions against his MiJac Publishing. He’d been sued by everyone and had lost ownership of his Neverland Ranch.

For years prior to making a deal with AEG Live for the “This Is It” concerts in London, Michael had refused to work. He simply kept refinancing and borrowing. My older readers may recall Michael’s banker from Bank of America, Jane Heller, telling me tne years ago: “I’ve kept Michael alive.” It was Jackson’s own financial irresponsibility that caused his problems.

Frankly, if he hadn’t agreed to do “This Is It,” Jackson would have been out of business. He had nowhere to live, and would not return to Neverland. All of this was becausde he refused to sell his stake in Sony/ATV, relieve himself of the staggering loans, and start fresh. When he died, it became easier for his executors to make decisions that would improve his finances considerably. If only Jackson had listened to his advisors when he was alive–but he refused, and frequently went behind their backs to make deals– all failures that had to fixed later.

More to come on the estate report….

On the Town: A Rod, Cameron, Elton, Bill Clinton

Roger Friedman
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0

Soho House in West Hollywood has become the go to spot for the A list at lunchtime, as well as late night. Yesterday, Cameron Diaz and Alex Rodriguez had lunch with two guys who were either lawyers or accountants. Prenup? Moving in? Who knows? Let the guessing begin.

Near them, past Oscar nominee Djimon Honsou chatted with “Star Shape” guru Nikki Haskell, whose new appetite suppressant is a hit in Hollywood with all the gals. Toward the end of lunch, none other than Sir Elton John arrived from his nearby palatial digs. Elton’s trying to get some sleep these days since he and David Furnish welcomed a son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John. The famed rocker is getting ready to host his annual Oscar gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, on Sunday night, February 27th.

Meanwhile the one and only former president Bill Clinton dined at Phillippe Chow in Miami last week. Phillippe Chow in New York has also hosted Barack Obama and Al Gore. It’s the executive branch of Chinese food, apparently.

Rod Stewart: And Baby Makes Eight

Roger Friedman
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1

Rod Stewart has added an eighth child to his burgeoning family. He and wife Penny Lancaster welcomed a second son, Aiden, who joins brother Alistair. If you’re keeping count, Rod has a big brood. Penny is his third wife, although he had  a secen year relationship with Kelly Emberg in between wives number 1 (Alana Hamilton) and number 2 (Rachel Hunter). He also had relationships with two other beauties–Britt Ekland and Bebe Buell.

He has two children (Sean and Kimberly). With Emberg, he has daughter Ruby. With Hunter, he has Renee and Liam. Stewart recently issued his fifth Songbook album, produced by Richard Perry. And he also is releasing a best of the Songbooks album this month. To us all old guys, though, Rod is the guy from the Faces, from “Maggie May” and “Stay with Me.” The 66 year old former rocker, now crooner, could write a book as good as Keith Richard’s, I should think. Rod, we’re waiting!

PS the question now is, can he go for 10? Anything’s possible! But Rod won’t be changing diapers for too long. He starts an arena tour on March 11th with Stevie Nicks.

Is American Idol Having Real Ratings Trouble? Yes

Roger Friedman
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0

“American Idol” is still a powerhouse show for Fox, but last night’s ratings surprised me. The show is trending down, down, down without Simon Cowell snarking around in the background. Last night’s show, according to tvbythenumbers.com, was down 4% from last Wednesday, and 21% from last season’s fifth Tuesday (10.2 rating). The experts at that site report that Idol’s 8pm hour was down 14% (7.2 rating vs. 8.4 rating) vs. last Wednesday’s one hour episode. Tonight’s show, if it follows the trend, will be way off from last night. Last week, for example, “Idol” did well on Wednesday, but collapsed on Thursday.

You can’t fault Randy, Steven Tyler or even Jennifer Lopez, because the show is aging, and people aren’t as devoted to as they once were. But still, adding the new judges were supposed to invigorate ratings, not reverse them.

Also, the show is supposed to grow in interest as the weeks go by. This is not a good sign. Is it the crop of contestants? Maybe. I do feel as though any time one of them tells a sob story to Tyler and Lopez they’re automatically invited in. Simon would have been harder on these people.

One “Idol” source I spoke to confirmed my fears. “They did Hollywood Week a week early this year because they were nervous. It didn’t work. There was a 7 million fall off from last year. ”

Can “Idol” come back? As a fan, I must say I’m going to pay more attention now to what’s happening ratings-wise. With Cowell’s “X Factor” looming out there–and new rumors of Paula Abdul joining that show–suddenly there’s a lot at stake.

Justin Bieber: “Abortion is Like Killing A Baby”

Roger Friedman
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8

From Rolling Stone’s website, an extract of an interview with Justin Bieber by Vanessa Grigoriadis:

He isn’t sure what political party he’d support if he was old enough to vote. “I’m not sure about the parties,” Bieber says. “But whatever they have in Korea, that’s bad.” He does have a solid opinion on abortion. “I really don’t believe in abortion,” Bieber says. “It’s like killing a baby.” How about in cases of rape? “Um. Well, I think that’s really sad, but everything happens for a reason. I don’t know how that would be a reason. I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that.”

Shall we study this? An almost 17 year old (March 1st) who travels around the world–“whatever they have in Korea.” Missing his education seems to have been a problem. Now we’d like to ask him if he understands what’s happened in China.

He has no compassion for a rape victim who becomes pregnant. “…everything happens for a reason.”

Here’s the thing: he could have said that he didn’t believe in abortion, and that he couldn’t judge of cases of rape. He could have been more prepared on the subject of politics. But he wasn’t prepared for a professional interview, and this is the result.

What about the fact that he’s a kid, why not just leave him alone? The answer is that he wanted to be on the world stage, he wanted to be a celebrity, and that the world has rewarded him with millions and millions of dollars to leave school and be in our faces 24/7.

On the plus side, Justin Bieber may be a popular campaigner for the next Republican presidential candidate. They will have never had one so popular with the non-voting under agers.

Also on the website: Justin does not believe in pre-marital sex, and thinks America “is evil” because of its health care policies.

The full interview appears on Friday in Rolling Stone.

NY’s Downtown Restaurant Wars: Lion in Winter

Roger Friedman
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3

The New York Observer has a great piece today on New York’s downtown restaurant war between Graydon Carter and the Waverly Inn vs. pretender to the throne The Lion, invested in by Dan Abrams and Dave Zinczenko. Here’s the truth: The Lion is the most pretentious, awful place that’s ever come to the central part of Greenwich Village.

http://www.observer.com/2011/media/lions-catty-boys

Strangely enough, I can see right into their front windows and entrance from my perch above them. Still, after a year, they place a henchman on their front steps who obnoxiously grills potential clients. Do you have a reservation? What do you want? Etc. This little drama takes place not in some cool out of the way spot in the city, but across the street from the big PATH train entrance on 9th Street and Sixth Avenue, next to a Korean grocer.

The Observer story chronicles the disharmony among the various investors. It could have gone farther to detail how much its neighbors loathe the Lion. Limos double park on both sides of narrow West 9th St., idling for–not celebrities, but visitors from that other planet, New Jersey. It’s a hoot. Inside the Lion said patrons are four deep at the bar, banging into diners who’ve been forced to consume a $150 meal at crowded, cacaphonous “inn” tables. It’s a bar. The back room? I don’t know. I saw it once: it’s got a medieval setting.

Dan Abrams and Dave Zinczenko were patrons of both Elaine’s and the Waverly Inn when they started their own place. I don’t know about Graydon Carter, but Elaine Kaufman was furious with them when they started The Lion. She didn’t want to hear about. Zinczenko had made a lot of his connections at Elaine’s and used it as a watering hole. To Elaine, and I’m sure to Graydon, their move was an act of disloyalty.

These days I hear nothing about The Lion that would make me want to return. It is not a spontaneous drop in spot for the A list, the way Elaine’s was and the Waverly is. On New Year’s Eve, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt, Scarlett Johannson, Bryan Lourd, Ellen Barkin and Sam Levinson were among those who dined at The Waverly. That should tell you everything. Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker are often in the house. Where the Lion grabs “celebrities” by booking corporate parties, The Waverly remains an organic hot spot. Case closed.

PS John deLucie, the affable chef at the Waverly, left with Abrams and Zinczenko to start The Lion. But first deLucie opened Charles restaurant around the corner, while he was at the Waverly. Charles was hot for three months. It is now closed.

Sting, Trudie Styler Make “Spirits” Fly in LA Theater Premiere

Roger Friedman
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1

Sting was back in Los Angeles last night, fresh from a wildly successful symphony tour of Australia, Japan and New Zealand. He’s on his way to Cleveland, Newark, and Lima, Peru, but managed to make a stop at the Mark Taper Forum to co-star in a one off night with wife Trudie Styler in “Twin Spirits,” a dramatic program performed with classical musicans based on the letters of Robert and Clara Schumann. The evening was a charity fundraiser for the Culture Project, and drew the likes of actress Maria Bello, Chad Lowe, and dozens of media types to the sold out theater to see the couple and John Lithgow–who pitched in on an off night from his neighboring one man show–and violinist Joshua Bell.

Sting and Trudie have filmed “Twin Spirits” for video (you can get the DVD on www.twinspirits.com) but the more they perform it live, the better it gets. The Schumanns’s love story has humor and pathos, and is quite romantic. Styler especially underscores their doomed relationship, as Schumann died young. (And Clara– a gifted concert pianist–went on to become the paramour of Brahms–a whole other story!) Styler got rave reviews from the audience–the former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company should be acting more!

After the show, Sting–who’s been halfway around the world since the beginning of January–did ask me to catch him up on a few things, like Ricky Gervais on the Golden Globes, and Lady GaGa. He thought Ricky was great, by the way, but went over the line with his attack on Robert Downey, Jr. “It wasn’t funny because it was an old story, it wasn’t topical,” Sting observed. How true!

Next up for  Sting: work on the Broadway musical version of “The Soul Cages.” It will not, he promised, feature any flying or aerial acrobatics! What a relief.

Michael Jackson Song Catalog Will Moonwalk to Sony/ATV Publishing

Roger Friedman
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19

Exclusive: Michael Jackson, even in death, remains in the middle of the current musical chairs deals in the declining record industry.

For all these years, Michael’s MiJac Publishing has been administered by Warner Chappell, part of what is now Warner Music Group. MiJac includes not only Michael’s hits that he wrote, like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” but a vast number of other hits including those of Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield, and Sly and the Family Stone.

Warner Chappell doesn’t own MiJac but it administers the rights to it and collects hefty fees. With WMG for sale, and talk of Warner Chappell being sold off, MiJac would seem like an integral part of their story.

But there’s a hitch that I can reveal to you: MiJac is leaving Warner Chappell and going to become part of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the company that Michael Jackson’s estate co-owns with Sony and contains the Beatles catalog.

According to sources, this arrangement was written into the MiJac contract with Warner Chappell years ago. It would be triggered by the release of the next Jackson album–in this case, the recent “Michael”–and the repayment of loans.

The move by MiJac to Sony/ATV is a big deal for many reasons. With both WMG and EMI Music for sale, Sony

Sony/ATV could be kicking the tires of each company’s publishing divisions for purchase. But Warner Chappell might be less interesting to Sony ATV considering they’re already getting Mi Jac. And without MiJac, Warner Chappell–which just had a down quarter–might not look so good to other potential buyers.

What may happen now: the newer, and very hot, BMG Music Rights will likely make a play for EMI Music Publishing. EMI Music–the record company, which has the Beatles albums in its catalog–the physical albums and box sets–could then be merged with another record company like Sony Music or, more horrifyingly, Warner Music. Stay tuned.

Nicole Kidman Loves Being Grammy Backstage Wife

Roger Friedman
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3

For the second year in a row, I got to sit and chat with Nicole Kidman backstage at the Grammy Awards. Why is an Oscar winner, and Best Actress nominee- for “Rabbit Hole”–hanging out at the Staples Center on Grammy night? Well, because her husband, and now father of two of her children, is Keith Urban, winner of the Best Country Performance by a Male Singer.

And while Keith is on stage or doing press, Nicole is backstage having dinner, and meeting music people. For a few hours, she isn’t the focus of everyone’s attention, which is nice. Backstage she ran into another “rock widow”–Heidi Klum, married to Seal.

Between Heidi’s German accent and Nicole’s Aussie ear, they almost needed a translator! Said Heidi: “I just went tenting.” Nicole: “Tinting?” “No, tenting.” Klum explained she’d just pitched a $50 tent in the Grand Canyon with the crew of her new TV show. “I loved it!” Heidi exclaimed.

Kidman is waiting for the February 27th Oscar ceremony by shooting a highly anticipated HBO movie about Ernest Hemingway and his famous writer wife, Martha Gellhorn. “It’s a terrific role,” Nicole told me, “but very demanding. I have to get up there to San Francisco and get my head into it.”

She’s got her two small daughters, Sunday Rose, and newborn Faith Margaret, with her. Sunday Rose, 2, is already fielding all of Faith’s baby presents. “Faith Margaret cannot fight back yet,” Nicole agreed with a laugh. “She’s sleeping.” And Sunday Rose is determined to pick Nicole’s Oscar dress. “I did say she might put me in a tutu. And she might!” Kidman beams when she talks about these little girls, and also is full of pride about her two older kids, Isabella and Conor.

PS Nicole also heaps praise on Gwyneth Paltrow. “She’s really become a singer,” Kidman said. “You can see how much she enjoys it. And she’s very, very good.” Couldn’t Nicole make the same transition, I asked? After all, she sang in “Moulin Rouge” and made a video of “Something Stupid” with Ewan McGregor?

“Nooooo,” she said fast.

Grammy Bold Choices: Arcade Fire, Esperanza Spalding

Roger Friedman
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1

The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has really kicked up a tempest in a teapot. The fans–maybe thinking this was a bogus award show like the People’s Choice for American Music Awards–wanted a passing fad like Justin Bieber. It wasn’t going to happen. The award is for Best New Artist.  It’s probably the fault of the mass market celebrity machine that anyone would categorize Bieber as an ‘artists.’  He is a construct of a marketing campaign. That he got the nomination is an achievement in and of itself.

The other nominees–Drake, Mumford, Florence and the Machine–have a temporary quality to them. Spalding, who’s an educated, serious musician, no doubt seemed like the choice who would have a long career. She was a bold choice, and should be applauded.

The rest of the Grammy winners are debatable, but that’s always been the case. Pop music is totally subjective. I would have thought the Record of the Year was Alicia Keys’s “Empire State of Mind” or Train’s “Hey Soul Sister.” Cee Lo Green’s “F You” was simply not going to be rewarded with that title, even though it’s a great single.

Album of the year went to Arcade Fire. Considering how little respect rock has gotten in recent years, choosing Arcade Fire was a cool move.Here’s the problem: the Album of the Year category included Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, who are singles artists. Lady Antebellum received Best Record and Best Song, improbably, since they deserved neither. Album of the Year would have been a farce. Eminem is considered a rap artist. He’s masterful in that category. But it’s unlikely the Grammys are going to bestow their highest honor on a recording full of four letter words. (See Cee Lo Green.) There are legacies at stake here.

And still, this was a highly rated Grammy broadcast. All kinds of music and artists were showcased. And that’s what the Grammy Awards are about: diversity.

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