Unheard and unreleased music from Michael Jackson has been uncovered in an abandoned storage unit – find out more below.
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Per an exclusive report from The Hollywood Reporter, several cassette and DAT tapes containing unheard music from Jackson were unearthed in an old storage unit in San Fernando Valley.
The jackpot was discovered by former highway patrol officer Gregg Musgrove, who was “treasure hunting” at a friend’s recently purchased abandoned storage unit in Van Nuys. The unit at one point belongs to singer and music producer Bryan Loren.
Michael Jackson. Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
A total of 12 tapes were uncovered, dating between 1989 and 1991. According to Musgrove’s inventory list, at total of 15 unheard songs were found on the tapes, some of which had previously been teased, or have had snippets leaked. Some songs have been completely unheard of. Among those unreleased songs is a collaboration with LL Cool J titled ‘Truth On Youth’ – earlier this year the rapper confirmed they had recorded music together but that the songs weren’t “good enough” to be released.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, it appears that outside of Jackson’s estate, it seems Musgrove would be the only one to hear the tapes. Musgrove and his attorney approached Jackson’s estate with the tapes, but noted that the late King Of Pop’s estate declined to purchase the tapes.
Musgrove was later sent a letter by Jackson’s estate, noting that while it doesn’t claim ownership over the tapes, anyone who purchases the tapes in the future will not own the rights to the recordings or compositions – which already belong to the estate.
Michael Jackson’s estate has since confirmed with The Hollywood Reporter that the tapes aren’t master copies of the recordings – the masters are currently housed in the estate’s vault. The estate said to THR: “The Estate of Michael Jackson was presented with DAT copies NOT master recordings of Michael’s music, and we confirmed that the actual master recordings were in fact already located in the Estate’s vaults. It should be clear to all that ownership and rights of exploitation to the recordings remain vested in MJJP Records and that nothing commercial or otherwise can be done with the DAT copies.”
Michael Jackson performs at the 12th Annual MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on September 7, 1995. CREDIT: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images
This essentially means that the tapes can never be released publicly, but can be heard privately by whoever is in possession of the recordings.
Musgrove and his attorney have since made clear their intention to auction off the tapes to Michael Jackson enthusiasts, and have planned to bring them to four major auction houses soon. They estimate that the tapes will fetch a minimum of seven figures.
In other Jackson-related news, his upcoming biopic Michael has been delayed to early October 2025 in the United States, with global premiere dates yet to be announced. So far, limited information about the film has been made public. Its first trailer was revealed to critics at CinemaCon in April and was reportedly well received, but has yet to be released to the public.
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