Michael Jackson New Album Release Date: 'Xscape' Due Out on iTunes in May
The King of Pop may no longer be with us, but his legacy and music continue to live on.
Epic Records announced on Monday that a new Michael Jackson album is set for release in May. Fans will have the opportunity to preorder the new album on iTunes starting April 1, but its official worldwide release will debut on May 13.
The album is titled Xscape and features eight previously unreleased Michael Jackson songs. Among them, include a single also titled Xscape. The song is co-written and a co-produced by Rodney Jerkins and Michael Jackson himself.
The Michael Jackson 'Xscape' project derives from an agreement between Sony's Columbia Epic Records and the Jackson estate to continue releasing Jackson's music following his death. Epic Chairman and chief executive L.A. Reid was granted unlimited access by the Jackson estate to the legendary singer's most exclusive music archives.
"Michael left behind some musical performances that we take great pride in presenting through the vision of music producers that he either worked directly with or expressed strong desire to work with," Reid said in the official Epic Records statement.
The album will be the product of a team of music industry heavy weights and creative minds. "Timbaland is the lead producer, with contributions from Rodney Jerkins, Stargate, Jerome 'J-Roc' Harmon and Jackson estate executor John McClain," according to the Epic Records released statement.
According to the NY Times, "All eight songs had completed vocals, but were in various stages of production before Timbaland and company fleshed them out. The label said the album would be released in a standard edition, with the completed versions of the eight songs, and a deluxe edition, which would also have the songs in their original form -- in at least one case, a stripped-down version with Jackson singing only to a piano accompaniment."
To pre-order Michael Jackson's Xscape, click here.