New Michael Jackson album finally set for release

A new Michael Jackson album, featuring previously unheard tracks, is finally set for release, a year and a half after the performer's death. The album, to be sold from 14 December in the UK, is the first with new Jackson material to be released since the singer died in June 2009 on the eve of his 50-date This Is It performances at London's O2 arena. Sony said the album would be labelled Michael. A trailer providing more information would appear on michaeljackson.com and there were plans to stream Breaking News, a full song from the album, for one week. Other tracks on Michael, which has cover art depicting two cherubs placing a crown on the singer's head, against a mural featuring him at various stages in his career, are thought to have been recorded at Los Angeles and Las Vegas studios. Last year, the track This Is It appeared online and was touted as the first posthumous Jackson release, only for it to emerge that it had first been recorded in 1983. A Jackson film, featuring footage of the singer rehearsing for his O2 residency, was released last year.