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Janet confirms world tour and album pre-sale

Janet Jackson’s official website has confirmed her upcoming world tour and is giving fans the chance to buy a ticket pre-sale code and reserve a copy of her album ahead of its release later this year.

Fans can now purchase at Janet’s official website a t-shrt, CD and pre-sale code for $29.95, or with an LP for $39.95.

A cheaper package of just the CD and pre-sale code is available for $11.95.

The site also published a brand new promotional image of Janet Jackson to promote the tour.

As previously reported, the tour kicks off on August 31st in Canada.

All dates are being co-produced by Miss Jackson’s Rhythm Nation. Additional worldwide concerts will be announced at a later date.

In addition to Live Nation and Rhythm Nation, other concert promoters will include Nederlander Concerts, Jam Productions, Another Planet Entertainment, and such promoters as Bamp and Tommy Meharey who will produce the Honolulu dates.

Janet Jackson Unbreakable Tshirt
Janet Jackson Unbreakable Tshirt
Janet Jackson Unbreakable World Tour
Janet Jackson Unbreakable World Tour
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News Unbreakable World Tour

Dates released for Janet’s ‘Unbreakable’ world tour

Concert promoter LiveNation has listed 30 of Janet’s upcoming shows. The tour, seemingly entitled ‘Unbreakable’, looks set to kick off at the end of August in Vancouver before continuing through Canada and the USA.

Tickets, listed on Ticketmaster, indicates that an initial presale begins today at 10.00AM Pacific Time and will be available to those who pre-order Janet’s upcoming as yet untitled album or American Express cardholders.

Tickets for the Unbreakable tour go on sale to the general public June 22 at 10.00AM at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at livenation.com and by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Ticket prices are expected to range from $45 to $250 each, plus service charges.

Dates so far announced include stops at Grand Rapids, Cincinnati, Raleigh, Charlotte, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Inglewood, San Diego, Phoenix, Santa Barbara, St Louis, Omaha, Minneapolis, Denver, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, St Louis, Chicago, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto and Honolulu.

UK and other International dates have yet to be released.

August and September
August 31 – Vancouver, BC, Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
September 2 – Calgary, AB, Scotiabank Saddledome
September 4 – Edmonton, AB, Rexall Place
September 5 – Grande Prairie, AB, Revolution Place
September 7 – Saskatoon, SK, SaskTel Centre
September 8 – Winnipeg, MB, MTS Centre
September 11 – Grand Rapids, MI, Van Andel Arena
September 12 – Cincinnati, OH, PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Centre
September 15 – Toronto, ON, Air Canada Centre
September 17 – Raleigh, NC, Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
September 18 – Charlotte, NC, PNC Music Pavilion
September 20 – Miami, FL, American Airlines Arena
September 23 – Orlando, FL, Amway Arena
September 24 – Tampa, FL, Amalie Arena
September 26 – Atlanta, GA, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
September 27 – Nashville, TN, Ascend Amphitheatre
September 29 – Memphis, TN, Fedex Forum
September 30 – New Orleans, Smoothie King Centre

October
October 9 – Las Vegas, NV, Axis @ Planet Hollywood
October 10 – Las Vegas, NV, Axis @ Planet Hollywood
October 13 – San Francisco, CA, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
October 14 – San Francisco, CA, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
October 16 – Los Angeles, CA, The Forum
October 17 – San Diego, CA, Viejas Arena
October 19 – Phoenix, AZ, Comerica Theatre
October 21 – Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Bowl
October 22 – Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Bowl
October 24 – Salt Lake City, UT, Energy Solutions Arena
October 25 – Denver, CO, Pepsi Centre
October 27 – Kansas City, MO, Sprint Centre
October 29 – St. Louis, MO, Chaifetz Arena
October 30 – Omaha, NE, CenturyLink Centre

November
November 1 – Minneapolis, Target Centre
November 3 – Chicago, IL, Chicago Theatre
November 4 – Chicago, IL, Chicago Theatre
November 12 – Honolulu, HI, Neal S. Blaisdell Centre Arena

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Forbes Report: Janet’s new album makes a lot of financial sense

In a report on Forbes.com, Hugh McIntyre talks about Janet’s upcoming album and the reason her new business model makes sense in a music industry landscape that has dramatically changed since the release of her most successful albums.

Why Janet Jackson’s Musical Comeback Makes A Lot Of Financial Sense

By Hugh McIntyre

Just a few weeks ago, Janet Jackson, one of the most celebrated artists of all time, announced her return after a seven year hiatus from recording music. Now 49, the singer faces a different landscape than she’s used to, and her comeback could have been an uphill battle…but in typical Jackson form, she’s doing things her own way, and it actually might end up being a great business decision.

She’s In Charge
For the first time in her career, it looks like Janet is going to be in charge of the entire album recording and release process. Instead of working with a major label as she has always done throughout her many years as a globally-adored star (after disappointing sales of her last album, Discipline, she and Island Records parted ways), Janet has started her own label, Rhythm Nation. The company gets its name from her fourth album, which remains one of her best sellers (thanks to the four number one hits that were released off of it). She has partnered with BMG to distribute the album, meaning she doesn’t have to worry about actually getting the record out there to consumers…she just has to make it.

By owning the label that will be releasing her upcoming eleventh studio album, Janet is not only paying for all the costs associated with recording and promoting an album herself, she’ll be reaping almost all of the benefits. While album sales aren’t what they used to be, she’s going to take home a much higher percentage of each sale than she likely ever has, as there are fewer people taking pieces of the pie. If she doesn’t overspend on production, making a profit could be easy.

It’s A Great Excuse To Tour
Somebody as massively popular as Janet Jackson doesn’t really need to produce new material in order to venture out on a worldwide trek, but it does give her a great excuse to do so. Touring is where most of an artist’s money comes from these days, and a star like Janet can command hundreds of thousands per night. There are only so many “Greatest Hits” shows a singer can do before it feels like selling out, so even if she only performs a few new cuts, touring under the guise of promoting a new record is a tried and true route to a financially successful year.

She’s Got Nothing To Prove
At the end of the day, little to nothing is riding on the success of the album itself. If she manages things correctly, nobody will judge her should the record flop commercially. Janet is already one of the most successful pop icons of all time in every sense, and her legacy is not riding on how well a later record performs. If she focuses on creating a well-crafted album that has integrity and meaning, instead of reaching for top ten hits and blockbuster sellers, her fans will appreciate it, and she won’t be lambasted in the media as some other older pop stars are. It’s tough to be on top of the charts and all over radio after so many decades, but really great music knows no age, and can come from anywhere.

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Janet poses with godson on his graduation

Janet Jackson has posed with godson Tyler Harris on his graduation day. Harris, the son of Janet’s long time friend and record producer Jimmy ‘Jam’ Harris, graduated from Oaks Christian School in California.

The photo was posted by Jimmy’s wife Lisa Harris on Instagram.

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Janet starts own record label: Rhythm Nation Records

Janet Jackson has today taken to Twitter to announce details of her new album and the establishment of her own record label, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation Records.

The as yet untitled album will be released in the Fall and the label will become the home of new and existing artists too.

Janet’s first album since 2008’s Discipline will be released via BMG in an unique deal to enable artists to retain control over their work. The artist services deal means that Janet will retain ownership of her recordings and full oversight of all costs and revenues.

BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said, “Janet is not just a supreme artist, she is a unique cultural force whose work resonates around the world. It is an honor that she has chosen BMG to release her long-awaited new album. We look forward to collaborating with her across every platform.”

Janet commented, “Thank you to the talented team at BMG, my new artistic home. The opportunity to be creative in music and every form of entertainment has great potential here.”

Jon Cohen, EVP of Recorded Music at BMG Chrysalis US said, “Janet is a cultural icon and pop star like no other. The release of her long-awaited new album will undoubtedly be one of the musical highlights of 2015. It is an honor to work with her.”

Fans have been anticipating new music ever since Janet published a video in which she confirmed she’d be releasing a new album this year as well as heading out on a world tour.

It was reported by RadioFacts that Janet’s latest material will be published by BMG.

The last time Janet released a single was Nothing in March 2010 which was recorded to coincide with the release of the film “Why Did I Get Married Too?

BMG TO RELEASE JANET JACKSON’S FIRST NEW ALBUM IN SEVEN YEARS THIS FALL 2015 THRU HER OWN RHYTHM NATION RECORDS

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NEW YORK/BERLIN, 3 JUNE 2015 – BMG is proud to announce that it will release the first album in seven years from Janet Jackson, icon, music artist, B.E.T honored, award-winning songwriter, producer, singer, Oscar and Golden Globe nominee and winner of the NAACP Best Supporting Actor award, publisher, dancer, businessperson, philanthropist and one of biggest-selling artists in popular music history.

The worldwide partnership with Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation will see the release in Fall 2015 of her first as-yet-untitled album and a commitment to pursue the full range of options within the broader Bertelsmann group of which BMG is part. With Rhythm Nation Janet Jackson becomes arguably the first female African-American recording artist to form her own record label. At Rhythm Nation Janet plans to offer a home to both new and established recording artists.

The partnership with BMG makes Janet Jackson the biggest worldwide superstar yet to quit the traditional record label system for a so-called artist services deal, designed to put artists in the driving seat. Unlike a traditional record deal, under an artist services deal the artist retains ownership of their recordings and full oversight of all costs and revenues.

With sales of over 160 million records worldwide, Janet Jackson stands as one of the best-selling artists of all time as well as one of the most awarded with a string of hits that have left an indelible impression on pop culture. Her lengthy string of hits has powerfully influenced popular music, leaving an indelible impression on pop culture and opening doors through which other top artists have followed, many acknowledging her impact on their musical perceptions.

Ms. Jackson’s May 16 announcement of an upcoming new album and a world tour via #ConversationsInACafe sent fans into a social media frenzy.

BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch said, “Janet is not just a supreme artist, she is a unique cultural force whose work resonates around the world. It is an honor that she has chosen BMG to release her long-awaited new album. We look forward to collaborating with her across every platform.”

Janet commented, “Thank you to the talented team at BMG, my new artistic home. The opportunity to be creative in music and every form of entertainment has great potential here.”

Jon Cohen, EVP of Recorded Music at BMG Chrysalis US said, “Janet is a cultural icon and pop star like no other. The release of her long-awaited new album will undoubtedly be one of the musical highlights of 2015. It is an honor to work with her.”

Janet began her career at the age of seven when she first performed with her family at the MGM in Las Vegas. The worldwide breakthrough came with her third album Controlin 1986, her legendary collaboration with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis which created the musical fusion of pop, R&B, soul, dance, jazz, rock and rap which defines her unique sound. Control won four American Music Awards out of twelve nominations and was nominated for an Album of the Year at the Grammys.

Next came Rhythm Nation 1814, a socially-conscious album critiquing injustice, illiteracy, crime, drugs, and racial intolerance, which last year celebrated its 25thanniversary. It remains the only album yet to have launched number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in three separate calendar years

1993’s janet sent her career into the stratosphere and brought the worldwide smash ‘That’s The Way Love Goes’. From 1995’s Design Of A Decade retrospective through studio albums The Velvet Rope, All For You and Discipline, Janet has continued to thrill and inspire her fans worldwide.

Janet Jackson is one of very few music artists to have also achieved a successful acting career. Initially known as a young TV star, her first three films opened at number one at the box office with her next two big screen projects opening in the top three. Janet’s music has also made an impact in the film world when the artist received an Academy Award Nomination in the Best Music, Original Song category.

Zach Katz, Chief Creative Officer, BMG Chrysalis US, said: “Janet’s list of achievements and accomplishments is truly staggering. She is a global artist whose career has touched on virtually every area of popular culture. Her new album will undoubtedly have a significant impact. We look forward to collaborating with her and Rhythm Nation to nurture a new generation of artists.”

Venus Brown, for BMG Chrysalis US added: “As die-hard fans of her work and of the musical jewels that Janet Jackson has bestowed upon the world, we are beyond thrilled that she has chosen BMG to be her new partner. Her music and her video and concert styling, particularly Rhythm Nation 1814, changed the course of pop music.”

The agreement with Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation Records is the latest high-profile milestone for the new BMG, just six-and-a-half years since its launch. Key to the BMG approach is a commitment to transparency and fairness to artists, typified by its Artist Services deals. Over the past year BMG has released albums by the likes of alt-J, The Smashing Pumpkins, Anastacia, Backstreet Boys, Nena, Bryan Ferry, You Me At Six and The Charlatans.

Janet Jackson is represented by William Morris Endeavor, Sterling Winters Company, attorneys Tom Hoberman and Don Steele, and JDJ Entertainment.

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Report: Janet to release new single imminently

Industry website Radio Facts is reporting that Janet Jackson will release her new single to radio within 30 days.

It is expected to be distributed by BMG, although the label that is responsible for its release is yet to be confirmed.

Janet confirmed earlier this month that she would be releasing a new album and also embarking on a new world tour.

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Janet pictured at dance studio

Janet Jackson was spotted in Los Angeles yesterday.

She stopped to pose for photographers as she entered a dance studio to rehearse for her upcoming single and world tour.

Dressed in a black cap and hoodie, Janet smiled to photographers.

Janet Jackson at dance studio in Los Angeles

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Daily Beast Article: Janet Jackson Deserves Our Respect

In an article posted on The Daily Beast, Stereo Williams looks ahead to Janet’s upcoming album outlining just how well respected and successful Janet Jackson has been.

Janet Jackson Deserves Our Respect: The Pop Diva and Sex Goddess Reclaims Her Throne
Stereo Williams
She’s sold over 140 million albums and has a record 18 consecutive top 10 hits. Now, Janet Jackson is returning with a new album and world tour. Don’t call it a comeback.
“I promised you’d hear it from my lips. And now you will. This year. New music. New world tour. A new movement. I’ve been listening. Let’s keep the conversation going.”

That was the message pop megastar Janet Jackson gave to her fans this past weekend. On her 49th birthday, the legendary Ms. Jackson announced from her website that she is returning to music after a quiet several years. It’s been seven years since her last studio album, 2008s Discipline; and four years since “Number Ones: Up Close and Personal,” her last major tour. The news of Janet’s return sent social media into a flurry. Fans had been wondering out loud what the six-time Grammy winner has been up to—there had been rumors for the past several months that she was working with her longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. She’d tweeted that she would let the world know when she was good and ready—and this weekend, she did.

Since the announcement, fans and media have been asking whether or not Janet Jackson can pull off a successful comeback at this point in her career. Since her 2001 album, All For You, Janet’s missteps have been well-documented: from the infamous “Nipplegate” controversy during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, to the string of lukewarm albums that followed. Over the years, her album sales declined, she started and ended a high-profile relationship with superproducer Jermaine Dupri, was blacklisted from radio stations (due to Nipplegate), lost her superstar brother, starred in a couple of Tyler Perry movies, and got married to a billionaire. With Janet finally returning, everyone seems to question whether or not she can reclaim her place in pop music. But in all of the commentary, a very important point has apparently been forgotten:

Janet Jackson doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone.

From 1986 to 2001, Janet consistently delivered the best dance pop music of her generation. It was better than Madonna’s over that same stretch. It was even better than her legendary brother Michael’s post-Thriller output. That may seem like blasphemy to some, but with Jam and Lewis in her corner, Janet’s albums from Control to All For You were more thematically unified and fully-realized than well-crafted-but-inconsistent late 80s/early 90s MJ albums like Bad andDangerous. With Control, she helped lay the groundwork for New Jack Swing (Jam and Lewis deserve as much credit for popularizing that sound as Teddy Riley or L.A. Reid and Babyface) and with Rhythm Nation, she delivered that genre’s most compelling and ambitious LP. For what it’s worth, Michael didn’t get hip to New Jack Swing until he teamed with Riley in 1991, which was five years after his sister and about two years before the style was dead. Whatever dismissals one can toss at Janet as a songwriter, it’s obvious that her albums were representations of her—even with Jam and Lewis handling the bulk of the music. The Velvet Rope is very much an album that feels introspective and brazenly personal.

But while other superstars of her era can release new music without scrutiny, Janet is being analyzed and dissected. Having announced her comeback, the news was met with skepticism in some circles. Talk show host Wendy Williams had some “advice” for Jackson. “She should stick with her number ones, the songs that we know,” Williams said on her show. “Janet is 49 years old right now. She’s married to that billionaire WASP… she wants to put out new music but nobody bought the music last time. I think that this comeback is going to be impossible; she’s living in a Beyoncé/Rihanna/Taylor Swift world. The music-buying public barely buys and they’re young kids, they’re not us with mortgages and tuition.”

“She needs to sit down and wait for Mariah, Britney and Jennifer to leave [their Las Vegas residencies] and do all the songs that we know the words to.”

Janet’s commercial lag isn’t all that unique. Most chartbusting superstars of yesteryear have experienced sales declines in the era of streaming music and illegal downloading. And great artists do age, with younger generations finding their own heroes to listen to. Prince hasn’t been the chart-topping juggernaut of his heyday in quite some time. But that doesn’t matter because he’s Prince. No one really cares if he doesn’t have a “When Doves Cry” or a “Diamonds and Pearls” dominating radio anymore; his legacy is as firmly set as Stevie Wonder’s or Neil Young’s. The Purple One has released six albums in the last ten years and only two have attained gold status. Paul McCartney’s last two albums didn’t hit the gold mark, either. Similarly, the most recent albums by icons like U2 and Bruce Springsteen only garnered relatively modest sales. Madonna’s status as a consistent presence on the pop charts waned around the same time as Janet’s did; the Material Girl has mostly dominated just the dance/club charts over the last decade. That transition hasn’t led to any loss in Madonna’s status as the so-called “Queen of Pop.”

No one is telling those aging legends to stop releasing new music. We don’t seem to expect them to have to compete with their younger counterparts at all. If their die-hard fans enjoy the albums and the artists enjoy making them, they’ve earned the right to not be judged by the same standard as the hit-making pop star of the moment. Once a legendary artist has cemented their place in the canon of popular music, there is nothing left for them to do to affirm it. The greats don’t have to keep auditioning. They made the grade long ago, and everything they achieve now is just an addendum to their legacy.

So what does a “successful” Janet Jackson comeback mean? Battling the Beyoncés and Taylor Swifts of the world for pop supremacy? None of that matters. None of that is necessary. A successful Janet Jackson comeback simply means that one of the greatest artists of the last 30 years is back to doing what she loves and what her fans love seeing her do. Delivering a compelling album and an electrifying tour is all that matters, not sales or Grammys. She’s done all of that time and again. It’s past time to recognize that Janet Jackson is among the artists at the very top of popular music’s hierarchy. It’s past time to give her the respect she deserves. She doesn’t have to prove she’s still “hot” or “relevant.” She’s a legend. She should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She should be as heralded as Tina Turner. This return isn’t about her “proving” anything to us. She’s doing this for her. And that’s good enough.

With all the great music she’s given the world, she’s more than earned that right.

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Report: Janet in talks with LiveNation

Showbiz411 has today reported that Janet is in talks with LiveNation to do a deal which would see the brand take charge of Janet’s upcoming tour and, in turn, license her album. Journalist Roger Friedman reports:

Exclusive: Janet Jackson Has Had Talks with LiveNation for U2-Like Deal, Album Included
Roger Friedman – May 18, 2015

Janet Jackson’s new album. We think it’s called “Conversations in a Cafe.” We know it’s produced by Jimmy Jam Harris and Terry Lewis of FlyteTime, her long time musical collaborators. We also know it’s NOT with L.A. Reid at Epic, or at Atlantic Records. It’s probably not ready for July 10th, I’ve heard. It’s still being worked on.However: the word is that Janet may be making a 360 deal with LiveNation, a la Madonna or U2 or Nickelback. In that case, LiveNation would handle the tour and license “Conversations.” Janet’s tour is going to be key to the whole thing. I think it could be HUGE. She cooled off a few years ago, got married, took time off. People miss her. With the right music– no sex talk stuff, please, Janet– adult R&B, but the sexiness as part of the vibe– she can make a big comeback now.Why LiveNation? Let’s be reasonable. Janet’s not doing a deal with AEGLive, after Michael’s death etc. Right? And after album crashes from JLO, Mariah, and others, someone has explained to her that albums by artists of a certain age are not going to sell 1 million copies. So a 360 deal is just right.

Harris and Jackson have been dropping clues for weeks, on Twitter.

And which label? I could see Warner Bros., which also brought back Prince this year. And you could see Janet’s catalogue going there since it’s spread out everywhere. But remember– Virgin EMI was where Janet made her biggest deal in 1996. Virgin is now part of Capitol Records, which is Universal Music. That would be a natural fit for the LiveNation deal. We’ll see.

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Image confirms Janet will work with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

In an image posted on Janet’s official website and on her Twitter page, the logo for FlyteTyme productions is seen.

There has long been speculation that Janet would work once again with long time producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

The duo last produced a full album for Janet in 2001 when she released All For You.