Posted by WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of "Thriller," XM Radio will launch a new channel dedicated to the music of pop icon Michael Jackson on March 1, it was announced today.
The new channel, "XM THRILLER: The Music of Michael Jackson" (XM 63), will feature Jackson’s solo work, as well as recordings from The Jackson 5, interviews and stories from other artists, plus other unique content that celebrates Jackson’s musical contributions.
Music industry legend Quincy Jones, who produced "Thriller," among other Jackson solo albums, will serve as Executive Advisor, providing counsel on the channel’s creative direction and structure.
"With ‘{tag XM THRILLER},’ we are paying tribute to the best-selling album in the world and a music icon whose influence on pop music is unparalleled," said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming, XM.
Michael Jackson’s iconic "Thriller" skyrocketed Jackson into international superstardom. The album has sold more than 104 million copies worldwide and was the first in history to have seven top-ten singles. The 25th anniversary reissue, "{tag Thriller25}," will be released nationwide tomorrow, February 12, and includes every song from the original release remastered, plus several new remixes featuring {tag Akon}, {tag will.i.am}, Fergie and {tag Kanye West}.
Michael Jackson made his musical debut at a young age as part of the group The Jackson 5 and went on to have one of the most successful solo careers in music history. His success made huge strides for African-American artists and brought attention to the music video as an art form.
Jackson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 as a member of The Jackson 5 and in 2001 for his achievements as a solo artist. With 13 GRAMMY Awards and 13 number-one singles, Jackson remains one of the most respected and admired musicians whose influence is undeniable. Justin Timberlake, Usher, Jennifer Lopez, Jay-Z, Pharell Williams and countless other artists have credited Jackson as an important musical influence.
"XM THRILLER" will be available from March 1 through March 31. Programming information for the channel will be available online at http://www.xmradio.com/thriller.
Source: EarthTimes.com