Treasure in Tapes: Unreleased Michael Jackson Tracks Discovered but Remain Unpublishable

In a remarkable turn of events reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, Gregg Musgrove, a former California Highway Patrol officer turned treasure hunter, stumbled upon what many music enthusiasts would consider a holy grail: previously unreleased music by none other than Michael Jackson.

This treasure trove was discovered in a storage unit in Van Nuys, San Fernando Valley, which previously belonged to music producer Bryan Loren. Among the fascinating finds were 12 tracks that Jackson had worked on between 1989 and 1991, during the period leading up to his iconic 'Dangerous' album.

Musgrove, who acquired the storage unit indirectly through a contact, found cassette and Digital Audio Tape (DAT) recordings containing unreleased tracks, snippets of other songs, and conversations between Jackson and Loren about their creative processes. Listening to these recordings gave Musgrove goosebumps, he shared, emphasizing the thrill of hearing unheard material from the King of Pop himself.

However, it seems the joy these tapes may bring to Jackson's global fan base might be permanently confined to the dreams of music historians and enthusiasts. The legal implications surrounding these tapes are complex. After discovering the tapes, Musgrove sought legal counsel and approached the Jackson Estate, only to be informed that while the physical tapes were not claimed by the estate, the rights to any content, including the music and recordings, were still owned by MJJP Records.

This means that despite having physical possession of the tapes, Musgrove, or any potential future owner, cannot release the tracks to the public. Such restrictions considerably dampen the potential for these treasures to be shared with the world.

This particular situation highlights an ongoing issue in the music industry where the rights to unreleased works can often lead to detailed legal challenges, especially after an artist's death. The decision to keep these tracks private as per the stipulations set forth by the Jackson Estate has divided opinions among fans and experts who believe such discoveries should be part of the public domain for cultural and historical preservation.

Musgrove also mentioned potential plans to auction the tapes, hoping that passionate celebrity memorabilia collectors might value the intrinsic historical worth of these recordings. Notably, prominent figures like Lady Gaga have previously shown significant interest in Jackson-related memorabilia.

To music aficionados and historians, the discovery reopens never-ending debates about artist legacies, copyright laws, and the public's right to access unreleased materials, ensuring that while the tapes might remain unheard, the conversations and controversies surrounding them will resonate loudly for a long time.