World News
Neverland Ten Years After Michael Jackson’s Death
Michael Jackson died ten years ago on June 25th and many people around the world will be commemorating his death through his music and videos.
They will be celebrating his astronomical career, remembering his childhood, replay interviews and the work that went into organizing his last concert, This Is It, which he never had the chance to perform. Also to be remembered is his beloved Neverland Ranch, where he lived from 1987 until 2006.
It was where he could finally experience childhood, having never experienced that luxury as part of his hard-working, family-singing group The Jackson Five. Two years after his death, Neverland was put on the market for $100 million, but never sold. Today, restored at great expense to its status as the original ranch when Michael purchased it, the estate is back on the market and reduced to $31 million.
In 1977, developer William Bone bought the bare acreage and engaged an architect to design all the main structures on the property, dig the lake and install formal gardens. It was his own fantasy land of sorts as he was able to design it his way rather than at the direction of clients. It took him two years working with architect Robert Altevers to get the design to his liking. He named it Zaca Laderas Ranch and lived there until selling to Jackson.
Jackson bought the 2,700-acre ranch in 1987 for about $25 million and then spent millions more to develop it as a child’s fantasy land, which he appropriately named Neverland after the Peter Pan story. The 13,000-square-foot main house, formal gardens, a four-acre lake with fountains and five-foot waterfall, along with an attractive stone bridge had already been built by Mr. Boner when Michael purchased the property. Michael added three railroads, a petting zoo and a full amusement park with nine major rides and an arcade. He also put in an electric railroad with 100-feet of track behind the house for his own children.
Neverland was Michael’s home until 2006 when he was charged with child molestation, which supposedly took place at the ranch. Although he was acquitted, the association of so much negativity to the ranch made it difficult for him to continue to live there. Except for caretakers, the ranch was closed. By 2007, Michael was behind in payments on his loan by about $23 million and the ranch was due to go on the auction block. However, investment group Colony Capital stepped in and bought the loan, making them co-owners. In 2009, Colony began restoring the ranch by removing the zoo and amusement park and replacing them with a Zen garden. The amusement park rides are now a part of the California State Fair in Sacramento.
Located in Santa Barbara County in Los Olivos, California, on the tenth anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death, his former Neverland Ranch, now renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch, has had massive price reductions from the original $100 million to $31 million. The listing agent is Suzanne Perkins of Compass Realty, Montecito, California.
Visit TopTenRealEstateDeals.com for more historic, spectacular and celebrity homes and real estate news.
World News
DaBaby says he went from getting $300K for a feature to $150K after recent controversy
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World News
Napoléon by Abel Gance (1st period) opening Cannes Classics at the 77th Festival de Cannes
A legend known to cinephiles the world over, a major work of the silent era, one of the most monumental restorations in the history of filmmaking will be unveiled on May 14 as a world premiere: Napoléon by Abel Gance (1st period), in a version resulting from a colossal, passionate effort by the Cinémathèque française, with the support of the CNC.
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Buzz
Davido Inks Partnership with UnitedMasters For His Nine+ Records Venture
Making yet another major power move, three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated Nigerian global superstar and Afrobeats pioneer Davido has inked a deal with UnitedMasters for his recently launched label Nine+ Records.
In this groundbreaking collaboration, Davido will spearhead artist development, A&R, and behind-the-scenes curation, nurturing a pioneering lineup of artists across the continent under Nine+ Records. United by a shared vision, the teams will work together to introduce and foster talent, amplifying Davido’s influence and extending his reach even further. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in shaping the future of African and world music.
Together, the teams will collaborate closely in order to not only introduce, but cultivate career talent. It only expands Davido’s influence and reach.
Read Also: Davido gifts fan $50k to payoff student loans
Of today’s announcement Davido said, “I couldn’t be more proud to partner with Steve and the team at United Masters, this announcement represents an exciting new chapter for developing and established artists around the world.”
Steve Stoute, Founder and CEO of UnitedMasters states, “Over the last 2 years, we’ve proven our commitment to Africa investing in artists, education, and technology. Today, we are doubling down. With this new venture with Davido & the launch of Nine Plus Records, we reinforce our mission in becoming a bridge for artists on the continent. Together we’ll identify & develop new artists while supporting them with brand and synch opportunities.”
Nine+ Records will be announcing more artists and partners in the future.
Last night, Davido just sold out one of the most iconic venues in the world, headlining Madison Square Garden in New York City. He ignited the stage with what will be remembered as a historic set, bringing Afrobeats to the Big Apple in the biggest way possible. In advance of the show, he extensively spoke to Billboard who praised how “Performing in New York has also become a special ritual” for him.
This news also arrives on the heels of various major company announcements for UnitedMasters. The company locked down a high-profile alliance with SymphonyOS and Groover. Plus, it hosted its annual “A Celebration of Independence” GRAMMY® Concert at the Palladium in Hollywood, CA. The show boasted an all-star lineup, including headliner Davido, Uncle Waffles, Tokischa, Donavan’s Yard, and NLE Choppa. Of the latter, The Source wrote, “This marked the first time UnitedMasters featured international acts, solidifying its impact and representation within the global independent artist movement.”
Stay tuned for a whole lot more soon
World News
Record Rainfall in UAE: Dubai in Chaos as Streets Flood
Chaos swept through the United Arab Emirates as it faced the most intense rainfall in 75 years, with certain regions recording over 250 mm (approximately 10 inches) of rain within a mere 24-hour period, as per the state’s media office statement released on Wednesday, April 17. (more…)
World News
Ashanti & Nelly Are Engaged, Expecting First Child Together
World News
Baloji and Emmanuelle Béart will co-preside over the Caméra d’or Jury of the 77th Festival de Cannes
The 77th Festival de Cannes will feature an unprecedented yet self-evident pairing at the head of the Caméra d’or Jury. As rich dialogue and inspiring gaze arise from encounters, the Festival de Cannes is eager to bring together Emmanuelle Béart and Baloji to co-preside over the Jury that will honor one of the first films presented in the Festival’s Official Selection or its parallel sections.
An unprecedented pairing since French actress Emmanuelle Béart and director and songwriter Baloji, who evolves in Belgium and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have never met. She has worked with some of the world’s greatest filmmakers, dazzling both screen and stage with her incandescent performance. He is a bold, visionary creator, who made two short films before receiving the New Voice Prize at Un Certain Regard in 2023 for his acclaimed debut feature Omen.
An obvious pairing as both are free spirits with no limits, who rely on their art to achieve creative freedom. Through her impressive filmography and her humanitarian commitment, Emmanuelle Béart is forever supporting a filmmaking to be shared, to emancipate, transcend borders and help us live together. Baloji, in his first feature film with impressive aesthetic mastery, delivers a chronicle that transcends otherness through the prism of magical realism.
Delighted to be paired at the head of the Caméra d’or Jury, Baloji and Emmanuelle Béart will combine their voices to welcome the first features of filmmakers who look at the world with inspiration, tell us about it with emotion and invite us to discuss it with the conviction of beginnings. “Being a self-taught filmmaker and a filmmaker from the Congolese diaspora,” confides Baloji, “it’s a great honour to be able to witness the vitality of first-time directors, to discover their strong singularities and their inaugural work, which will have a lasting impact on the identity of their filmography.” Emmanuelle Béart declares: “A first film is about the impossibility of doing anything other than delving into the depths of one’s being to find out what we can’t keep quiet about. A deeply moving and terribly free birth: no one is waiting for you yet. We will honor our duty with wonder and respect.”
The Caméra d’or Jury has been co-chaired three times before: by actress Françoise Fabian and director Daniel Schmid in 1996, by Marthe Keller and Géraldine Chaplin in 2002, and by brothers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne in 2006.
In 2023, the Caméra d’Or was awarded to Pham Thien An for Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell by the Jury presided over by French actress Anaïs Demoustier
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