L.A. Reid Confirms Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber Collaboration

L.A. Reid has confirmed a Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson collaboration.

The 58-year-old producer behind Michael Jackson's posthumous album Xscape is planning something "really special" involving vocals from the late King of Pop and the 20-year-old singer.

Justin was originally supposed to feature on the track "Slave 2 The Rhythm" as part of Michael's latest offering until it was inadvertently leaked, causing the collaboration to be dropped from Xscape. "'Slave 2 The Rhythm' didn't include him [Justin] per my direction. That was something that was done separate and apart from me and it was leaked. If it hadn't been leaked it would have been featured but it sort of took the wrong turn. But you know what, we are going to revisit that and do something really special with Justin and Michael. I'm pretty sure," L.A. told Access Hollywood.

Click to continue reading L.A. Reid Confirms Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber Collaboration

Gallery: L.A. Reid Confirms Michael Jackson and Justin Bieber Collaboration

Avril Lavigne Album Almost Ready

Avril Lavigne is putting the finishing touches to her new album.

The "Complicated" singer has been working with Nickelback's Chad Kroeger - now her fiance - on her fifth album, and is currently at the stage of mixing the tracks. "We're in the mixing process now and I expect to release it very soon. I'd like to get it out this year, but time seems to be flying. If we don't, it will be [beginning] of the new year. She worked with Chad Kroeger and they did a really good record," L.A. Reid, boss of Avril's label, Epic Records, told Billboard.

Avril, 27, and Chad, 37, met when they started working on her album together and dated for six months before getting engaged. Chad has said he feels like the "luckiest person alive" to be with Avril, and admitted he knew their working partnership was turning into something else: "I knew I was falling for her. It was incredibly powerful and something I'll never forget. I feel like the luckiest person alive because I get to be with my best friend every day."

Click to continue reading Avril Lavigne Album Almost Ready

Gallery: Avril Lavigne Album Almost Ready

Avril Lavigne Grateful For Freedom

Avril Lavigne is grateful for the freedom she was given by L.A. Reid. The "What the Hell" hitmaker was given her first record contract by the American Idol judge when he worked for Arista and she is pleased he allowed her to write her own material.

"L.A. Reid is the man. My experience was he signed me, he believed in me, he got me. He always gave me my freedom to be who I was, to make the type of record I wanted to. On my first album, I was so young - I was 16 when I was making it. Everyone figured that people would write songs for me, and I was like, 'No, I want to write my own music.' It was so different from anything that was out there. L.A. was like, 'She's onto something. Just let her do her thing.' So it was great."

Avril admits she found it difficult working away from the music boss and feels "re-inspired" after signing a deal with Epic Records, the label now headed up L.A.. She added in an interview with WWD, "Later on down the road we got separated when he moved to another record company, and other people came in and took over. It was difficult for me, especially on my last record, working with all these random people that really didn't even understand me at the record company. And now I get to be back with him, and it's exciting again. I'm totally re-inspired. When you're writing and creating, you can't have these businesspeople come in and try to be all business. [L.A.] finds a balance between business and creative, and he's really good at not making it weird or interfering in the creative process."

Gallery: Avril Lavigne Grateful For Freedom