wayneashleymusic

Now that we're in the midst of such a crazy, EPIC week, I doubt that a new a album would drop any time before the Fall. This short summer Tour seems to be prep for the next phase of projects, and an opportunity for Janet and her crew to fine tune before they go international. So new music late this year or early next year, and a new world tour to support seems to make the most sense.

It should be in stores this weekend, but if all else fails, you can order them on billboard.com.

FYI in conjunction with the interview and magazine SLAYAGE, Billboard also published a confirmation article for Ms. Jackson's stats. They left out a few major things, but it is enough... https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8456431/janet-jackson-billboard-hot-100-200-chart-accomplishments

So does anyone have receipts? Is this her first official press interview since 2012? 2013? I'm trying to remember the last one.

The only reason I'm thinking Dammn Baby is because of the dancers. Keep in mind that Janet isn't just doing this for her... she's doing it for them too. Dammn Baby is THEIR choreo, the stuff they created that doesn't exist in any other Janet era. For that reason alone I see it as a possibility for the performance. But of course new tracks would be the same and would be awesome as well. Honestly tho, I am seriously so pumped for this performance. We all have our issues with Billboard and their failing memories of the charts, but one thing they have done well recently is this awards show. The love and respect they showed for Cher last year was epic, and classy adverts even before Janet's big night have me sold on the BBMAs. Really looking forward to it.

Surrounded (hopefully) by family, friends and her J-Tribe and seeing tons of well wishes from the #JanFam, I hope she's having a wonderful birthday.

I mean, she's showing arms, looking ridiculously radiant, smiling. Like I'm legit worried about the SLAYAGE from this TV performance!!!

AWW Lil E is so precious, and getting big too!! I'm feelin' this curly hair as well.

Just wanted to put this out to the supportive fan community... Is anyone out there an experienced Wikipedia editor? It would be great to do a little clean-up on Janet's Singles and Albums Charts. I try but I'm not the best and get dinged a lot for me edits. One major thing would be to update and expand her chart records to include the US R&B chart positions (for all decades, they're only listed for the 80s right now) AND add in the US Dance Club Songs Charts. She has 19 number ones on the Dance Club Songs chart, but none of them are reflected on the Wiki Discography page. It would be Epic to also list the UK R&B Singles charts (she has 4 number ones there I believe) and try to get some charts for countries like South Africa and Japan. As we all know, Wikipedia is a rather Anglo/Euro-Centric tool so people often forget about listing charts from other countries. Is anyone a fast editor that could possibly do this? Would be so cool to have it updated by the 16th, but I'm just not fast enough. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Jackson_discography

My response to all of the haterade from Madonna stans. We've already won this round, so there's just no need. The Queen of Rhythm Nation shall not be challenged.

Not really doing anything?? Uhh, how about her sticking around and continuing to inspire fans across the globe?? An award for the trails she blazed for COUNTLESS artists to follow whether they be people like myself, or the big names of today? That's worth awarding in my book!!

Yes any of the "faithful" Janet supporters would be great. Thankfully among the entertainment industry, there are many. Or another legendary member of her family. I also wouldn't hate to see a member of the Dance community (on the order of Tyce Diorio, Jenna Dewan, etc.) because that would be an important representation of Janet's contributions to the field.

Amazing that this is how I felt about the State of The World Tour. After having seen the Unbreakable Tour in 2015 (my first ever time to see her live), I was just confused that she chose to tour on what essentially seems like a album cut from nearly 30 year old Rhythm Nation. Then when Jimmy gave his interview to Kelly Alexander, and spilled some tea on the new tour, I was even more skeptical. If I remember correctly, he said something like this... "For people that saw the Unbreakable Tour, they'll enjoy all the new stuff from this tour. For those that missed Unbreakable, they're not going to feel like they're missing anything." I heard Jimmy Jam say this, and was like "Umm... that's not possible. How the heck can you promise people that SOTW is going to be all that and more. But as we all know, and what I for sure knew being part of that inaugural audience in Louisiana, I was FLOORED because Jimmy was freaking right. They changed it up, kept literally the best elements of Unbreakable, but remixed it to where it felt like a different freaking show. IMO a better show, and one, that if repeated, I'd be willing to see again with no changes. But we have to ask ourselves... why would she hold open call auditions for dancers if there aren't going to be any changes? Getting a new (I'm assuming expanded) crew of dancers together means that some new stuff is on the horizon. And it's likely to drop while Ms. Jackson is on tour. So for me, Lessons Learned. Janet is going to deliver some kind of twist on this tour. I'm quite confident that's it's worth paying for.

Definitely wouldn't have been solely because of Janet. But as the article mentions, they happened to have lined up several acts that already have full performance schedules for the summer. And just in case anyone else forgot... FYF is in LA. Who better to headline an LA festival than Janet Jackson? When was the last time a performance she gave in LA did NOT sell out??? A quick clue... it hasn't happened this decade. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/01/janet-jackson-sells-out-gibson-amphitheatre-in-less-than-10-minutes-additional-date-added.html

But anyway... SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS!!! The Q-U-E-E-N returns to television for an epic performance, just before her Summer Tour!!!! I am beyond excited for the show and for any other big announcements that may be coming (Europe tour, doc, new music, etc.). Whatever it is, I am READY!!

Throughout her career Madonna has always been hit or miss, but I've remained a fan because she knows how to keep the conversation going, and when the time for her to perform comes, she brings it (however you define what "it" is that she actually does). Ray Of Light and COADF stay in my collection.

BREAKING: SOTW Tour Back On this Summer Just in case anyone forgot. #SOTW2018

For me TVR was the bigger era, because it's when I first engaged with Janet's work personally. And the album just resonated so deeply with my circumstance as a closeted teenager. All For You era started incredibly big, but it was short-circuited due to just the 3 (4) singles being released. Had they continued even sending songs to radio, AFY could easily been the biggest and most memorable era of her career. IMO, I think among her albums, AFY stands out for having the most international appeal, and that would've been a good angle to have taken. Keep putting out singles and see which countries responded the best, then plan the tour with them in mind.

The performances are their own promotion. And Live Nation is doing it for her.

My guess on this tour? She's trying to build up some steam before the international leg (which should be obvious given the amount of festivals). It also gives her the opportunity to fill in some time gaps around her festival dates, and secure additional bag for her crew on this very tight summer tour. Two other guesses are 1) She wants some sell-outs and 2) She wants to really build up her younger audience. The festivals, a mid-summer tour... it's honestly a great promotion strategy before you drop new music. Lacking huge front end promo budgets from their record companies, this is how young artists build support for their albums and mixtapes today (ex. Logic). The amphitheaters should sell out rather quickly, and how awesome would a complete sell-out tour look before new music drops?? Just guesses, so we never know. But I can just about guarantee that the Texas show will sell out, b/c it's the only date she's playing here. People from Austin, Houston and Dallas will be fighting for those tickets, and the notion of Austin having a low-performer date will be erased.

Something like this gives the definite impression that the “really cool projects” are major-level stuff, on the order of new music and a new world tour. We fans know that anything major Janet does HAS to start with getting the dancers / #JTribe together. What i’m Really liking from this team so far is the coordination. They did. The teaser, and the announcement was right on time. We have dates for the live audition, and all the clips of dancers between now and then will keep people buzzing about Janet. Hopefully we’ll learn bigger details between now and May 16th.

Black Pigeon?? Lol “We All Need To SHADE Better ?? lol

Netflix doc? SOTW Tour DVD? Which PLEASE JANET!!! Any big project you put out on a streaming service, PLEASE make it available to DVD at some point!! Real fans like to own stuff!!!

And thus the confusion around what is considered a ballad vs. what is considered a mid-tempo... popular urban music today (Trap) is generally on the slow side, so we’re Livin’ In A World of slower tempos overall. But still, I would definitely consider After You Fall, Black Eagle and Lessons Learned to all be ballads, and in my opinion, songs that stand up with Janet’s best works. No Sleeep IMO is a quintessential mid-tempo, in the vain of Got Til It’s Gone, That’s The Way Love Goes or Unbreakable. I too have issues with Discipline as an album, particularly from the songwriting and vocal production standpoints. But among the the cuts on that album, Can’t B Good is the very best vocal she did there. I would be interested to see how we rank Janet’s best ballads.