Is There Any Honor in Posthumous Releases?

Will.i.am doesn't believe there's any honor in releasing material of Michael's unfinished work, according to his statement posted on TMZ.com. Is Will.i.am right? This happens to everyone in the industry. It was done to Elvis, Elliot Smith, 2pac, Biggie, it's just part of the business. But is it part of honoring the artist or just giving the masses something to consume. Are we just satiating the need we've acquired for Michael Jackson? Of course many fans and not-so-much fans are interested in hearing the "new" material that Sony and Michael's estate will be releasing over the NEXT TEN YEARS, but again, are we doing this out of greed and self-satisfaction? Didn't we love him till we hated him and loved him again and hated him again and back full circle all over again? Well, now what are we doing? Is it guilt that will buy these posthumous releases, ill-will to perhaps laugh at what's on the disc, or do we really care and feel this is the least we could do?

What are we really doing when we buy this next album? In truth we're supporting Michael's children. Michael's debts have long been paid off since the surplus of funds following his unexpected, premature death in June 2009. So, we're not paying off his debt that he acquired while being slave to the industry and the public. We're not bringing him back from the crypt, or giving anything to Joe Jackson (which I would certainly avoid doing at any cost). So, is there any honor in this? "This Is It," the documentary/musical, that was an attempt to honor Michael. The Cirque du Soleil tours are an attempt to honor him also. These albums, depending on the content, likely serve no purpose, serve to honor nothing at all. Unless the content reveals something new to us, something unheard of from Michael, or previously unspoken of by Michael, then we gain no new insight or knowledge of him and draw no closer to him in death than in life. By this measure I do not suppose there could be any honor at all in these upcoming releases.

Will I buy the new albums? Yes, because I don't suppose I could help myself and I genuinely love the idea of hearing his voice in new phrases and form.