The clamor for Michael Jackson original CDs is en route toward public outcry. Consumers who have set out to get a hold of the King of Pop’s catalogue from one record bar to another came out empty handed over the weekend.

Sony Music Philippines confirmed with the Manila Bulletin that the demand has overthrown the supply mere hours since news of MJ’s passing sent the world to a halt on June 26, Manila time.

“We are rushing the production of the Michael Jackson catalogue,” representatives from Sony Music disclosed to the Bulletin. “There was a mad rush of people buying Michael Jackson CDs and video products [because] people wanted to commemorate his musical genius,” said Sony’s Chito Confiado in a statement sent exclusively to the Bulletin.

Five of Jackson’s solo albums (“Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous,” and “HIStory”) are with Epic Records, a Sony Music label.

People started calling the attention of this newspaper section when supplies of MJ CDs emptied record stands hours after Jackson’s demise. Most Pinoys resorted to pirated CDs. Vendors of illegally replicated MJ albums said that CDs and videos of the King of Pop have out-sold the series of Hayden Kho sex videos lately.

Sony representatives found it “sad that people are taking advantage of the situation.”

Meanwhile, the record label’s international arm issued a statement mourning the death of this generation’s icon.

Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said, “Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him.”

We are not alone

In a rare moment, newspaper all over the world in all known languages carried out one headline following the day. The fact that Jackson’s (1958-2009) larger-than-life existence was reduced to dash in tribute features and TV specials also sent the public into a buying frenzy.

All of a sudden, the world resorted to panic-buying. CDs, videos and other MJ merchandise vanished faster than a two-meter Moonwalk. It happened everywhere, not just in the Philippines.

The special commemorative issue of Time Magazine on Michael Jackson, which just hit the stands two days ago, reported, “Amazon’s massive warehouse ran out of Jackson CDs minutes after his death was reported, as sales hit 700 times the previous day’s volume. His music accounted for all 10 best-selling albums on Amazon the next day.”

Time also stressed that, “The number of Jackson items sold on the online auction site Ebay doubled following his death with the average price jumping by nearly a third.”

Jackson’s rehearsal on DVD; Albums repackaged

As expected, more MJ merchandises are expected to hit the shelves sooner than expected.

In Ireland, there were unconfirmed reports that a DVD of the artist’s rehearsals will be released for public purchase. The supposed video will contain what is considered now as MJ’s final performance while rehearsing in Los Angeles for the late icon’s 50-concert series in London.

Locally, MCA Music has joined the mad dash for Jackson materials. The record label will be releasing the Moonwalker’s earliest CDs when he was still part of the Jackson 5 in a remastered catalogue of the artist’s Motown days.

The three-CD “Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5 – The Motown Years” features 50 songs popularized by Michael, including most of those he did with the rest of his brothers in the Hall of Famer Jackson 5 (Marlon, Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine). One CD comprises of numbers he released as a solo act, right before he hits a higher note as a grown-up Michael about to unleash his moonwalking brilliance, the years leading to his “Off The Wall” release that presented him in a more stunning look.

The first two CDs contain the classics from the Jackson 5 including “I’ll Be There,” “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” “ABC,” and “I Want You Back.” The third one boasts of the high-pitched young Michael singing “Ben,” “Music And Me” and “Got To Be There.”

In 1966, Jackson 5 won a talent show singing Motown hits. Two years later they were signed up by Motown Records, with Rolling Stone magazine calling Michael a prodigy. The first four singles became number one on Billboard Top 100. Then four years after, Michael released his first solo album, “Got To Be There.”