Michael Jackson On Track For More Chart Records
After a record-breaking chart week, the late Michael Jackson will shake up next week's charts, too. According to SoundScan's Building Chart data, more than 110,000 Jackson albums were purchased during the first two days of the new tracking week (June 29-30). "Thriller" was Jackson's top seller in those two days, shifting 44,000 copies, while "The Essential Michael Jackson" and "Number Ones" were his second- and third-best sellers. With those kinds of preliminary numbers already racked up,...

Michael Jackson - Jackson Doctor Wont Attend Memorial
Michael Jackson's personal physician has chosen not to attend the singer's memorial service next week (07Jul09) - because he fears his presence will be too much for grieving...

Michael Jackson - Jackson Doctor Wont Attend Memorial
Michael Jackson's personal physician has chosen not to attend the singer's memorial service next week (07Jul09) - because he fears his presence will be too much for grieving fans and family members. Dr. Conrad Murray was by Jackson's bedside when the King of Pop died on 25 June (09); he conducted CPR on the singer after finding him unconscious at his rented home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. Police have questioned Murray about his treatment of Jackson. The doctor has decided not to be a part of...

Los Angeles Officials Brace For Michael Jackson Memorial
Los Angeles city officials are planning a massive security operation for Michael Jackson's public memorial service next week, and on Friday urged fans who do not win a ticket in a random drawing to stay away from the basketball arena where the singer will be memorialized. Organizers have set aside a total of 17,500 tickets through an Internet-based lottery for the televised service at the Staples Center, and for a closed-circuit screening at the nearby Nokia Theater. Within minutes of the...

Michael Jackson Was Working On Two Albums
At the time of Michael Jackson's death last week, it was well-known that he was preparing for a 50-show concert series at London's O2 Arena later this month. What was less well-known -- and what many are now speculating about -- was what kind of recordings Jackson had done for the last few years. Billboard has learned that the singer was working on two albums at the time of his death: one in the pop vein that made him famous and another that would consist of an instrumental classical...

Michael Jackson - Jackson Memorials Planned All Over America
Tuesday's (07Jul09) Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles will be one of many taking place around America next week, according to the King of Pop's brother Jermaine Jackson. Jackson has revealed there will be a private funeral ceremony for family and "special guests" early on Tuesday, before the public memorial, which will feature eulogies, tributes and all-star performances. Reports suggest the late pop star will be buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood before...

Madonna Plans Michael Jackson Tribute
LOS ANGELES — Madonna is paying tribute to Michael Jackson in the same arena where he was to stage his great comeback. The superstar is preparing a special part of her concert Saturday at O2 arena. Madonna publicist Liz Rosenberg says she is going to unveil a special choreographed dance in honor of Jackson. Michael Jackson was to perform his comeback concerts at O2 starting July 13. He died last week at 50. He had been rehearsing for those shows in his final days.

Los Angeles officials brace for Jackson memorial
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles city officials are planning a massive security operation for Michael Jackson's public memorial service next week, and on Friday urged fans who do not win a ticket in a random drawing to stay away from the basketball arena where the singer will be memorialized. Organizers have set aside a total of 17,500 tickets through an Internet-based lottery for the televised service at the Staples Center, and for a closed-circuit screening at the nearby Nokia Theater....

The Game talks about Michael Jackson tribute
Many fans will always remember where they were when they heard the "King of Pop" had died. The rapper The Game will always remember what he did afterward.

Michael Jackson's music had impact around the globe
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Michael Jackson went from being Gary, Ind.'s most talented kid to one of the most recognizable human beings on the planet. While his worldwide album sales were astounding, that wasn't the sole reason for his fame. His ascendancy went far beyond the cash register -- he inspired dance moves, dictated fashion trends and raised awareness for social causes around the globe. Following is a roundup of international reaction to the pop star's death and recollections of him. BRAZIL...

Michael Jackson's Music Had Impact Around The Globe
Michael Jackson went from being Gary, Ind.'s most talented kid to one of the most recognizable human beings on the planet. While his worldwide album sales were astounding, that wasn't the sole reason for his fame. His ascendancy went far beyond the cash register -- he inspired dance moves, dictated fashion trends and raised awareness for social causes around the globe. Following is a roundup of international reaction to the pop star's death and recollections of him. BRAZIL Less than a day after...

Michael Jackson - Jacksons This Is It Costumers To Design Burial Suit
Michael Jackson's longtime costumers, DENNIS TOMPKINS and Michael BUSH, will design the suit the King of Pop will be buried in. The Los Angeles-based designers, who have worked with Jackson for the last 20 years, had been creating costumes for the late pop star's This Is It comeback concerts in London. A private family funeral will be held on Tuesday morning (07Jul09) in Los Angeles before a public memorial at the Staples Center. Reports suggest Jackson will be laid to rest in a replica of...

Michael Jackson Thrill the World, Fantastic Fest 2008
Photo documentation of drunk Austinites singing and dancing along to Michael Jackson videos at Fantastic Fest.

Fans Overlook Michael Jackson's Dark Side
Just as people choose to forget that Elvis Presley was a bloated drug addict when he died, so Michael Jackson is now the subject of posthumous veneration that overlooks the dark side of his life. Jackson's career was all but comatose four years ago when he stood trial for child molestation in California. Despite lurid testimony from a 13-year-old boy who said that Jackson conducted sexual acts with him, a jury decided he was not guilty. But damage had been done. "It was all over after the...

Michael Jackson - Jacksons Insurance Policy Included Drug Overdose
The concert promoters behind Michael Jackson's comeback tour will receive a multi-million dollar payout from the show's insurers if reports linking the superstar's passing to drugs are correct - because their policy covers death by overdose. AEG Live bosses took out a $17.5 million (

Michael Jackson's will leaves everything to family
Michael Jackson's seven-year-old will published today gives his entire estate to a family trust but cuts out his former wife Debbie Rowe.

Powerful sedative found in Michael Jackson's home
Diprivan is an anesthetic widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. Also known as Propofol, it's given intravenously and is very unusual to have in a private home. The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the matter. A Los Angeles Police spokesman, Lt. John Romero, declined to discuss the case. "It's an ongoing investigation," he said. The cause of Jackson's death has not been determined. Autopsy results...

PETA Seeks Rights To Michael Jackson's “Ben” To Raise Awareness About Rats
Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has asked for the rights of Michael Jackson's 1972 hit Ben to use as part of a

SNAFU-ed .... Situation Normal: Police Find Diprivan in Jackson's Home
The powerful sedative Diprivan, which we wrote about earlier in connection with Michael Jackson, has been found in the late singer's home, a law enforcement official said Friday. Read full story from snafu-ed.blogspot.com

Jackson Fans Swarm Memorial Ticket Giveaway Website
More than 120,000 Michael Jackson fans-per-second visited the website of Los Angeles' Staples Center for the first 90 minutes of Friday's (03Jul09) memorial ticket giveaway. Devotees were told they could register for free tickets for next week's (07Jul09) tribute via the site at a press conference on Friday morning, and the fans weren't hanging around - 90 minutes after the tickets became available over 500 million people had visited the site, which briefly crashed a couple of times. An...

'Endless' supply of music in Jackson's vaults
Michael Jackson had a mountain of unreleased recordings in the vault when he died _ music that is almost certain to be packaged and repackaged for his fans in the years to come. The material includes unused tracks from studio sessions of some of Jackson's best albums, as well as more recently recorded songs made with Senegalese R&B singer and producer Akon and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am. "There are dozens and dozens of songs that did not end up on his albums," said Tommy Mottola, who...

StaplesCenter.com Jackson Funeral Tickets
The link to register for free Staples Center memorial Michael Jackson tickets has just gone live. (I updated the previous post on this, but wanted make it all a little clearer for those looking to attend). The link has just been released for those who would like to register to attend and pay their respects. StaplesCenter.com/Memorial will have the Staples Center Memorial Michael Jackson Tickets. The StaplesCenter.com registration is open immediately. “The Michael Jackson Public Memorial...

Jackson's Former Doc - Reprimanded Over Rx
A doctor who has treated Michael Jackson , went on tour with Jackson and even videotaped Jackson's wedding to Debbie Rowe, was reprimanded by the Medical Board of California for writing fraudulent prescriptions for Michael's sister, Janet. Dr. Allan Metzger received a public letter of reprimand from the Medical Board in September, 2000. The letter states, "You engaged in fraudulent medical practice based on prescriptions written for an international entertainer, using a false/fictitious name."...

Corey Feldman - Feldman Regrets Not Making Amends With Jackson
LOST BOYS star Corey Feldman regrets not making amends with his old pal Michael Jackson before the King of Pop's death last week (25Jun09). The former child star was one of the pop star's closest pals 10 years ago, but the pair had a public falling out in 2001 and Feldman further distanced himself from Jackson during his child molestation trial in 2005, when he suggested his relationship with the singer may have been inappropriate. Now, a week after Jackson's death, Feldman admits he wishes he...

Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson to Team up For Quincy Jones Tribute
Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson are reportedly set to record a song together for a Quincy Jones tribute album. The duo fell out when recording sessions for a proposed James Bond theme went sour - which resulted in Jack White and Alicia Keys providing the opening music to Quantum of Solace. But the pair have since settled their differences and are planning to record a track for a tribute album to Michael Jackson producer Quincy Jones. Speaking about the Quincy Jones project, an unnamed source told Britain's