Archive for June, 2009

Michael Jackson’s Posthumous Sales Surge

Singer currently holds eight of top 10 slots on iTunes singles chart.By Gil Kaufman Michael Jackson’s <i>Thriller</i> Photo: Anthony Verde/ Time Life Pictures/ Getty Images From Cairo to Compton, Harlem to Hanoi, last week, fans of the King of Pop were celebrating the life of Michael Jackson by listening and dancing to the iconic singer’s [...]

Drake Signs With Lil Wayne’s Young Money Label

‘It’s just a great day,’ Drake says of deal; his material will be distributed by Universal Republic.By Shaheem Reid Drake Photo: Young Money Mixtapes are a movement. For some, giving away music could mean much more than trying to sell their tunes — but Drake played the game right. He started giving away his mixtape [...]

Michael Jackson’s Last Tour Rehearsals Filmed For Possible Release

Show included floating orbs, aerial dancers.By Gil Kaufman Michael Jackson at rehearsals for his “This Is It” tour Photo: John Shearer/AEG/Concerts West via WireImages Following Michael Jackson’s death on Thursday, 750,000 people who bought tickets to see him perform at the O2 in London will never get the chance to experience the stunning visual and [...]

Michael Jackson’s Family Still Considering Funeral Plans

Father Joe Jackson calls press conference to announce record label; says Michael will not be buried at Neverland.By Gil Kaufman Rev. Al Sharpton and Joe Jackson on Monday Photo: Charles Dharapak/AP Photo Reporters gathered outside the Jackson family compound in Encino, California, on Monday morning for a press conference from Michael Jackson‘s father, Joseph, during [...]

What Would Michael Jackson’s Next Album Have Sounded Like?

He recorded with Akon and Will.I.Am, and had talked to T-Pain, Kanye and even 50 about collaborations.By Shaheem Reid Photo: Sam Yeh/Getty Images If the rumors that Michael Jackson has at least a couple of hundred unreleased songs in his vault are true, then not only will the King of Pop live on forever in [...]

Michael Jackson’s Mother Gets Temporary Guardianship Of Kids

Katherine Jackson appointed legal guardian of Prince, Paris and Prince Michael II.By Gil Kaufman Katherine Jackson and son Michael Jackson in 2005 Photo: Matthew Simmons/ WireImage Among the many unresolved issues that have emerged since Michael Jackson’s death on Thursday is what will become of his three children, Prince, 12; Paris, 11; and Prince Michael [...]

Beyonce, Robin Thicke Cover Michael Jackson Songs In Concert

‘American Idol’ vet David Archuleta also paid tribute to MJ at show.By Jocelyn Vena Robin Thicke Photo: Epiphany Media Not long after news of Michael Jackson’s death broke last Thursday, various superstars honored the late pop icon in their shows. Beyoncé paid tribute to Jackson at a tour stop at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, [...]

Wyclef Jean, Ciara, Others Share Michael Jackson Memories At BET Awards

‘I lost my voice completely,’ Wyclef admits of his encounter with Jackson.By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Jayson Rodriguez Ciara Photo: Jason LaVeris/ FilmMagic Onstage, on the red carpet and backstage during Sunday night’s Michael Jackson-dedicated BET Awards, artists young and old — from elder statesmen the O’Jays to 23-year-old Ciara — shared their personal [...]

Janet Jackson Pays Tribute To Brother Michael At BET Awards

‘To you, Michael is an icon; to us, Michael is family,’ Janet says before Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx perform ‘I’ll Be There.’By Shaheem Reid and Jem Aswad Janet Jackson at the BET Awards Sunday Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images On Sunday night at the end of the BET Awards, Janet Jackson spoke publicly for the first [...]

Michael Jackson Honored In Time Commemorative Issue

Donald Trump, Deepak Chopra, Ice-T and others remember Jackson in magazine’s special issue.By Jocelyn Vena Michael Jackson on the July 2009 cover of <i>Time</i> Photo: Time Before this week, Time hadn’t published a special commemorative issue (between regular issues) since right after September 11, 2001. So, what led the magazine to decide that Michael Jackson’s [...]