12:25 pm - 02/20/2012 Michael Jackson estate considering ‘Bad 25′ and brand new album in 2012

Weitzman says that in addition to the Cirque show, the Michael Jackson estate is contemplating several other projects. The 25th anniversary of the Bad album in 2012 may be commemorated with a special package similar to 2008′s Thriller 25, while another set of unreleased material to follow 2010′s Michael collection is also being considered. “It’s a pretty vibrant estate in the sense that it continues to generate not just catalog opportunities but plenty of other ideas,” Weitzman says.

As for the tribute concert, which is slated to feature performances by the Black Eyed Peas, Christina Aguilera, Leona Lewis, Ne-Yo and Cee Lo Green, Weitzman says the estate is “kind of watching it like everybody else. They’ve never really had any discussions with us, so we’re just watching it all go by.”

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Michael Jackson Sells Over 1 Billion Albums Worldwide

He’s breaking records even from the grave.

Yes, despite passing away now three years ago, Pop deity Michael Jackson is continuing to extend his lead as the most groundbreaking creative act of all time.

For, as of this year, he has has exceeded worldwide sales of 1 billion copies.

According to the Michael Jackson Estate, the icon- who scored a whopping 13 #1 singles and 17 Grammys- to name just two of his achievements- has shifted over 1 billion albums across the globe since his solo debut in 1972.

Calculated by combining the sales sales of the icon’s oft celebrated back catalog of music, the news is expected to be confirmed by Sony Music in coming weeks following Jackson’s immortalization at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on January 26th, in celebration of his impact on Pop culture.
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Queen set to release Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson duets in 2012

Queen are set to release a series of duets that their former frontman Freddie Mercury recorded with Michael Jackson next year.

Katy Perry matches Michael Jackson record

Katy Perry becomes the first woman, and second artist overall following Michael Jackson, in the 53-year history of the Billboard Hot 100 to send five songs from an album to No. 1, as "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" becomes the fifth chart leader from her Capitol Records set "Teenage Dream."

Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green Set to Perform at Michael Jackson Tribute Concert

Finally! It's been about two weeks since it was first announced that a Michael Jackson tribute concert was in store for the people of Cardiff, Wales, but we hadn't heard who would be performing.

Until now, that is. E! News confirms that The Voice stars Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green will be participating in this sure-to-be memorable event along with a couple of others...

Although it'd be super cute if Blake Shelton and Adam Levine also joined in so we'd have the whole NBC series involved, they're not—at least not yet anyway.

Two other artists that will be taking part in Michael Forever—The Tribute Concert on Oct. 8 are Leona Lewis and the band Alien Ant Farm (might sound odd at first, but remember, they did a cover of "Smooth Criminal").

No other announcements have been made, but what do you think so far? Who else would you want to see or expect to participate?

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Katy Perry Sets Mainstream Top 40 Record With Fifth No. 1 Single from 'Teenage Dream'

Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" becomes the first album in the almost 19-year history of Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart to generate five No. 1s, as "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" ascends 2-1.

New Nadine Coyle interview

The greatest part about the rapidly globalizing state of the music industry is that, thanks to the the Internet, music lovers worldwide have the ability to indulge in popular music from far-off territories while developing a strong kinship with fellow fans. The downfall, of course, is that no one else around you knows who the fuck you’re talking about.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you haven’t already: Meet Nadine Coyle.

Wembley's Greatest Event - which artist won the title?

New Music: Michael Jackson & Barry Gibb - "All In Your Name"

Michael Jackson's brothers talk reunion tour

Michael Jackson's brothers are working on a reunion tour to perform their old Jackson 5 songs, Jermaine Jackson said Monday.


"Michael would want us to continue on," Jackson said, after he unveiled an exhibit of his brother's wax statues at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood.

Michael Jackson and Freddie Mecury top NME's Greatest Singers poll

1. Michael Jackson (9.02)
2. Freddie Mercury (8.39)
3. Elvis Presley (7.17)
4. Axl Rose (6.47)
5. John Lennon
6. David Bowie
7. Robert Plant
8. Paul McCartney
9. Stevie Wonder
10. Aretha Franklin
11. Matt Bellamy
12. Ray Charles
13. Jim Morrison
14. Bob Marley
15. Elton John
16. Kurt Cobain
17. Steven Tyler
18. Mick Jagger
19. Marvin Gaye
20. Tina Turner

Katy Perry Nears Michael Jackson No. 1s Record

To say that Katy Perry has been on a roll lately would be a grand understatement. But now, the star is nearing a feat only previously achieved by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

On the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, Perry's latest single from her "Teenage Dream" album, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," flies 31-4. As Gary Trust notes in today's Chart Beat column, if it hits No. 1 on the Hot 100, Perry will become just the second act -- and first woman -- to score five No. 1s from one album in the chart' 52-year history, as "California Gurls," the title cut, "Firework" and "E.T." all previously reigned.

Only Michael Jackson, with his 1987 set "Bad," has so far collected five Hot 100 No. 1s from one album release. "Bad" spawned the No. 1s "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," the title track, "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man in the Mirror" and "Dirty Diana."

Check Billboard.com next Wednesday (June 29) for highlights of next week's Hot 100, to be released in full in the Billboard.com charts menu the following day.

In other impressive and unprecedented Perry chart news, she was already the only artist with four 4-million-selling downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan. As of this week, Perry pulls further ahead of the pack as the only artist with a whopping five.

"E.T.," which topped the Hot 100 for five weeks beginning April 9, surpasses the 4-million mark in download sales, according to SoundScan (4.06 million). Perry is now the only act to have five songs sell more than 4-million each. (Lady Gaga is next with three 4-million-sellers).

She previously hit the 4-million mark with "Hot N Cold" (4.91 million), "Firework" (4.53 million), "I Kissed a Girl" (4.07 million) and "California Gurls" (4.88 million).

More evidence of Perry's power? Adding to the pileup of her staggering sales and chart statistics, "E.T." became the top-selling download of 2011 as of the week ending May 1, when it overtook Cee Lo Green's "Forget You (F**k You)."


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Michael Jackson's "Thriller"started out as a very different song called "Starlight"

The title track on Michael Jackson’s hit album “Thriller” began life as a very different song - called “Starlight.” Jackson and producer Quincy Jones intended for the song to be part of a larger concept album about Jackson’s musical maturity. Ethnomusicologist and Soundcheck contributing producer Patrick Rivers joins up with Bruce Swedien, the recording engineer behind the “Thriller” sessions, to talk about the evolution of “Starlight.”

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Music Video: Jackson Family - "Behind the Mask"

T-Pain Vows To Never Use Auto-Tune Again

Producer/rapper T-Pain has vowed to never use the Auto-Tune effect again, quite possibly ending a long-running trend in R&B and Hip-Hop music.

In an exclusive statement issued to AllHipHop.com today (June 2nd), T-Pain vowed to ditch the Auto-Tune technology for his own new, vocal processor.

"I vow right here, right now, to never use Auto-Tune again," T-Pain told AllHipHop.com in an exclusive statement. "I'm onto something that I think is bigger and better called 'The T-Pain Effect.'"

Paul McCartney, Janet Jackson, Dolly Parton heading to Australia

SIR Paul McCartney leads an invasion of classic rockers planning to visit this summer.

Former Beatle McCartney, 68, has been in talks with two Australian promoters.

Janet Jackson tour to be extended through the fall

Janet Jackson is currently on her sold-out “Number Ones” tour and, while the original plan was to only perform 35 dates, she’s planning on extending the tour through the fall.

“Number Ones: Up Close & Personal Tour,” Jackson’s largest ever world tour, has already seen her perform in Asia and North America. Jackson announced Monday that the tour is being expanded to even more cities worldwide.

Jackson was originally set to hit 35 cities in celebration of her 35 #1 hits, as compiled in her recent “Number Ones” release, but has since had to add more dates to fulfill demand. Some shows sold out as quickly as 10 minutes after tickets went on sale.

Jackson is finishing up her first North American leg of the tour and is still set to perform dates across Europe over the spring and summer, including stops in London, Paris and Monte Carlo. Another North American leg is set for the fall.

“When creating music or a tour, I draw from what is going on in my life and hope that the fans relate to it,” Jackson said. “I am excited to know that the fans are having a great time at my shows and are asking for more. Thanks for all the love and your input on where I should take the show next. I’ll see you soon!”

The additional cities and dates on Jackson’s tour have yet to be announced.

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Beyonce’s new single to be released in April?

One of the Beyonce World visitors had a chance to talk with music producer Robert ‘Shea’ Taylor, who previously worked with Beyonce during B’Day. Apparently he also signed up for Beyonce’s upcoming album and he had a few interesting things to share:

* Her music is pop with a little bit of rnb, but more “musical”.

* It has an 80s feel to it but made modern.

* It’s like michael jacksons music during his prime (thats what the album is gonna be like).

* She has a song with Kanye West that’s suppose to be Amazing.

* Her first single is huge and will premiere at the end of April.

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Janet Jackson Thrills at ‘Number Ones’ Tour Opener in Manila

Janet Jackson kicked off her “Number Ones: Up Close and Personal” world tour before a sold-out crowd in Manila, Philippines, on Friday (Feb. 4). The pop icon, who last toured in 2008, delighted fans at Philippine International Convention Center with familiar fare off her greatest hits compilation Number Ones.

Opening with a medley of “Pleasure Principle,” “Control,” “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” and “Feedback,” a short-haired Miss Jackson rocked the stage in a futuristic, body-hugging outfit that accentuated her curves. She later emerged in a stunning pink gown with diamond-spiked shoulders to perform “Let’s Wait Awhile” and “Again,” closing the show with “Make Me” and “Together Again.”

As part of the 35-city global trek, the 44-year-old superstar will travel across Asia before heading to the U.S. in March and Europe in June.

Watch some fan-filmed footage from opening night below.

Janet Jackson's "Number Ones" tour adds more dates in sold-out cities

Janet Jackson is getting ready to kick-off her “Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour” and it’s only appropriate that she’s become the #1 hottest-selling ticket of the year.
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Apparently lots of fans want to get “Up Close and Personal” with Miss Janet (though when she’s performing in 10,000-seat venues, I have to wonder how up close and personal you could possibly get). Jackson has just had to add a third date in Los Angeles.

Tickets to the original April 14th date at Gibson Amphitheatre sold out in less than 10 minutes. A newly added date on April 15th sold out quickly as well. An additional date on Saturday, April 16th has been added as well.

This comes on the heels of Janet already having to add additional dates in Chicago, Toronto, New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco after those tickets sold out, with multiple nights already sold out across the country.

Her website sold out 96% of presale tickets in the first day of on-sales, while her date at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara now ranks as one of the fastest sold out shows in the 25-year history that the Santa Barbara Bowl has been open.

It was probably smart of Janet to have her fans vote for the cities where she’s performing. In celebration of her 35 #1 hits, the fans chose the 35 cities in which Janet would be performing, which has also included overseas dates in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Manila. In turn, Jackson will dedicate a song to the fans in each of the cities.

Janet is promising to perform all 35 of her #1 hits, including “If,” “Miss You Much,” “Go Deep,” “Feedback,” and more when she hits the stage later this year. “These concerts will be different from anything I have ever done. I will be as up close and personal as possible," Jackson said about the upcoming tour.

"These concerts are not about special effects,” she continued. “This is a love affair between me and those of you who have supported me and my work for all these years. I'll be singing and dancing from my heart. The music will all be songs that you've made number ones for me. Let's go!” Go on, Miss Janet.

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