Michael Jackson "This Is It" Soundtrack On Track For 300K First-Week Debut

he late Michael Jackson's This Is It soundtrack will reportedly dominate sales charts next week with nearly 300,000 projected copies in its first seven days.
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Along with Jackson, new releases from artists like Tech N9ne and Brian McKnight will reportedly chart.

The late superstar continues to bolster the record business, with the Epic release of the companion album to This Is It hitting retail to the tune of what looks now like around 300k in first-week sales. That would be more than enough for it to debut at #1. Soulbook, a collection of R&B standards featuring duets with Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson, is headed for between 80-85k. Tech N9ne (31-35k) and E1's Brian McKnight (18-22k) will also debut. (Hits Daily Double)

The album's lead single, "This Is It," landed online last week and is the first single from Jackson's This Is It film.

This is it, MJ fans -- the first posthumous single from the King of Pop, pegged to his upcoming two-disc CD and concert documentary of the 50-date London stand that he didn't live to complete. If you think the mid-tempo ballad, with its fingersnaps, soaring chorus and big-build strings, sounds like classic Michael, you'd actually be right -- the song supposedly comes from sessions for his 1991 album Dangerous. (Entertainment Weekly)

A portion of the track was found on another artist's album from 1991.

The co-author of that tune, "My Way" songwriter Paul Anka, threatened to sue Jackson's estate for proper credit and his share of royalties. The administrators of the estate quickly acknowledged Anka's claims and granted him 50% of the copyright. The song dates back to 1983, when it was known as "I Never Heard" -- a co-write between Jackson and Anka -- and intended for inclusion on an Anka album. But the pair fell out, Jackson took the master tapes and Anka got them back. The song was eventually released in 1991 after Anka placed it with a Latin singer named Sa-Fire. Both "I Never Heard" and "This Is It" share the same vocal and piano line, although the latter track boasts new overdubs from Jackson's brothers. (Billboard)

The co-writer also confirmed his role in creating the song, which has led to a 50 percent copyright.

"They realize it's a mistake, they realize it's my song, they realize it's my production of his vocal in my studio and I am getting 50 percent of the whole project, actually, which is fair," Anka said in a video. (TMZ)




BIRTHDAY GAL!!! LIL WAYNE'S BABY'S MAMA JUST TURNED 25 . . . AND Y'ALL AIN'T GONNA BELIEVE WHAT WEEZY GOT HER . . . HINT IT'S REAL SHINY . . . AND COSTS 250 THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!






Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" World Series performance will reportedly feature PG-friendly lyrics and take place tomorrow (October 29) evening from New York.
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Originally slated to hit the stage today, Hov and Keys will now treat fans to their set on Thursday.

The lyrics to Jay'z "Empire State of Mind" are sometimes as raw as New York, but it looks like the rapper will clean up that language when he performs his city anthem at the World Series. A source close to the rapper who requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak on the matter says Jay-Z won't utter curses or other raw language included in his hit, which has been blasted by the New York Yankees during their playoff run. Jay-Z and fellow New Yorker Alicia Keys were due to perform "Empire" before Game 1 between the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. But because of rainy weather, their performance will now be on Thursday. It's not clear if Game 1 will be postponed. (Associated Press)

A representative from concert promoter Live Nation also confirmed the duo being scheduled to perform tomorrow.

UPDATE: At 5:30 p.m. John Vlautin from Live Nation Worldwide, Inc., the company representing Jay-Z, told The Lantern that Jay-Z will be performing at the Schottenstein Center and that he will perform in New York on Thursday, depending on the weather. "He will be there in Columbus," Vlautin said. (Miss Info TV)

Initial confusion began to grow after it was learned that Hov was set for two events on the same day.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Jay-Z's Web site said that he will perform, as scheduled, at the World Series. The first pitch between the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies is scheduled for 7:57 p.m. According to the staff at the Schottenstein Center, Jay-Z is going to perform in Columbus and is skipping the World Series. (10 TV News)

Prior to Hov, an inside MLB source confirmed the set via Twitter last week.

"Just Confirmed: Jay Z and Alicia Keys will sing Empire State of Mind at Yankee Stadium for Game 1 of the World Series @burbetto @zeke_thomas," inside source Matt Strombelline reported on Friday (October 23). "@jayzfans Yea confirmed today. My friend works at Major League Baseball and met with Hov to finalize it....Yankees back in the world series!!!!! Going back to NY for Game 1 and 2. Jay Z and Alicia Keys performing Game 1. Can't wait...Flying back home on Wednesday. New York state of mind all week. @zeke_thomas I'm sitting third base second level. Where you sitting." (Matt Strombelline's Twitter)

Who Wants A Lock Of Lady Gaga's Hair?
Posted 1 hr ago by Chris Ryan in Celebrity, Music, News, Style

From the annals of absurdity in consumerism, let us know turn our attention to the forthcoming super deluxe edition of Lady Gaga's The Fame: Monster.

What's super about it? Well, there are eight new jams included, including the new single, "Bad Romance." That would go under the definition of super, I suppose. But what's deluxe?

Oh Gaga -- who just tapped Semi Precious Weapons to open for her Monster Ball Tour, handed Adam Lambert a song for his new album, For Your Entertainment, and who'll appear on an upcoming episode of Gossip Girl -- Gaga's got deluxe. Included in the $100 package is a book (of Gaga), a Gaga paper doll, some photos, 3D glasses, and a lock of Lady Gaga's hair. Hmm. I will be super-deluxe interested to know how that works out. Gaga's got a lot of fans who are probably willing to shell out $100 for her hair. If there are enough Gaga fans out there unscathed by the credit crunch, Lady could find herself going all G.I. Jane soon. The Fame: Monster drops November 23rd.