Taylor Swift Spends 20th Week at No. 1; Michael Jackson Autopsy Results Delayed Indefinitely

By Mary Morningstar Washington 04 August 2009

Michael Jackson Autopsy Results Delayed Indefinitely

Michael Jackson (Nov. 2007 file photo)

The Los Angeles coroner's office announced that the release of Michael Jackson's autopsy results have been delayed indefinitely. The Associated Press reported that Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said further investigation needs to be done. On July 28, Los Angeles police and Drug Enforcement Administration agents searched the Las Vegas home and business office of Jackson's personal doctor, cardiologist Conrad Murray, 56. They reportedly were looking for evidence that would support a manslaughter charge and violations of the California Business and Professions Code. That code states that physicians are prohibited from prescribing drugs to anyone with a chemical dependency problem.

Jackson's Mother Gets Full Custody of Children

Katherine Jackson with Michael Jackson (2005 file photo)

In other Michael Jackson news… His 79-year-old mother, Katherine Jackson, has been granted full custody of Michael's three children. They've been living with Katherine in Los Angeles since Michael's June 25 death. His ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, who's the biological mother of 12-year-old Prince Michael and 11-year-old Paris, will get visitation. A child psychologist will decide how often Rowe sees the children.

Bob Marley Greatest Hits Album Sells 10 Million Copies

Late reggae legend Bob Marley has become the second artist in SoundScan history to earn Diamond certification for a greatest hits collection. His 1984 album, Legend: The Best of Bob Marley, recently reached sales of 10 million copies. The Beatles 1 is the only other compilation that has sold 10 million copies.

Avril Livigne says New Album to Have "Different" Sound

Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne recently told Billboard.com that her next album will have a different sound than her previous three releases. "A lot of the songs are mainly the acoustic and my vocal. It's a lot different from anything I've done before. It's not a pop rock record. This is more about emotion and feeling," she said. Avril wrote six of the album's 12 tracks. Her husband, Sum 41 leader Deryck Whibley, produced eight of the songs. Avril's still untitled fourth album is expected to be out in mid-November.

Black Eyed Peas Still Dominating Billboard Hot 100

The Black Eyed Peas

The Black Eyed Peas have spent the past 17 weeks at Number One. They held the top spot for the first 12 weeks with "Boom Boom Pow" and an additional five weeks with "I Gotta Feeling." That's the longest Number One run by a duo or group in the history of Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Taylor Swift Tops Country Album Chart for 20th Week

Taylor Swift

19-year-old Country star Taylor Swift spends her 20th week at Number One on the Country Albums chart with Fearless. She now joins Garth Brooks and Shania Twain as the only artists in SoundScan history to have two albums spend 20 weeks at Number One on the Country chart. Last week (week ending August 1), Taylor set a record as the only artist in 25 years to simultaneously appear in the Top 5 on both the Country and Hot 100 charts with her latest hit, "You Belong With Me."

Dolly Parton Broadway Musical Closing

Dolly Parton's 9 to 5: The Musical will close on Broadway on September 6 due to poor ticket sales. Earlier this year, the show won a Drama Desk Award. It received a record-setting 15 nominations. A touring production of 9 to 5 will begin on September 21, 2010 in Nashville.

New Album Releases / August 4

"Ready" - Trey Songz

"I get Around" - K'Jon

"Slide On Over Here" - Steve Azar

"Gloriana" - Gloriana

"Wizards of Waverly Place" - Original motion picture soundtrack

Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits

The 2009 Lollapalooza festival will take place August 7-9 in Chicago, Illinois. Headliners include Kings of Leon, Depeche Mode, the Beastie Boys and Jane's Addiction. The two-day event will feature 100 bands on eight different stages. Thirteen Lollapalooza festivals have been organized since 1991.

Awards Presentations/Winners

Scottish-born singer Johnny Reid leads the nominees for the 2009 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards. Reid's family moved to Toronto when he was 13. His six nominations include Album of the Year for Dance With Me, Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Video of the Year for "A Woman Like You," Male Artist of the Year and the Fans' Choice Award. In 2006, Reid won the CCMA's new artist Rising Star honor. Other leading contenders this year include George Canyon and Victoria Banks with five mentions each and Gord Bamford and Dean Brody with four nods apiece. The CCMA Awards will be presented on September 13 in Vancouver. Actor Jason Priestley will host the ceremony.

Look Who's Going On Tour!

Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal will perform more than 40 shows on their "BonTaj Roulet" tour, which begins on August 6 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They'll perform separate sets before ending the show together on stage. The tour will wrap up on October 24 in St. Augustine, Florida. One dollar from each ticket sold will go to the BonTaj Collective Action Fund. The fund distributes money to organizations that promote sustainable energy and support other environmental causes, human rights and blues music education.

On August 6, the reunited rock band Creed will kick off a 41-date U.S. tour in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The group will be supporting its upcoming album Full Circle, which is due out later this year. The last album featuring original members Scott Stapp, Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall was 2001's "Weathered."

Nashville-based rock band Kings of Leon will begin a North American tour on August 7 with a performance at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, Illinois. Concerts continue through October 24. The group's 2008 album, Only By the Night, sold more than one million copies in the U.S. and topped the charts in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand and the U.K.


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