Film director Spike Lee is working on a Michael Jackson documentary to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the late pop icon’s album. “We had complete access to the vaults of Michael Jackson," Lee told . "He wrote 60 demos for the Bad record. Only 11 made it. So we got to hear a lot of that stuff, too, so it was just a great experience.” Lee added that the documentary will include footage that Michael Jackson shot himself and other behind-the-scenes material that no one has ever seen. Lee promises that fans will see a more personal side of Jackson.
Nicki Minaj kicked off the North American leg of her “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” tour on July 16 in Chicago, Illinois. Eighteen concerts are scheduled through August 12. On August 18, Minaj will begin European dates in Chelmsford, United Kingdom. Nicki’s “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded” album has produced two big hits, the multi-million-selling “Starships” and her latest single, “Pound the Alarm.”
Jamaican artist Shaggy recently launched his own record label, Ranch Entertainment Inc. The company is based in Valley Stream, Long Island and Kingston, Jamaica. “I didn’t start the label for record sales but as a place where I can make music," Shagge explained at an event in New York where he made the announcement. Ranch Entertainment, like reggae, is more about live shows, touring and merchandising, areas where we can grow as an independent company.”
On July 6, R&B star Usher's stepson, 11, was critically injured in a water sports accident on Atlanta, Georgia’s Lake Lanier. Kyle Glover, who is the biological son of Usher’s ex-wife Tamika Foster, was in an inner tube being pulled by a pontoon boat when he and a 15-year-old friend were hit by a jet ski. According to many reports, doctors have declared him brain dead, but no decision has been made to remove him from life support.
EMI Music, Sony Music and Universal Music Group released the latest album in their joint venture on July 17. features 18 chart hits by some of the biggest contemporary British music stars. They include Coldplay, the late Amy Winehouse, Natasha Bedingfield, Calvin Harris and Florence + The Machine, among others. Since the first album was released in 1998, the series has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide.
R&B singer Chris Brown scores a Number One debut on this week’s with his new album . This is Brown’s second chart-topping entry on that list. He also debuted at Number One with his 2011 album Although there are no other Top 10 entries this week, three albums make double-digit jumps into the Top 10. The Black Keys’ “El Camino” rockets 45 positions to Number 10, Fun’s “Some Nights” advances 16 spaces to Number 7 and Gotye’s “Making Mirrors” vaults 25 positions to Number 6.
“Kidz Bop 22” by Kidz Bop Kids
“Spark Seeker” by Matisyahu
“One Lovely Day” by Citizen Cope
“Carry Me Back” by Old Crow Medicine Show
“Yellow & Green” by Baroness
“Bringing Down the Giant” by Saving Abel
“Band of Brothers” by Hellyeah
“Bromberg Plays Hendrix” by Brian Bromberg
“Beautiful Friction” by The Fixx
“Someday” by Susanna Hoffs
Wisconsin’s 2012 takes place July 19-22 in Twin Lakes. This year’s lineup includes Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and many other Country stars. The four-day, sold out event marks the 20th anniversary of the “Country Thunder” festival.