| Michael Jackson Tribute Concert Postponed |
The Michael Jackson tribute concert that was set to take place on September 29 in Vienna, Austria has been postponed. Michael's brother Jermaine told reporters the postponement was due to scheduling conflicts with some of the artists who were asked to perform at the event. He said, "The purpose for this show is to give something back to the fans…we have to do this right." The tribute concert is now being planned for June 2010 at London's Wembley Stadium. Tickets will go on sale December 1.
| Whitney Houston Finds Success on Billboard Album Chart |
Whitney Houston's new album, I Look To You, debuts at Number One on this week's Billboard 200 (week ending September 19). The collection also topped charts in Canada, Australia and five European countries. U.S. first week sales exceeded 304,000 copies to give Whitney the best opening week of her career. I Look To You is her fourth Number One album on the Billboard 200.
| Brubeck, Springsteen, De Niro Among Kennedy Center Honorees |
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2009 honorees. They include jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, singer Bruce Springsteen, actor Robert De Niro, writer-director Mel Brooks and opera singer Grace Bumbry. The Kennedy Center Honors recognize artists for their contributions to American culture. The 32nd Kennedy Center Honors Gala will take place on December 6. CBS will air the event as a two-hour special on December 29.
| Degeneres to Replace Abdul as 'American Idol' Judge |
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has been chosen to fill the fourth judge's chair on the upcoming ninth season of American Idol. She replaces Paula Abdul, who announced last month that she wouldn't be returning to the show. During a recent taping of her daily talk show, DeGeneres told the audience that she plans to bring a different perspective to the judges' panel. She said, "Hopefully, I'm the people's point of view because I'm just like you. I'm not looking at it in a critical way from the producer's mind. I'm looking at it as a person who is going to buy the music and is going to relate to that person." American Idol Season 9 will begin in January 2010.
| Record Companies Sue Ellen Degeneres Show |
On the same day that Ellen announced she was joining American Idol, four of the world's biggest record companies sued producers of The Ellen DeGeneres Show for copyright infringement. They allege the show used some 1,000 songs without permission. Warner Brothers released a statement that said, "It is unfortunate that the record labels have resorted to filing a suit over a straightforward business dispute which the show has always been prepared, and remains willing, to resolve on amicable and reasonable terms."
| New Album Releases September 15 |
"So Far Gone" by Drake, "Hot Sauce Committee" by Beastie Boys, "Mi Plan" by Nelly Furtado, "The Resistance" by Muse, "Endgame" by Megadeth, "Number Ones" by Barry White, "Man on the Moon: The End of Day" by Kid Cudi, "Happy Hour" by Uncle Kracker, "Get Lucky" by Mark Knopfler, "Levitate" by Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, "Fight Like A Girl" by Bombshel, "No Regrets" by All-4-One, "Whatcha Gonna Do" by Claire Lynch, "Ricky Skaggs Solo (Songs My Dad Loved)" by Ricky Skaggs and "Bruce Springsteen's Jukebox: The Songs That Inspired The Man" by Bruce Springsteen.
| Awards Presentations / Winners |
The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) were held on September 13 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Janet Jackson opened the show with a tribute to her late brother Michael. Other performers included: Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Pink, Lady GaGa and Beyonce. Beyonce and Lady GaGa led this year's VMA contenders with nine nominations each.
Brad Paisley earned a leading six nominations for the upcoming Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. They include Entertainer of the Year, a category he shares with Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, George Strait and Taylor Swift. Urban, Swift, Strait, Jamey Johnson and the Zac Brown Band all received four nominations. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will co-host the 43rd annual CMA Awards, which will take place in Nashville on November 11. (See complete list of nominees at www.cmaawards.com.)
| Look Who's Going on Tour! |
Teen pop star Miley Cyrus will kick off a U.S. tour on September 14 in Portland, Oregon. Her itinerary includes 46 shows through December 2. Mylie's brother Trace Cyrus and his band Metro Station will open the concerts. On December 13, Miley will begin the first of 10 U.K. concerts that wrap up on December 28 in Manchester.
On September 15, 24-year-old pop singer Colbie Caillat will begin a 33-date North American tour at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. She's supporting her new sophomore album Breakthrough, which recently debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200. The album features Colbie's current hit, "Fallin' For You."
