Michael Jackson's Thriller Jacket Up For Auction

The red and black jacket worn by Michael Jackson in the legendary "Thriller" video will go on the auction block as part of the Music Icons sale at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, CA on June 25 and 26. The jacket is expected to bring in, some sources say, between $200,000 and $400,000 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Shambala Preserve, where MJ's Bengal tigers, Thriller and Sabu, have been kept since he left his Neverland ranch in 2006. Also up for bidding are a concert-worn fedora and spangled glove, and the shirt Jackson wore in the video for "Scream."

DETOX: 6 Years And Counting!

DJ Khalil has been working with Dr. Dre on the Detox album for over six years, and he says the project is finally reaching the home stretch. "Dre's album is definitely the most important thing right now, because he is definitely in the final stretch," Khalil told Billboard.com. "He has the record going, but I'm sure he thinks there are pieces missing still. Until he finds those pieces, maybe he's not comfortable putting it out yet." As for what it will sound like, Khalil said, "It's definitely a West Coast sound -- more futuristic West Coast sound -- at least from what I've turned in. I don't know [which tracks] he's keeping, though."

Lil Wayne Pushes Back Album Release Date

Even though Lil Wayne just released a new single from Tha Carter IV called "How to Love," fans will have to wait a little longer for the album. MTV News reports that Weezy's ninth album is now due on August 29, instead of its June 21 release date. "He's still perfecting a few things, he's a perfectionist... changing a few lines," Young Money president Mack Maine told MTV, hinting that they were waiting on some huge features to complete the album. "If you calculate all of that, by the time we would've finished mixing, we wouldn't have met the [original] due date to turn in the album."

The RIAA's Gold And Platinum Certifications: April

The RIAA has handed out its Gold and Platinum certifications for the month of April, with Britney Spears' new album Femme Fatale already going Gold and Platinum. All seven of Spears' albums have gone Platinum.

Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. and Jennifer Hudson's I Remember Me both were certified Gold within a month of their respective releases as well. Rockers Five Finger Death Punch also earned their first two Gold records, for 2009's War Is The Answer and 2010's Way Of The Fist.


Katy Perry's latest hit "E.T." was certified double-Platinum last month, with "Firework" going 4X Platinum. Taio Cruz's smash "Dynamite" was also certified 4X Platinum. "Only Girl (In The World)" from Rihanna was certified double-Platinum in April as well.
A number of tracks were certified Platinum in April, including Jennifer Lopez's "On The Floor," Adele's "Rolling In The Deep," Kristinia DeBarge's "Goodbye" and Diddy Dirty Money's "Coming Home."

Keri Hilson Joins Lil Wayne's "I Am Still Music" Tour

Keri Hilson will join Lil Wayne on his North American I Am Still Music 2 tour throughout the summer. The trek also includes opening acts Rick Ross, Far East Movement and Lloyd. Hilson is touring in support of her latest effort, No Boys Allowed.

Prince Rogers Nelson Continues Los Angeles "Welcome 2 America" Residency With 5 More Shows

Prince has announced that he will continue his Los Angeles residency with five more Welcome 2 America dates. Furthermore, he gave fans in California an even bigger shock earlier this week when he announced at the last minute that he would play two sets Wednesday night at the 500-capacity Troubadour club. According to the Idolator blog, Prince used his first set to transform the Troubadour into a Jazz club and put the spotlight on his band. For two hours, Prince led the band through extended interludes and encouraged frequent solos by his longtime sax player Mike Phillips. But for the second set, Prince turned up the Rock, pulling out "Endorphinmachine," a cover of the Troggs’ "Wild Thing" and Wild Cherry’s "Play That Funky Music."

Katy Perry Breaks Yet Another Music Industry Milestone

Katy Perry has set a new record with her sophomore album, Teenage Dream. With the album's wealth of hit singles, Perry has now become the first artist in the Billboard Hot 100's more than five-decade history to spend 52 consecutive weeks in the Top 10. On the chart released May 12, the song "E.T." featuring Kanye West descends to #2 after five weeks at the top, granting Perry an unprecedented full year lodged in the chart's highest bracket.