This time last year Chris Brown was banned from the BET Awards but in 2010 the singer redeemed himself and performed a tribute to Michael Jackson. During his performance on “Man In The Mirror,” the singer broke down and was unable to sing only saying, “I’m gonna make a change for once in my …” The singer did get through his dance tribute to Jackson with, “Remember the Time,” “Smooth Criminal” and “Billie Jean.” This is one of his first major performances after pleading guilty to assault of his former girlfriend Rihanna. While he accepted a fan-voted award he said, “I let you down once before but I won’t let it happen again”

Cirque du Soleil announced Tuesday (April 20) that it will produce a live touring show featuring the songs of Michael Jackson, starting in late 2011. A permanent production of the show will follow in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2012, at a property owned by MGM Mirage. A nightclub in Las Vegas will also open when the show does. The casino company has not named the property at which the show will land…

OutKast rapper Big Boi will release his solo album, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Sun of Chico Dusty, July 6, via Def Jam. The long-awaited disc, which does not yet have a track listing, will feature contributions from T.I., Lil Jon, and Jamie Foxx…

Kylie Minogue will release Aphrodite — her first album since 2007’s X, and her 11th studio album — in June. The first single from the track will be “All the Lovers.” “The single was one of the last tracks to be written for the album. As I was recording it I knew that ‘All the Lovers’ had to be the first single; it sums up the euphoria of the album perfectly,” Minogue said in a statement…

The Black Crowes will release a new studio album, Croweology, in August, and will then embark on a four-month tour of North America. The tour, which will find the band playing both acoustic and electric three-hour shows. The band will wrap with six shows in December at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California, after which the band will go on an indefinite hiatus…

The estate of Michael Jackson has reportedly signed the largest recording deal in music history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music for 10 projects to be released in the next seven years.

The official announcement is expected Tuesday (March 18).

The deal,which will run through 2017, could climb in value up to $250 million if certain targets are reached.

The first project expected to be released is an album of previously-unreleased Jackson recordings which will hit store shelves in November.

Other expected recordings include a re-release of Jackson’s first solo album, Off The Wall, which Jackson had expressed an interest in re-issuoing prior to his June 2009 death.

Also expected is a DVD compilation of Jackson’s legendary videos.

The two-disc album which accompanied the film and DVD release of This Is It will reportedly be included as part of the contract.

During his life, Michael’s contracts set the standard for the industry,” John Branca, the co-administrator of the Jackson estate, said in a statement prepared for release Tuesday. “By all objective criteria, this agreement with Sony Music demonstrates the lasting power of Michael’s music by exceeding all previous industry benchmarks.”

Rob Stringer, chairman of Sony Music’s Columbia Epic Label Group, said in a prepared statement, “We’re dedicated to protecting this icon’s legacy and we’re thrilled that we can continue to bring his music to the world for the foreseeable future.”

CBS announced Wednesday (January 20) that Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Usher, and Smokey Robinson will perform together in a tribute to Michael Jackson during the 52nd annual GRAMMY Awards, January 31. The performance will feature the previously-unseen 3-D mini-movie for “Earth Song,” which was created by Jackson for the This Is It tour. CBS and Target have teamed to provide 3-D GRAMMY glasses for free from January 24 though January 31…

La Roux will hit the road for a tour of North America this winter and spring in support of their self-titled debut. The winter tour will kick off January 31, at Boston, Massachusetts’ Paradise Rock Club, and wrap February 11, at New York City’s Webster Hall. The spring tour will kick off April 12, at Portland, Oregon’s Wonder Ballroom, and wrap April 19, at Seattle, Washington’s The Showbox at The Market…

Dwronging Pool will join Sevendust on an upcoming tour throughout the mid-South and northwestern United States. The tour will begin February 18, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and conclude March 7, in Seattle…

The Whigs will hit the road in support of their forthcoming album, In The Dark, which hits store shelves March 16 via ATO Records. The tour, which will find the band co-headlining with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, will begin February 26, in Sacramento, California, and wrap March 13, in San Diego, California…

Laura Martling will release her new album, I Speak Because I Can, April 6, via Astralwerks. The disc is a follow up to Martling’s Mercury Prize-nominated debut, Alas I Cannot Swim. Martling will kick off a brief tour of North America February 3, in San Diego, California, which will conclude in Norfolk, Virginia, February 13…

Michael Jackson won four American Music Awards Sunday night (November 22) in Los Angeles, California, but it was Taylor Swift who took home favorite artist honors.

Jackson’s awards for favorite male artist in the soul/R&B and pop/rock categories, and favorite album (2003’s Number Ones) in each category. Jackson’s brother Jermaine accepted two of Michael’s awards, thanking “Allah for blessing my entire family.”

Jermaine Jackson said, “The message that Michael had will live on forever. He saw good in everyone and wanted everyone to do good. He always started with love.”

Other award winners included the Black Eyed Peas who took home top pop/rock band honors. Green Day took home top alternative group honors.

The late Michael Jackson’s This Is It, the soundtrack companion album to last weekend’s top-grossing documentary film, topped the Billboard 200 album chart this week, after it sold 375,000 copies in its first week of release.

The disc also leads five new releases into the top 10 of this week’s chart.  The other four are: Full Circle, Creed’s reunion album, which debuted at No. 2 on sales of 110,000 units; Rod Stewart’s Soulbook which entered the chart at No. 4. Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Night Castle which debuted at No. 5; and Sting’s If On A Winter’s Night, which landed at No. 6.

Taylor Swift’s Fearless, which was re-released in a “platinum” deluxe edition last week, jumped from No. 7 to No. 3 on sales of 109,000 units.

Last week’s top album, The Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack drops to No. 8 on sales of 69,000 units.

Singer Leona Lewis was punched in the head by a male assailant while she was signing books in central London, Wednesday night (October 14). Lewis had been signing at Waterstone’s book store for approximately 90 minutes when a 29-year-old man hit her. He was led away by security guards and later arrested. Lewis went to see a doctor as a precautionary measure, but it appeared that she was not hurt seriously…

Avril Lavigne filed for divorce from her husband, Sum 41 frontman Deryck Jason Whibley Friday (October 9), in Los Angeles, California. The pair, who have been married for three years, have no children together. Lavigne cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split…

This Is It, the concert film starring the late Michael Jackson, has already sold out more than 1,600 showings ahead of its late-October release. The film is the top U.S. ticket seller this week at two of the largest online ticket outlets. The film will be released October 28 in a limited, two-week run…

When the American Music Awards are handed out November 22 in Los Angeles, California, the late Michael Jackson will be one of the nominees vying for the title of Artist of the Year. The others are Taylor Swift, Eminem, Kings of Leon, and Lady Gaga.

Swift, who was interrupted last month during the MTV Video Music Awards by Kanye West, too home six nominations, the most of any musician. Jackson received five nominations, and Eminem, four.

Jackson’s other nominations included favorite male artist and favorite album (Number Ones). Eminem and T.I. also received favorite male artist nods and T.I. also received nominations for favorite rap artist and favorite rap album of the year (Paper Trail).

Beyonce, Swift, and Lady Gaga received favorite female artist nominations, while the Black Eyed Peas, Nickelback, and Kings of Leon were nominated for best duo or group.

Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, and Adam Lambert have been announced as performers on the show.

Hear the new single “This Is It” from Michael Jackson’s upcoming documentary film This Is It. The song will be heard during the closing sequence of the upcoming movie “Michael Jackson’s This Is It.” Released in theaters for a two-week engagement, Oct. 28, the film documents rehearsals for London shows planned as Jackson’s comeback, before he died on June 25.