American Idol Killed

Deputy Chief Michael Mohel of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office says an autopsy indicated she suffered chest, head and abdominal injuries. - more on this story

Winehouse Cleared of Fan Smack

E! reports: Love is a losing game for Amy Winehouse, but the occasional smack is another matter. The oft-troubled songbird was acquitted Friday in London of assaulting a fan who approached her for a photograph during a charity event last September.

Prosecutors accused Winehouse of punching burlesque dancer Sherene Flash in the eye shortly at the End of Summer Ball when Flash tried to bring an apparently tipsy friend into the dressing room photo op.

Thursday at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, Winehouse testified that she was aggravated and intimidated and just wanted the dancer to go away. - more on this story

Michael Jackson's Burnt Pepsi Hair To Be Turned into Diamonds

Billboard reports: The charred locks of hair from Michael Jackson's disastrous Pepsi commercial shoot are being turned into diamonds.

Chicago-based jeweler LifeGem, which specializes in creating high-quality diamonds from individual hair samples, has announced plans to release a limited collection made from the King of Pop's hair.

"Our plan is to give people an opportunity to own a diamond made from Michael Jackson's DNA," said Dean VandenBiesen, founder of LifeGem, in a statement. - more on this story

Madonna and Paul Oakenfold Celebration

PR reports: Celebration Madonna's Greatest Hits CD is to include two new songs recently recorded in New York City. The first single, also titled, "Celebration," co-produced by Madonna and Paul Oakenfold, will be released August 3rd. Paul will be debuting the "Celebration" single at Pacha in Ibiza this weekend.

Out now is Paul's current release Perfecto Vegas, a double CD consisting of 21 exclusive tracks, hand selected and mixed by Oakenfold.

The set focuses on the less pop leaning, "classic Oakenfold" sound that core fans have been begging for since his Grammy-nominated 2004 release, Creamfields. - more on this story

Jeffree Star Says F You with Beauty Killer

Atlantic Records reports: Jeffree Star's debut album Beauty Killer drops September 22nd on his own Popsicle Records via Warner Music Group's Independent Label Group.

With tracks produced by Ultra Violet Sound, Nathaniel Motte (3OH3!), Lester Mendez (Shakira, Nelly Furtado), Luke Walter (Limp Bizkit), Nico Hartikainen (Danger Radio), Beauty Killer is a blaring, all-out onslaught of rock, pop, and electro. Guests on the record include Nicki Minaj, Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba and Breathe Carolina.

With a new album, new producers, and a new label, Jeffree Star's future is as bright as the hair on his head, and if he gets his way—and he usually does—he's going to change more than just people's perception of beauty. He's going to change everything you thought you knew about Jeffree Star. "Beauty Killer is my way of saying 'f**k you' to what everyone's idea of what beauty stands for." - Jeffree Star - more on this story

Aly Tadros Offering Things Worth Keeping

PR reports: When Aly Tadros was offered her first paid gig, she had three original songs under her belt. The set called for two hours. She took it anyways. That gutsy attitude is sewn throughout Aly's debut album, Things Worth Keeping. Recorded and produced by Duane Lundy (Ben Sollee, These United States, Vandaveer), Things Worth Keeping is set for release on August 22nd and will be surrounded by a developing three month US tour that Aly, at the ripe old age of 22, is booking independently.

Spacious and melodic, salty and moving, Aly Tadros alternative folk stylings tempts each listener out of the vacuum-sealed sterility of every day life. Her classical guitar writhes on the floor of the mind, haunted by the honesty of her lyrics. Her influences range from the off-kilter Tom Waits, to the commanding Ani DiFranco, to the captivating Fiona Apple, leaving the listener to feel seduced, loved, left and wizened. In addition to her influences, Aly is frequently compared with the likes of Rachael Yamagata and Jolie Holland.

Before flamenco lessons and tennis tournaments, Aly jokes that she first wowed audiences as a Cardboard Fish in a community theater showing of The Little Mermaid in her home town of Laredo, Texas. She studied in Spain, Turkey and Egypt in high school and marched on to study middle eastern politics at Sarah Lawrence in New York before dropping out to pursue music full-time, playing over 200 shows in her first year alone. Aly may have soaked up her eclectic guitar style from Mexico to Egypt, but her words could only be born from the most deep and quiet places within her conscience. - more on this story

Kaiser Cartel Go Digital

PR reports: Kaiser Cartel is releasing a new ep on September 1 called Rock Island. It is being distributed digitally only.

Rock Island, was recorded live at a Daytrotter session earlier this year. It features 3 new Kaiser Cartel songs ("Carroll Street Station", "Stella", "Memphis"), fan favorite "Shira" (which they close their shows with), and a cover of Lucinda Williams',"Something About What Happens When We Talk".

A limited number of physical copies will be available at shows and through their website, it will be available digitally everywhere. - more on this story

Merykid Compares Himself to Radiohead and Jason Mraz

PR reports: Confident and curious, indie pop artist Nick Mery, AKA Merykid, says he's most often compared to Radiohead and Jason Mraz. With a unique sound that is blended between pop, folk, and experimental music—the creation easily appeals towards a mass audience.

Now, with his sophomore EP "Boy & The Bird" just released on June 30, 2009, Merykid shares, "The album was written at a time when I had a lot more questions than I did answers." Through music exploration at its finest, Merykid has come to find a tremendous follow up to his first solo album.

Merykid is no musical newcomer. Over the years he has performed with: Blue October, Augustana, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Roger Croeger, Katharine McPhee, Sugarcult, and Sister Hazel. Self-taught in all instruments Merykid sang, played guitar, banjo, bass guitar, harmonica, and synthesizer on the already highly praised "Boy & The Bird." Although, his talent isn't just in instrumentation, he also writes all his own music. - more on this story

A Bunch of Ageing Celebs Attend Whitney Listening Party

RCA reports: Arista Records hosted a second star-studded listening event this week for the Whitney Houston album "I Look To You" on July 23rd at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Whitney Houston's album "I Look To You" is scheduled for release September 1, 2009 on Arista Records.

An exclusive, VIP (or is it AARP?) crowd gathered at the famed Beverly Hilton to enjoy an evening hosted by Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainment Worldwide, to celebrate the upcoming release of Whitney Houston's new album.

Celebrity attendees included Halle Berry, Stevie Wonder, Barry Manilow, Jane Fonda, Penny Marshall, Magic Johnson, Beverly Johnson, Jackie Collins, Garcelle Beauvais, Brian McKnight, Brett Ratner, Pleasure P, BC Jean; as well as album collaborators David Foster, Diane Warren, Claude Kelly, Johnta Austin, Harvey Mason, Jr., among others. Notable entertainment industry heavyweights included Neil Portnow, Suzanne de Passe, Ricky Minor, Peter Lopez, Amanda Brooks, Warren Boyd, Arnold Steifel, Garry Kief, Clarence Avant, Barbara Davis, Randy Phillips, Patrick Whitesell, Dave Wirtschafter, and many more. - more on this story

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