We've now learned the basis for the latest creditor's claim against Michael Jackson's estate -- and it could be a goldmine.
As we first reported, Audio 4 Video Digital (A4V Digital, Inc.), filed a creditor's claim for $736,502.59. Sources connected with A4V tell TMZ that Jackson had been recording songs shortly before he died and A4V was working on the music at the time of his death.
An A4V source says the company is a co-owner -- along with the estate -- of the copyright for the sound recordings. This could represent the last work of Michael Jackson -- so good, bad or ugly, it could be the royal jackpot.
We're also told A4V was working with Jackson for years before his death and has a stockpile of recordings that have never been released.
Sources who have heard the unreleased recordings of Michael Jackson say there are at least 2 albums worth of class A songs that will be released over time, and some of them are even better than "This Is It."
We're told many of the songs that will make the cut were written and recorded by Jackson after he left Sony in 2004.
As for "This Is It" -- we're told everyone involved liked the tune but it wasn't the best. As one source said, given the title and the tone, "It was the most appropriate song for the end of the movie."
Chris Brown is taking a break from his busy, court mandated, hard labor schedule -- to go on a concert tour for his remaining fans.
Brown just posted this on his Twitter: "BOUT TO START A SMALL TOUR SOON.. 15 TO 20 DATES.. MY FAN APPRECIATION TOUR. just for yall.nothin bigger than 4,ooo seater."
Whether you like it or not, that 180 days of hard labor isn't keeping Chris Brown from making new beats.
Brown hit Justin.tv today to thank his fans for their support and promised (warned?) he's "still here, trying to make as much music as possible ... while doing the community service at the same time."
The trailer for the upcoming Michael Jackson tour movie debuted last night -- and shows a ton of previously unseen rehearsal video of MJ in the months leading up to his death.
Michael appears with it in the footage -- and the huge dance sequences teased look damn bad ass.
The movie will be shown in theaters for two weeks, starting October 28.
Etta James is being sued by a guy who claims she hired him to be in her band -- then went back on her word and caused him to lose a bunch of cash.
Leo Nocentelli claims he and Etta reached an oral agreement in February of '08 for him to play guitar on her tour, which was set to last from March '08 - March '09.
After playing the first few shows with Etta, she became ill and was forced to cancel a number of her concert dates -- problem is, Leo says she forgot to tell him she was 86'ing the shows.
According to the lawsuit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, when she became healthy enough to perform again in August of 2008, Leo claims she brought back all the band members except him -- something she once again forgot to tell him.
Once Leo finally got in touch with Etta's people to see if he had been terminated, they kindly informed him "you should have figured it out."
Leo's suing for at least $50,000 for breach of contract.
Welcome to Chapter 13 in the Scott Storch-is-broke-again saga -- today we've learned how the once-loaded music producer now has more debt than he has dollars.
Storch filed a bunch of papers in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, revealing that Scott owes $58,077.37 to 13 creditors in 7 states.
To put this in perspective, dude's net worth was reportedly $70 million in 2006.
Storch had produced music for Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Chris Brown. Now he has more in common with Suge Knight.
If you've ever wondered what a cat sounds like when it's being strangled, then you're gonna love the supposed raw, unedited, "board mix" of Beyonce Knowles from her "Today Show" performance last year -- courtesy of Howard Stern.
The King of All Media ran the supposedly leaked audio clip on his Sirius radio show yesterday.
TMZ now has all the details about the secret late-night recording sessions between Rihanna and Chris Brown -- and they were jam-packed with emotion and serious drama, with some playful touching -- seriously.
The whole thing came together when they decided to reconcile shortly after the attack. Sources tell us music producer Polow Da Don convinced both Chris and Rihanna to get in the studio and record a love song stat, stressing that timing was important because the heightened emotions would translate powerfully into the music.
Both Rihanna and Chris agreed and snuck in a couple of "late night" sessions that we're told were "very, very emotional ... the feeling in the room was pure love." Clearly, love hurts.
As for how they got along, they were "playfully touching each other."
We're told the song was originally written for Rihanna before the fight, but after the beat down the producer believed the track -- which ironically focuses on overcoming difficult challenges as a couple -- would be the perfect duet.
If you enjoy the musical stylings of Lil' Wayne, there's a high probability that you're a dumbass -- at least according to one brand new scientific study.
One of the smartest computer people on the planet -- Virgil Griffith -- has just released the results of a brand new study which showed a correlation between SAT scores and the musical tastes of college students.
Shockingly, people who enjoy listening to Beethoven scored significantly higher than everyone else. The people who enjoy listening to Lil' Wayne, however, were at the bottom of the intelligence chart -- just behind people who like Beyoncé and T.I.
But the most bizarre finding: People who dig the mid '90s soft rock drivel of Counting Crows scored incredibly high, just below Ludwig van. Now that's just stupid.
Sheryl Crow is looking for even more money -- but this time, it ain't yours.
The same day TMZ broke the story about Northern Trust using bailout money to pay her for a private concert, Crow was in D.C., urging Congress to force radio stations to pay artists when they play their music.
It's the unkindest cut of all. A man as big as Quincy Jones getting hauled into small claims court.
An audio production dude claims he did $3,100 worth of work for Q over a two week period last summer and got nada.
To put this in its proper context, Q has reportedly pulled in $220,000,000. Is this further evidence of a deep recession or just another bogus suit against a rich celeb?
For the record, we believe Quincy spends more than $3,100 on the person who lights his cigars.
That's the buzz after flaccid first-week sales of "A Little Bit Longer," which, according to Billboard, fell short of the big numbers. The projections were for 600k-plus and as many as 725, but they came in at 515,000.
In the perspective department, Lil' Wayne did well over a mil in the first week, but Jordin Sparks -- she won "American Idol," memba? Her grand total -- 119,000.
Tonight the contestants have a challenge. Take a sad song and make it better. They're singing Beatles songs. Click on the gallery and find out who's singing what.
Move over Pussycat Dolls, there's a new half naked group about to hit the music scene. The Chippendales! Apparently they can do more than follow choreographed routines -- these guys actually sing. While there's no set release date for an album, we're told the recording process has already begun. The man with the bow tie that will be the lead singer of the group just happens to be Chippendales' Mr. March, Bryan Cheatham.
We've now learned the basis for the latest creditor's claim against Michael Jackson's estate -- and it could be a goldmine.
Sources who have heard the unreleased recordings of Michael Jackson say there are at least 2 albums worth of class A songs that will be released over time, and some of them are even better than "This Is It."
Chris Brown is taking a break from his busy, court mandated, hard labor schedule -- to go on a concert tour for his remaining fans.
Etta James is being sued by a guy who claims she hired him to be in her band -- then went back on her word and caused him to lose a bunch of cash. 
Welcome to Chapter 13 in the Scott Storch-is-broke-again saga -- today we've learned how the once-loaded music producer now has more debt than he has dollars. 
It's the unkindest cut of all. A man as big as Quincy Jones getting hauled into small claims court.
Jonas Brothers, meet jumpable shark. 
