News Roundup: Michael Jackson, Beastie Boys, Drake, Pixies
--As you might have predicted, Michael Jackson is experiencing a posthumous sales surge. Three albums--Number Ones, The Essential Michael Jackson, and Thriller--each sold around 100,000 copies last week. The King of Pop left behind plenty more opportunities for cash flow, including a high-tech 3-D video, called the "Dome Project," completed a couple weeks before his death. Four sets were constructed for "Dome," including a cemetery recalling the "Thriller" video. Creepy. Meanwhile, a memorial, hosted by the Rev. Al Sharpton, is at the Apollo today 2-8 p.m, which folks have been lining up for since last night.
--Though Hot Sauce Committee Volume 1 doesn't hit stores until September, the Beastie Boys are looking ahead to Volume 2, and planning a less-than-predictable sample. The hip-hop trio will sample a clip of Bob Dylan lending kind words to the group on his satellite radio gig, Theme Time Radio Hour. "We sampled his ass," MCA told Drowned in Sound. Mike D added, "He's one of the first b-boys, if not the first. What more to say?"
--After a massive bidding war, Drake has signed with Lil Wayne's Young Money Records, with a distribution deal through Universal Republic. The Toronto rapper-singer's debut album, Thank Me Later, is slated for a late 2009 release, with reported collaborations with Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Jay-Z.
--Continuing the classic-album-tour trend, the Pixies will be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Doolittle by playing it in Europe in October. Frontman Black Francis said, "We wanted to do something special for Doolittle's 20th anniversary, and we thought this was a good opportunity to play all of the songs from that album, something we don't normally do at a regular gig." The group's 25-pound box set, Minotaur, is in stores this fall. The set compiles studio recordings and videos with a live DVD, new artwork, and a book. Got $450?
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