ON THE SCENE: MJ Memorial Recap

YBF photographer/correspondent Wil Shelton was inside the Staples Center for the Michael Jackson memorial. And here’s a recap of audience’s reactions and people in attendance that we couldn’t see on tv:

While Jennifer Hudson sang “Will You Be There”, several people in the audience audibly and visibly broke down and were virtually inconsolable.
Celebrities seen inside the Staples Center but not shown on tv: John Singleton, Jesse Jackson, LisaRaye, Lil Kim, Dionne Warwick, and Cicely Tyson.
From inside the Staples Center, you could really feel the deep and profound loss in the atmosphere.
The 20,000 audience members hung on to every word of Al Sharpton’s moving speech. Went to church on everybody in that piece…
The Jackson family was incredibly moved at Usher’s rendition of “Gone Too Soon”
Memorable quotes from the memorial:
“He is not just the King of Pop, he’s the biggest entertainer that ever lived.”-Berry Gordy

“Michael was a genius with unchallenged ability.”-Brooke Shields

“This is a moment I wished I didn’t live to see come.”-Stevie Wonder

“So much pain and ridicule. How much can 1 person take? Maybe now, they’ll leave you alone Michael.”-Marlon Jackson

“Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say that I love him. So much.”-A sobbing Paris Katherine Jackson.

LIVE STREAM: Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service

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Live from the Staples Center. Here’s the live stream from Michael Jackson’s memorial service. It begins at 1p EST. Leave your thoughts and comments in the Comments section

Michael Jackson’s Memorial Stage Set

Rehearsals and precessions are underway as Michael Jackson’s memorial is set to take place at 1p EST at the Staples Center. Here’s pics of Usher and Stevie Wonder rehearsing:


And just minutes ago, the Jackson family and family friends left their home in a precession line to arrive at Forest Lawn Funeral Home:


Scene from Forest Lawn right now
That is where their private funeral will take place as we speak. Afterwards, Michael’s body will reportedly be transported to the Staples Center. Here’s scenes from outside the Staples Center right now:




The stage is set and about 17,000 fans will be inside to pay their last tributes. Here’s the reported complete list of MJ’s celebrity friends who will be in attendance as well:

Ron Boyd (family friend), Kobe Bryant, Mariah Carey, Andrae Crouch Choir, Berry Gordy, Jennifer Hudson, Shaheen Jafargholi (finalist on Britain’s Got Talent), Magic Johnson, Martin Luther King III, Bernice A. King, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Brooke Shields, Pastor Lucious Smith (family friend), Usher and Stevie Wonder.

Stay tuned for more updates and live stream from the memorial starting at 12:30p EST….

Michael Jackson’s Memorial Updates

Today is Michael Jackson’s public memorial at the Los Angeles Staples Center. The city is expecting over 200,000 people to flock to the city. Staples only holds about 18-20k, so this ought to be interesting. Fans found out yesterday if they got a ticket to the memorial. It appeared as though the family had a private ceremony yesterday at Forest Lawn cemetery.

It’s been confirmed that Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson and Stevie Wonder are a few of the performers for the memorial. TV stations and some radio stations are broadcasting live from the scene. Many other of Michael’s fans and friends are expected to make an appearance. But interestingly, 2 of his closest friends Quincy Jones and Elizabeth Taylor said they will not be there. Q is determined to never attend another friend’s funeral as long as he lives. And Liz says she feels like the public memorial will be a “big whoopla” she feels she shouldn’t be a part of.

Stay tuned for the details….

Tribute to MJ - The Game (Feat. Chris Brown, Diddy, Boys 2 Men, Polow Da Don & Mario Winans) - Better On The Other Side

Jermaine Jackson: I Wish It Was Me…I Was Michael’s Backbone

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Michael Jackson Updates

Funeral plans for Michael Jackson have finally been set. The memorial service for Michael will take place at the Staples Center on Tuesday at 10:00 AM. 11,000 tickets will be distributed free of charge to the general public. Some reports also say that a carnival-like procession will happen after the services as Michael body is transported elsewhere for the family’s private funeral services.

In other news, Mike’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe has stated through her awyer that she will indeed petition for custody of her and Michael’s children. She dd an interview with L.A.’s local NBC network yesterday and said she was willing to submit to any testing, including DNA, to prove she was the biological mother of Prince Michael, 12, and Paris, 11. Rowe also said she was concerned about splitting up the three children, and would be willing to accept custody of Prince Michael II, Jackson’s youngest child. Michael’s mother, Katherine, has been granted custody as Michael expressly willed his kids to her.

Michael Jackson First Artist to Sell Over 1 Million Downloads in a Single Week

As Michael Jackson’s body is being prepared for transport to a public viewing at the Neverland Ranch, his music rules the charts once again.

Billboard’s latest sales charts show the king of pop as the first artist ever to sell more than a million downloads in a single week, among other firsts.

Fans flocked to the late popstar’s greatest hits, purchasing a record-breaking 2.6 million Jackson solo recordings and Jackson Five songs, according to Nielsen SoundScan data for the week ending June 28. Jackson also dominated Billboard’s “Comprehensive Album Chart,” which tracks both new albums and older catalog albums — the first time a catalog album has ever scanned more sales than any new album.

The “massively talented boy-man,” as his former collaborator Paul McCartney described the eccentric star, posthumously claimed the top three spots with two greatest hits collections and the legendary Thriller album:

1. Michael Jackson - Number Ones (108K album sales scanned)

2. Michael Jackson - The Essential Michael Jackson (102K)

3. Michael Jackson - Thriller (101K)

4. The Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D. (88K)


Jackson may once more rule the charts, but times have changed for the record industry since the ’80s heyday of cassette and vinyl retail sales. Last week, Billboard estimated that retailers sold 415,000 solo Michael Jackson albums (an increase of 4,150 percent from his total the previous week). In the months following its release, Thriller alone regularly sold twice that in a week.

Still, Jackson’s domination of several other key charts (six of the top ten digital albums, 25 of the top 75 digital songs, nine of the top ten pop catalog albums) is a clear reminder of the sort of sales that were possible before technology and choice fractured the listening public into a million little niches, when the mainstream still ran strong.

It seemed like everyone tuned in to watch the 13-minute Thriller video when it debuted in 1983, even though that meant staying up past bedtime for some, and wrangling with new-fangled VHS or Betamax recorders for others. ABC estimates that 55 percent of US television sets were tuned to Jackson’s 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey (over 62 million viewers total), while this year’s American Idol finale — arguably the biggest thing in music — drew only 32.5 million viewers, despite viewership having grown since ‘93.

Google thought it was under attack in the hours after Jackson passed away, causing some to speculate that he “almost [took] the internet with him.” The idea of one music superstar capturing the world’s attention could also perish with Jackson.

Thriller is the top-selling studio album in US history, with 28 million RIAA-tracked sales and well over 100 million copies sold worldwide. Given consumers’ growing preference for singles and the trajectory of the recorded music industry in general, those records are likely to stand for quite some time.

Michael Jackson Updates

We’ve got the latest on what’s happening with Michael Jackson’s estate and other updates:

Michael’s will from 2002 was officially filed today. He expressly left his 3 children to his mother Katherine for her to be their guardian. If she couldn’t for any reason, he named Diana Ross as the alternate guardian.
A petition filed with the will states that Michael’s estate is worth $500,000,000. Mostly non-cash assets including the Beatles catalog and other interests. He expressly said his cash should go to provide for his children.
In his will, Michael left his estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. The beneficiaries are his children and his mother. Joe was not named.
Michael expressly left Debbie Rowe out of the will saying “I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Rowe Jackson.”
There is a hearing going on for the will today.
The alleged crazy lady Nona who claimed she was Michael’s wife and is the mother of Michael Jackson’s kids a while back has come back on the scene. She filed a 93 page document to the court explaining how and why she is the mother and his ex-wife and why she deserves his estate.
The viewing of the body is still set for this Friday at Neverland Ranch. But no plans for a burial have been made yet. It will supposedly happen at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuaries in the Hollywood Hills.
The other 3 covers from the special edition of Entertainment Weekly this week:

Michael Jackson’s Estate Updates

Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine has been granted temporary custody of Michael 3 children. Katherine also filed papers to a Superior Court judge today to name her administrator of her late son’s estate so she can ensure the King of Pop’s three children are its beneficiaries. Michael’s will has also surfaced, even though the courts believed there wasn’t a valid one available at the time of Katherine’s petition for custody as the Jacksons filed saying there was no valid will on record.

Supposedly there is a lot of legal drama as Londell McMillan has been working with Michael and the family for years as the legal representation. They had no will for Michael. But Michael allegedly re-hired his old lawyer John Branca 3 weeks ago. Apparently John is the one with the will and the family has never seen or heard of it. John is supposed to be filing it with the court today.

Joe Jackson and Michael’s lawyer Londell McMillan confirmed yesterday that the family indeed ordered a second autopsy. And these pics of Michael’s last rehearsal at the Staples Center 2 days before he died have surfaced:

He seemed to be in good spirits according to the dancers and crew there. The photographer Kevin Mazur who took the shots says:

“I am devastated by the sudden loss of ‘The King of Pop,’ who I have photographed numerous times since the Victory Tour in the ’80s. When he hit the stage at rehearsal, I was thrilled that the magical Michael Jackson was BACK!!! I felt the same adrenaline rush as when I photographed him the first time moonwalking. I was so looking forward to shooting the O2 Arena performances with the amazing production that Kenny Ortega and AEG put together with Michael for his fans.”

Still so sad.

Jackson Family Updates

Michael Jackson hasn’t even been laid to rest yet and it’s an all out circus with his legal reps and family. Here’s what’s happening now:

Michael’s will has been looked at and according to the Wall Street Journal, his 2002 will says mother Katherine should indeed get custody of his kids. The will divides his estate amongst his family members and charities, but absolutely nothing to father Joe Jackson.
Debbie Rowe may contest Katherine’s guardianship as Debbie is believed to be the biological mother to the elder 2 children. But media sources are now reporting that Debbie Rowe was only the surrogate. Michael was also not the sperm donor. The egg donor is completely unknown. And the natural parents of his youngest child are also unknown. This poses serious custodial problems for the children.
It is also being reported that Michael never legally or formally adopted his 3 children. This could pose even more problems in the custody aspect.
Michael’s doctor, Dr. Murray, has said he will not attend the King of Pop’s funeral out of respect. During a press conference yesterday, Al Sharpton and Joe Jackson announced that the funeral will be public and will not be at Neverland Ranch.
Everything is being moved out of Michael’s permanent home in L.A. by the family in order to keep others from coming in and taking things.
Deaths almost always pose several issues with estate and custody so all of this was somewhat expected. But this is still just incredibly sad.

Tribute at the Apollo Theater

It’s been confirmed that there will be a public viewing of Michael Jackson’s body at Neverland Ranch this Friday. It is open to the public. No other final funeral arrangements have been made just yet.