Late music legend MICHAEL JACKSON is being honoured with floral tributes all over the world - just hours after the sudden death of the superstar. After news of the singer's demise broke on Thursday (25Jun09), hundreds of fans in Los Angeles gathered in front of the hospital where the King of Pop passed away, while thousands of miles away in New York people took to the streets to mourn their loss in the city's famous Times Square.   Fans looking for an outlet for their grief have also flocked to Michael Jackson's family home in Gary, Indiana, laying flowers and cuddly toys, and posting messages of sympathy around the property.   Supporters in Hollywood were unable to lay their tributes on Jackson's star on the Walk of Fame - as it was covered in the red carpet from Thursday's Bruno premiere - so their messages of sympathy ended up on the star belonging to the singer's radio personality namesake.   In London, fans have looked to the city's Lyric Theatre where ...

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MICHAEL JACKSON's death is to be investigated by detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's robbery and homicide department - but authorities have urged fans not to jump to conclusions about his tragic passing. The King of Pop suffered a cardiac arrest on Thursday (25Jun09) and was pronounced dead that afternoon, aged 50, after being rushed to UCLA Medical Center in California.   Michael Jackson's body has since been transferred by helicopter to the coroner's office in downtown Los Angeles, where an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death is due to be performed on Friday (26Jun09).   New reports suggest a cocktail of seven prescription drugs could have triggered the Thriller hitmaker's cardiac arrest.   Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's robbery and homicide team are now looking into Michael Jackson's death, but Lieutenant Greg Strenk has stressed that foul play is not suspected.   He says, "Robbery/homicide was assigne...

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Organisers of MICHAEL JACKSON's comeback concerts could be set to lose hundreds of millions of dollars - reports suggest 40 of the shows were not insured. Michael Jackson was booked to play a sell-out run of 50 gigs at London's O2 Arena, starting next month (Jul09) and running into next year (10).   But reports claim promoter AEG Live had only secured insurance against cancellation of the first ten concerts - meaning the company might be responsible for refunding tickets for the remaining 40 itself.   According to Reinsurance magazine, the company faces liabilities of up to $450 million if the rumours are true.   AEG Live officials are yet to confirm details of any refunds, with a spokesman insisting an announcement will be made "in due course".   Fans who bought tickets from the promoters or official agents are entitled to their money back - but those who secured theirs second hand on the internet are unlikely to receive a refund.   And thous...

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Pop's former darlings BRITNEY SPEARS and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE have both expressed their sadness at MICHAEL JACKSON's death. The former couple both performed with the Thriller legend at his 30th Anniversary Celebration in 2001, and have admitted being heavily inspired by the music legend  throughout their own careers.   And as world came to grips with the sudden passing of the singer on Thursday (25Jun09) after he suffered a cardiac arrest, the two superstars released separate statements to describe their personal devastation.   Britney Spears, who is currently on tour with her Circus trek, says, "I was so excited to see his show in London. We were going to be on tour in Europe at the same time and I was going to fly in to see him. He has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I'm devastated he's gone!"   And Justin Timberlake adds that the world has not only lost one of music's most beloved stars, but has also "lost a genius".   He writes...

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BEYONCE has joined a number of other famous faces paying tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON, who died on Thursday (25Jun09). Beyonce insists the Thriller hitmaker will never be challenged as the King of Pop and June 25 will always be remembered as "a terrible day."   She says, "The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music. He was magic. He was what we all strive to be. He will always be the King of Pop.   "For anyone who has ever seen, felt, or heard his art, we are all honoured to have been alive in this generation to experience the magic of Michael Jackson. I love you Michael."   Another leading lady, Liza Minnelli, has also paid tribute to the late pop superstar, calling Jackson a "kind, genuine, and wonderful man."   Michael Jackson was among her wedding party when she married David Gest and she adds, "He was also one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived. I loved him very much and...

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 MILEY CYRUS is banishing paper tickets on her upcoming arena tour to ensure none of her fans are ripped off by scalpers, bootleggers and secondary ticket vendors.   The Disney sensation was criticized during her 2007-2008 Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds concert trek when resellers scooped up scores of tickets and sold them to desperate parents at hugely inflated prices.     Now Cyrus is hoping to cut out the middle man by introducing 'paperless tickets', which will require fans who purchase tickets to show  credit cards in order to enter concert venues.      The star's manager, Jason Morey, says, "Scalping is a really important issue to Miley, but really the focus is about giving the regular fan an opportunity to buy a really good ticket at face value."     And industry insiders insist Miley's plan is working - because the 45 shows that went on sale on Monday (13Jun09) didn't sell out immediately. ...

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 Not content with landing the top spots on both the U.S. album and singles charts, the BLACK EYED PEAS have achieved another major countdown feat after debuting their new track at number two on the Hot 100.   The group's Boom Boom Pow has scored a 10th week at the top of the charts and now I Gotta Feeling has debuted at number two, making the Peas the first duo or group since OutKast in 2004 to occupy the top two spots on the Hot 100.     Keri Hilson's Knock You Down stays put at three, Pitbull's I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) slides to four and Lady GaGa rounds out the new top five with her latest hit LoveGame. She also lands two tracks in the top 10 - Poker Face drops to seven.     Meanwhile, the Pet Shop Boys score their 25th top 10 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club chart - Love Etc. climbs to nine on the new countdown.     In Europe, Placebo's sixth studio album Battle For The Sun debuts at number one on Billboard's Europe...

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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK are suing a production company after executives allegedly attempted to launch another all-male group using their name. The 1990s teen idols, who reunited in 2008, filed papers against SM Productions, a company which provides DJs for events in California.   According to TMZ.com, New Kids On The Block's lawyers allege the company tried to form a new group - also entitled New Kids On The Block - in a bid to record music with them and pass it off as made by the original boy band.   The lawsuit also claims the company attempted to register the name, as well as the group's record artwork on album Hangin' Tough, with the U.S Patents and Trademark Office.  

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BOW WOW has launched an online campaign appealing to fans to help him cut ties with his label Columbia Records. The Like You hitmaker, real name Shad Moss, has been signed to the Sony Records affiliate since rising to fame with his debut album Beware of Dog in 2000.   But 22-year-old Bow Wow reveals he has been unhappy with his musical home since 2004 and is begging Columbia bosses to let him out of his contract after releasing seven albums with the label.   He writes on his Twitter.com page, "Yep! It's true! I want off Columbia. I'm asking to be released. NO they not dropping me I'm askn (sic). Not happy there. Been like dis 4 5yrs (sic)."   "I think Columbia's problem is that they don't know how to work with rappers. I'm really the only rapper on that label. My labelmates consist of John Legend, who they work extremely well with, Beyonce Knowles, who they work extremely well with, but when it comes to rappers they're not really a rap label, they don't get i...

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The PUSSYCAT DOLLS have once again fuelled rumours of a rift within the group - MELODY THORNTON has spoken out against her bandmate NICOLE SCHERZINGER. The Don't Cha hitmakers have been dogged by reports of tension between the members after the band's last two singles were released under the name The Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger.   And the reports were further fuelled by allegations that Thornton publicly criticised Scherzinger onstage at a gig in Phoenix, Arizona earlier this year (09).   Now Thornton has spoken out about the problems within the group, insisting Scherzinger's solo ambitions are having a negative impact on the rest of the band.   She says, "Nicole's always had extra things going on as opposed to the rest of us, but we have aspirations as well. It's definitely a huge misconception that we are just chilling and happy to just be members of the group."   But Thornton insists the divide won't put an end to the band, adding,...

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