It's been a long time since news about Michael Jackson focused on his music. But with the recent announcement of his forthcoming string of shows at London's O2 Arena, hopefully all that will change.

It's been a full 12 years since the self-styled King of Pop went on tour, but not the last time he performed onstage. In 2006 I was lucky enough to be a guest at the World Music Awards in London when MJ took to the stage for a highly anticipated performance. Unfortunately, what was billed as the singer's comeback performance was actually MJ singing just a few lines of "We Are the World." It was quite an anticlimax, leaving many fans with mixed feelings. Yes, people were thrilled to see MJ back onstage, but singing just a few lines — with no dancing whatsoever — just didn't cut it.

So last week, when MJ held a press conference in London announcing that he would be making a full-on return to the stage this summer — for what is now 50 dates, stretching from July into next February — ticket-sale hotlines were gridlocked with requests within minutes. The O2 arena is no small venue — only the biggest, most in-demand acts in the world play there.

Michael Jackson still fits that bill, and obviously his drawing power can't be underestimated: Organizers told the BBC that the shows are the fastest-selling in history.

The "This Is It" shows — an odd name, since Jackson hasn't clarified whether these are his last shows or just his last shows in London — are nonetheless history in the making. In his press conference MJ promised fans that he would be performing the songs that his fans want to hear — so what are the best Michael Jackson songs? Let us know…

By James Montgomery and Rachel Josue

Have you ever wished that, while practicing the Moonwalk in your bedroom, you had Michael Jackson's magical white glove to complete your best "Billie Jean" performance? Well, now you can — provided you can pony up the estimated starting bid of $6,000 to $8,000.

Today, Julien's Auctions, the "premier auction house in high-profile celebrity and entertainment auctions" and the folks behind last year's Osbourne auction, announced that it will auction off more than 2,000 pieces of Michael Jackson memorabilia in April of next year. From April 14 to April 20, items will be on display at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Then, starting on April 21, the gavel will fall.

Which means that, if you've got the loot, the entry gates to Neverland Ranch (estimated starting bid: $10,000 to $20,000) can soon keep the paparazzi away from your front door. This potential sale begs the question: Who or what will then keep the riffraff out of Neverland, considering Jacko saved it from foreclosure last May? Read more...

Sitting in the room where they decide who will be nominated for the annual World Music Awards must be awesome.

"Michael Jackson for zee best Pop Male Artist!"

"Vy viss the Michael Jackson again? Alvays viss the Michael Jackson!"

"We shall give zee award to zee Kid Rock, not that Enrique Iglesias. Hees mole makes me sheever. And if Jovanotti does not win the award for Italy, zere is zomezing rotten in Denmark! Haw-haw!"
Read more...

Oh Jermaine, when will you learn? Just days after the Jackson brother proudly declared (for, like, the 20th time) that the fabled Jackson 5, including Michael, would be reuniting for a world tour — "It's going to be a family affair," Jermaine told Australia's AAP news agency — Michael has said, Not so fast, J.

"My brothers and sisters have my full love and support, and we've certainly shared many great experiences, but at this time I have no plans to record or tour with them," MJ said in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Dr. Tohme. "I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon."

Given her ongoing problems, we're going to go ahead and doubt Jermaine's claim that "Janet's going to open ... [and] we're in the studio, we're planning on being out there next year."

Can't wait to see what Tito, Marlon and Randy look like these days!

· Beck has finally confirmed the release date for his upcoming Danger Mouse-produced album, Modern Guilt. The 10-track LP — featuring the trippy first single, "Chemtrails" — will drop July 8. A release announcing the disc describes it as vacillating between "economy and experimentation, hybrid and pop classicism, while consistently manifesting Beck and Danger Mouse's shared interest in psych-rock, folk, electronic minimalism and orchestration." What, no space-age polkas? No drum-machine-assisted cumbias?

· Mötley Crüe shout at ... their former manager. The band has filed a suit against Burt Stein and his companies, alleging that Stein screwed them out of lots of cash.

· It's the battle of the century! Perez Hilton has been saying mean things about Lily Allen, and she's pissed! Go, Lily go!

· Michael Jackson might be coming out with his own clothing line. Blah, blah, blah, designer surgical mask joke.

A lot of people play at being their favorite stars -- you sing along in the car, in the shower, at karaoke bars, admit it --but what if you could actually be that person, no singing or dancing required? MTV News guinea pigs were treated to a beta form of a new technology, where a digital version of themselves was dropped into the video for..."Thriller." Why "Thriller"? Well, as Sway, our hip-hop editor Shaheem Reid, and other staffers can testify, most of us have already had some practice at being Michael Jackson in one way or another (well, except for the part with the kids).

So how does it work? Big Stage, which licensed part of their technology to SonyBMG to make MyThrillerVideo, is launching as a company later this spring. For now, you can sign up for the beta version at their website. Once Big Stage launches, you'll be able to create and store a lifelike 3D version of you -- simply by taking your picture. Using what started as CIA surveillance technology to catch "bad guys," they now catch you, mapping the contours of your face -- and eventually more, like your voice and your gestures. The idea is, they can then drop this digital version of you -- your @ctor -- into music videos, movies, games, anything. So you can play Grand Theft Auto, for instance, and instead of playing as a character, you can play as yourself. Or watch "Speed Racer," and instead of Emile Hirsch, it could be you in the driver's seat. And when you watch music videos, instead of Mariah singing "Touch My Body," it could be you playing frisbee with Jack McBrayer. Eventually, it could also be you and all your friends taking the different parts, shoving the actors and singers out of the picture altogether.

Sound incredibly narcissistic? Of course. But it could also be a lot of fun, as our staffers discovered when they were turned into zombies in the beta version. If you want to do it yourself, just follow the instructions here.

· This afternoon, New York radio station Z100 premiered "What We Want" by Ashley Alexandra Dupre, a.k.a. "Kristen," a.k.a the high-priced prostitute involved in New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's resignation. Decide for yourself whether her music is worth $1,000 an hour by checking out the song.

· Britney Spears was busy on the Century City set of the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" today. "Working on 'How I Met Your Mother' has been so terrific," the singer said in a statement. "Everyone, including the cast, the crew and the producers, has been wonderful, and Abby is such a fun girl to play. I'm having a blast!" She'll continue shooting her scenes on Friday for an episode airing March 24. In the meantime, Britney's next video premiered on BlackoutBall.com, featuring an animated version of herself. Best described as a cross between her "Toxic" video and "Mission Impossible," the video shows an anime heroine crashing a black-tie party to stop a Brit-cloning villain by giving him a poisoned kiss.

· The bank told Michael Jackson to "Beat It," but the formerly gloved singer has struck a "confidential" deal with Fortress Investment Group to retain ownership of his famed Neverland Valley Ranch. Jacko's attorney told The Associated Press that the public auction for the Los Olivos, California, property is now off.

· The brat pack from "Beverly Hills, 90210" may be coming back. The Hollywood Reporter is, er, reporting, that the CW Network is developing a spin-off of the famed Fox hit and that characters from the original show might make the transition to the new show. Bring back Nat!

· North and South came out to applaud Terror Squad don Fat Joe last night in the Bronx. Joey Crack hosted his own album-release party for The Elephant in the Room, and not only did he party, he jumped onstage. Besides performing his own tracks, Joe brought out fellow Bronx legends KRS-One and Slick Rick. The South was in the house as well, when Miami's Rick Ross dropped by.