Michael Jackson top earner among the world's late greats

Michael Jackson was named this year's top-earning dead celebrity last week in a list compiled by financial website Forbes.com, earning the title for the second year in a row following his death in 2009. Thriller singer Jackson, who died at age 50 of a drug overdose, is estimated to have earned $170 million in the past year, which also places him as the second highest-earning pop music act this year, dead or alive, Forbes.com said.

MJ doctor's defense bombshell: Singer caused his own death

With dramatic courtroom testimony, attorneys for Michael Jackson's doctor have dropped the bombshell they've been hinting at for months - an expert opinion accusing the singer of causing his own death in 2009 death. Dr Paul White said Jackson injected himself with a dose of propofol after an initial dose by Dr. Conrad Murray wore off, and may have taken another drug when the first failed to make him sleep. Murray denies involuntary manslaughter or gross negligence.

UK music charity attacks Cowellfor poaching its name

Simon Cowell came under fire on Wednesday from UK music charity Rhythmix for seeking to trademark the name of the charity for use by a girl-group the entertainment mogul is promoting on the X-Factor music competition.

Rhythmix, a 12-year-old Brighton-based charity that offers music lessons to juvenile offenders in southeast England, called on Cowell and his entertainment holdings company to end recent efforts to seek a European trademark for Rhythmix.

"Simon, we are personally asking you to sort this problem out in the quickest and simplest way: Just change the name," Rhythmix Chief Executive Mark Davyd said in an open letter to Cowell published on Facebook.

The Rhythmix charity has served up music programs and training to 40,000 people since it was created in 1999, according to its website.

Lindsay Lohan plans to pose nude in Playboy to pay her bills

Troubled actress Lindsay Lohan may have found a way to pay some of her mounting legal bills with a planned agreement to pose nude for Playboy magazine, a source who knew of Lohan's plans said on Tuesday. Celebrity news outlets TMZ.com and Access Hollywood reported that Lohan, who has faced numerous legal charges in recent years including theft, will appear in the men's magazine and that a photo shoot had already taken place.

Cain's video ad blows smoke in unorthodox campaign

A campaign video showing Republican presidential contender Herman Cain's chief of staff blowing smoke from a cigarette at the camera drew heavy play on the Internet last week. The video, which logged more than 100,000 views on Cain's YouTube website, kept up the former pizza executive's unpredictable playbook in a campaign for the presidential nomination that has soared in the last month.

Autopsy: Winehouse had high alcohol levels in blood when she died

British singer Amy Winehouse had more than five times the legal driving limit of alcohol in her blood when she died on July 23 aged 27, British media reported on Wednesday. The "Rehab" and "Back to Black" singer had 416 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, according to the findings of an inquest into her death, compared with the legal driving limit of 80 mg.

Aerosmith's Tyler injured in fall that cost him two teeth

Steven Tyler, the lead singer of rock band Aerosmith, had a "small accident" on Tuesday that forced him to postpone a planned show in Paraguay by one day, concert organizers said.

Tyler, 63, received stitches and had emergency dental work done during a nearly four-hour hospital stay. He reportedly suffered cuts to his face and lost two of his teeth after falling in his hotel bathroom, the country's largest newspaper ABC said.

Reuters

(China Daily 10/30/2011 page4)