- Billboard reports that in the wake of Michael Jackson's passing that sales of his back catalogue have gone through the roof. No great surprises there, except for reports today that MJ will hold nine of the top ten records in the Top Pop Catalog Albums chart when figures are released today.

The King of Pop's "Number Ones" will fittingly lead the pack at No. 1 with 108,000 copies (an increase of 2,340%) while "The Essential Michael Jackson" and "Thriller" are in the Nos. 2 and 3 slots with 102,000 and 101,000, respectively. Last week, "Number Ones" was the only Jackson title on the chart, at No. 20 with 4,000 copies; both "Essential" and "Thriller" re-enter the tally this week.

Additionally, his classic 1979 studio set "Off the Wall" re-enters at No. 4 with 33,000 while his 1987 album "Bad" returns at No. 6 with 17,000. At No. 5, the Jackson 5's "The Ultimate Collection" debuts with 18,000. Jackson's fourth studio album for Epic Records, 1991's "Dangerous," re-enters at No. 7 with 14,000 while his 2001 compilation "Greatest Hits: HIStory -- Volume 1" also comes back to the list at No. 8 with 12,000. Finally, Jackson's 2004 box set "The Ultimate Collection" charts its first week on the Pop Catalog chart, arriving at No. 9 with 11,000.

- Jackson's last ever performance, a rehearsal for his 'This Is It' tour held at the Staples Centre in LA the night before he died, was filmed. Billboard reports that the company that were producing the run of shows, AEG Live, allegedly has "100 hours of film" from Jackson's rehearsals over the last few weeks. AEG Live allegedly also had a deal with Jackson that included plans to produce both an album and DVD of the tour and could be sitting on a goldmine should they find a way to release it. Photos of his rehearsal the night before he died have also surfaced.

- Further proof that Joe Jackson, Michael's father, is a complete arsehole. The famously violent parent was interviewed at an awards ceremony just three days after Michael's passing. In an interview with CNN's Don Lemon, Jackson senior showed scant emotion and downright disinterest in all the fuss.

The video is below but here are the choice cuts:

CNN: How you doing sir, how's the family holding up?

Joe: I'm great! The family's doing pretty good.

The last couple of days...I know it's been really tough for you guys.

And? It has, it's been really tough. Remember we just lost the biggest star in the world, superstar in the world. So it's been tough.

Then:

Is there anything you'd like to share with the world?

Yeah. I got a statement here. (Turns to publicist) Gimme the statement here. (Publicist reads out statement which includes details about how Joe Jackson plans to handle the estate, who his attorney is and that no else has the authority to speak on behalf of the Jackson family at this time. Much like you'll remember Jermaine saying at the press conference announcing Michael's death)

More:

"I wish the world would've recognised him when he was living".

Yes Joe, no one had really heard about your son or what he did until his death in obscurity.

But the moment at 3:10 when Joe, dripping in jewellery and designer clothes that one can reasonably presume are the trappings of Michael's fame, drags his business partner over to talk about his new record label and the exciting next step in releasing Blu Ray discs...beggars belief. The wrong Jackson's being buried, Joe.


Joe Jackson interview with CNN @ The BETA Awards, 28th June 2009

- Michael Jackson's will names mother, Diana Ross as beneficiaries of his trust: 

Michael Jackson's seven-year-old will has been filed in a Los Angeles court, giving his entire estate to a family trust and naming his mother as a beneficiary of the trust and the guardian of his three children. The will, filed on Wednesday, names singer Diana Ross as a successor guardian to 79-year-old Katherine Jackson if necessary.

The will, dated July 7 2002, estimated his estate at that time at more than $US500 million. It gives the entire estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. His former wife Debbie Rowe is cut out of the will.

- No doubt in an effort to ease the pain of refunding the thousands of tickets bought for Jackson's shows at O2 Arena, AEG Live are cannily suggesting buyers hang on to their tickets as mementos rather than asking for a refund. "The tickets, printed with the special lenticular process, were inspired and designed by Michael Jackson for the fans attending his shows." The shows (or some of) are rumoured to go ahead with guest performers as a tribute to Jackson.

- The Jackson family want Michael buried at Neverland ranch, but despite Californian Governer Arnold Schwarzenegger saying he would help clear any state bureaucratic hurdles, the LA Times is now saying such a thing would be impossible: "County officials could not find a way to quickly circumvent legal restrictions governing burial at a private residence. "It’s nobody’s fault. Everybody in Santa Barbara feels bad about it,” the source said.

Even in death, the circus goes on...