Day in Pop for 08/19: Miley Stalker Uses The I'm A Human Being Defense- Who Needs Paula When You Can Have Shania Judge Idol?- Michael Jackson's Burial on his Birthday and more top pop music news stories of the day

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Full Report for 08/19/2009

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Miley Stalker Uses The I'm A Human Being Defense

AP reports: A 53-year-old man charged with attempting to stalk "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus is "a human being" struggling with grief who might need help, his defense attorney said Tuesday.

Mark McLeod of Appling appeared briefly Tuesday before a Tybee Island Municipal Court judge, who postponed a scheduled hearing in the case until next Tuesday. Outside the courtroom, his court-appointed lawyer said people shouldn't jump to conclusions that McLeod is dangerous.

"People need to understand that, really, he's a human being," attorney James Byrne told The Associated Press. "If there's something wrong, we need to address it. He's one of our fellow citizens who might need some help." - more on this story

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Who Needs Paula When You Can Have Shania Judge American Idol's Karaoke Wannabes?

AP reports: Shania Twain is joining the ranks of "American Idol" guest judges.

A spokesman for the show said Tuesday that the country singer will take part in the Chicago auditions set for the end of August.

Kelly Clarkson, the original "American Idol," and one of the Jonas Brothers also may end up as guest judges. - more on this story

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Michael Jackson's Burial Planned for his Birthday

Billboard reports: Michael Jackson's father said his son's body will be buried at a Los Angeles cemetery on Aug. 29, which would have been his 51st birthday, the New York Daily News reported on Monday.

Joe Jackson told a Daily News reporter the plan was finalized in recent days.

Media reports last week said Jackson, who died June 25 of cardiac arrest, was buried in a private ceremony in early August. But those reports were based on unnamed sources and never confirmed by Jackson family representatives. - more on this story

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Jordin Sparks Joins Britney's Circus

PR reports: Jordin Sparks will join "The Circus Starring Britney Spears" as special guest on the second North American leg of the tour. Sparks will perform on the U.S. portion of the trek including dates in New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, Detroit, Chicago and more before concluding on September 26 & 27 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Previously announced opening act Kristinia DeBarge will join the tour for all dates; while up-and-coming acts Girlicious and One Call will appear in select cities

19-year old star Jordin Sparks rose to fame in 2007 when she became the youngest contestant ever to win American Idol. She performed the national anthem to an audience of nearly 100 million viewers at Super Bowl XLII, and was named Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist at the American Music Awards. Her current sophomore album, Battlefield, is in stores now and features the title track as Sparks' latest single. Her previous release, Jordin Sparks, featured platinum-certified Top 10 single, "Tattoo," and smash hit single "No Air." - more on this story

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Brandi Carlile Announces New Album Which Includes Elton John Duet

Columbia Records reports: Brandi Carlile will release her third album, Give Up The Ghost, on October 6th on Columbia Records. After two albums and non-stop touring, she has let her guard down and offers her most candid recording to date. The album features her longtime band including twins Tim and Phil Hanseroth and cellist Josh Neumann, and was recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, CA.

The recording of Give Up The Ghost presented the realization of a dream for Carlile � the opportunity to work with her idol, Elton John.

"Brandi has an amazing voice," he says. "She's a great songwriter and has a tremendous career ahead of her." Proudly, Carlile says that John�who duets with her on the song "Caroline"�played a key a role in her evolution as an artist: "I've been listening to country and western music my whole life and I was totally immersed in Grand Ole Opry culture, wherein the entertainers are usually not the ones who wrote the music. But when I was 11 and discovered Elton John, I realized that performers do write and perform their own songs, and I immediately went out and got a keyboard and started writing." When they recorded together, "I was just overwhelmed by the years, and by the influence that somebody can have on another person's life without even knowing it." - more on this story

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Paula Wants Back On Idol?

Hecklerspray reports: When Paula Abdul quit American Idol there was talk of her rapidly jumping ship to another equally-prestigious reality show where she'd be taken more seriously � a show like Dancing With The Stars. But when Dancing With The Stars announced its new line-up this week and Paula Abdul wasn't on it, the alarm bells started to go off. Not real alarm bells, obviously. We get the impression that sudden loud noises make Paula Abdul kind of jumpy.

This all means that despite leaving American Idol, and then Twittering relentlessly about her decision to leave American Idol, Paula Abdul isn't sure if she wants to leave American Idol after all.

[T.M.Z. reports: Unnamed] sources connected to Paula Abdul say Miss Paula wants back on "American Idol". Our sources say Paula's Twitter is retracted � at least in her mind � if the price is right. The magic number is $10 million� She doesn't want to do "Dancing with the Stars" � we're told, because she wants to be able to jump on a plane on a moment's notice to rejoin her fellow judges on "Idol." [Wow unnamed sources are great! Maybe it was the bathroom attendant at Loser's Lounge (a.k.a. Hyde)? $10 million bucks to slur the same opinion as Randy? That's like giving Ryan Seacrest any money at all when he should be paying Idol for the exposure!] - more on this story

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As Boys Like Girls Go Soph

Columbia Records reports: As Boys Like Girls continue to gain momentum for the Sept. 8 release of their sophomore album Love Drunk, the Boston band are gearing up for a busy fall.

After appearing on ABC television's Jimmy Kimmel Live on the night of the album's release, Boys Like Girls will help the New England Patriots kick off their 2009 season with a free concert Sept. 13, outside Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. The following night, frontman Martin Johnson will open the 40th season of Monday Night Football by singing the National Anthem live before his hometown Patriots host the Buffalo Bills.

Love Drunk will be released Sept. 8, but is now available for pre-order on www.boyslikegirls.com, where fans can select from three different exclusive packages, and the first few hundred fans who order will have their names printed in a limited edition "Love Drunk" journal. The album is produced by Brian Howes [Puddle of Mudd, Chris Cornell, Hinder] and S*A*M and Sluggo [Metro Station, Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heroes], and is the highly-anticipated follow-up to Boys Like Girls' self-titled debut, which has been certified gold by the RIAA and sold more than 700,000 units. Combined digital single sales ("The Great Escape," "Hero/Heroine," and "Thunder") are near 4 million. - more on this story

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Grey's Anatomy Sex Tape With Teen Beauty Queen Turned Playboy Model?

Hecklerspray reports: First the good news � there's a Grey's Anatomy sex tape. Now the bad news � it stars nobody you've ever heard of. Unless you watch Grey's Anatomy, that is. In which case you have our sympathies.

Anyway, this Grey's Anatomy sex tape stars none other than Eric Dane, who apparently plays someone called Mark Sloan, along with his wife (Rebecca Gayheart) and a former Miss United States Teen winner (former beauty queen turned former Aaron Carter fianc�e Kari Ann Peniche).

However, don't get your hopes up too much, because everyone in the sex tape is too mumbling to themselves on drugs to actually have any sex. Also, his wife is sort of ugly. It's a letdown, isn't it? - more on this story

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Sean Paul Sets New Release

Atlantic Records reports: Sean Paul has announced the release of his first new album in over three years. "Imperial Blaze" � which follows 2005's RIAA platinum-certified "The Trinity" � arrives in stores and at all online retailers today, August 18th.

"So Fine," the album's first single, is looking like another massive hit for the Grammy-winning Jamaican superstar. The track � produced by Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor � is currently a top 20 favorite at Rhythmic radio outlets nationwide, while also scoring top 40 spins at CHR/Top 40. In addition, the track's companion video � directed by Ray Kay (Lady Gaga, The-Dream) � has been added into rotation at MTV2, MTV Jams, and mtvU, with further spins on both MTV and BET.

This summer has already seen Sean making a number of live television performances to herald the release of "IMPERIAL BLAZE," including sizzling appearances on ABC's Good Morning America and Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. In addition, he recently taped an exclusive installment of A&E's Private-Sessions, slated to air August 23rd. - more on this story

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Dave Stewart Benefit Concert

PR reports: Dave Stewart & His Rock Fabulous Orchestra will perform at DREAM 2009, a concert benefiting the Fulfillment Fund, on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at the Conga Room at L.A. Live. The band is set to play Stewart's songs made famous by the Eurythmics, Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, No Doubt, Jon Bon Jovi, Bono, Celine Dion, Sinead O'Connor, Bryan Ferry and others. Special guests include actress Rosanna Arquette and comedian Kevin Pollak. Dream 2009 pays tribute to Fulfillment Fund students who have beaten all odds to become college graduates.

More than 400 guests are expected to attend this concert event chaired by Fulfillment Fund Board Member Dr. Eric Esrailian (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA), and co-hosted by Brad Gluckstein (The Conga Room), Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis and Terry Dougas (1821 Pictures), Jay Landers (Sony Music), Marc Shmuger and Louise Hamagami (Universal Pictures) and Nick Styne and Roeg Sutherland (Creative Artists Agency). - more on this story

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iTunes Calls Cast Spells Hot

PR reports: David Davison's Cast Spells released its debut EP Bright Works and Baton on Sargent House today. The Maps & Atlases frontman's side project immediately landed on iTunes' front page "What's Hot" section.

Bright Works and Baton has already garnered considerable critical praise, including this insightful review from Stereo Subversion.

Following extensive touring and a bunch of festivals with his band Maps & Atlases, Davison took Cast Spells out for its first tour ever with So Many Dynamos in July. - more on this story

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Hadouken Go M.A.D.

PR reports: Hadouken! return with a brand new EP on September 15 that cements their reputation as Britain's most dynamic and forward-thinking young band. Recorded in Holland with gilded Dutch electronic dance producers Noisia, the M.A.D EP is proof of further massive progression for the quintet who met in Leeds at university just three years ago.

The EP evolves the cutting edge dance-rock sound unveiled on their UK number 12 debut album, 2008's Music For An Accelerated Culture, by delivering tracks that are harder, louder, more rhythmic and tightly focused than anything they've attempted before, or than anything else on offer by their contemporaries. If an historic comparison was to be attempted, cast your mind far back to the earliest, comparatively sketchy works by the likes of the Prodigy or the Chemical Brothers. Then recall the impact when each delivered in turn Voodoo People and Block Rockin' Beats. That's the kind of leap forward successfully maneuvered here. Britain's next great dance-rock and have arrived.

Lead track "M.A.D" (an acronym for Mutually Assured Destruction) is a booming, bass-heavy explosion that ponders the psychology of violence in the broadest sense. Musically, it's a bold statement of intent, the perfect mix of state of the art rhythm, edge of your seat guitars, and bright-eyed, keen-witted howling at the moon. M.A.D will sound as powerful booming out in a rammed concert hall with 5000 of their rabidly loyal fans going bananas or rattling out from a Nokia phone on the back of a bus. Hadouken! don't discriminate. They just want to invade ear and head-space. - more on this story

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Mr. B and Bob Seeley The Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of Music In Your DVD Player

MVD reports: Megawave and MVD Visual are proud to announce the release of Mr. B and Bob Seeley "Back to Back Live" on October 20th, in North America.

Remember the old Reese's Peanut Butter cup commercial, when two gentlemen accidentally combine chocolate with peanut butter to create a delicious treat? Well, musically speaking, the same could be said about the union of boogie-woogie pianist Mr. B and classical pianist Bob Seeley. Who knew two vastly different musical genres could co-exist to create something so unique? It's a fitting question, especially after viewing the duo's new DVD.

Mr. B, influenced by greats such as Little Brother Montgomery, and Seeley, a protoge of Meade Lux Lewis, deliver grace, style, lightning, and thunder, as they play standards back-to-back (in two different styles), with their own favorites mixed in. This over 90 minute DVD is priced at $15.95, and includes bonus tracks (including interviews with both pianists). Be sure to catch this exciting piano-based "meeting of the minds" of two of the best known pianists alive today - you'll be blown away! - more on this story

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The New York Comedy Festival Lineup Expands

PR reports: The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF) announced today that Dane Cook, Andy Samberg, Artie Lange, Mike Epps, Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, and Mike Birbiglia have been added to the already stellar line-up for this year's New York Comedy Festival. They will join Ricky Gervais, Bill Maher, and Tracy Morgan and over 150 other comedians performing at more than 10 venues throughout New York City over the course of five days, November 4 � 8, 2009.

Tickets for all shows are available through the New York Comedy Festival website: www.nycomedyfestival.com. Citi cardmembers will have special access to purchase both pre-sale tickets and preferred tickets for NYCF shows featuring Dane Cook, Bill Maher, Andy Samberg, Artie Lange, Mike Epps, Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, and Mike Birbiglia. The Citi Private Pass pre-sale begins on August 12th at Noon EST and runs through August 16th at 5:00pm EST; preferred tickets will be available starting August 17th at 10:00am EST.

"We are so proud to celebrate this year's sixth annual New York Comedy Festival with such a hilarious and diversely talented group of performers whose work is among the most cutting-edge in the world of comedy today," said Caroline Hirsch co-founder of the Festival and owner of Carolines on Broadway. "The 2009 line-up builds on the overwhelming success of previous years to reach an even wider audience than ever before." - more on this story

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