NEW ORLEANS Rapper Eminem performs along with KISS this weekend at Voodoo Experience, the punk and rock music festival to be held amid the live oaks and lagoons at New Orleans City Park.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. Phish and crew bustle about Shoreline Amphitheater's backstage area, a sprawling patio where memories linger of raging parties from bygone tours.

LAS VEGAS Wayne Newton is telling fans "Danke schoen" after 50 years in Las Vegas and hinting that his latest run could be his last. But the singer synonymous with Sin City says he's leaving himself an opening in case he wants to perform after April.

MEXICO CITY The Mexican "norteno" band Los Tigres del Norte says it has canceled a planned appearance at an awards ceremony after organizers allegedly asked it not to play the biting political commentary song "La Granja."

CINCINNATI The driver of a vehicle involved in an Ohio gun battle that killed a member of the rapper T.I.'s entourage during a wild highway chase has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges.

SAVANNAH, Ga. A grand jury on Wednesday refused to indict a 53-year-old man jailed since August on charges that he tried to stalk Miley Cyrus as the teen star filmed a movie on the Georgia coast.

Rod Stewart, "Soulbook" (J Records)

BERLIN The Berlin Philharmonic says that British conductor Sir Simon Rattle has signed a contract to remain director of the world-renowned orchestra until 2018.

BOSTON Late in the second act of Rossini's "Tancredi," Ewa Podles lets forth a prolonged F below middle C - a note of such visceral power and purity that its resonance seems to pin the audience back in their seats.

PHILADELPHIA In his nearly four decades as a vanguard of pop culture, Malcolm McLaren has worn many hats: musician, producer, filmmaker, impresario, fashion designer, reality TV star. At age 63, the punk progenitor is adding another discipline to his resume: visual artist.

NEW YORK The lyrics to Jay'z "Empire State of Mind" are sometimes as raw as New York, but it looks like the rapper will clean up that language when he performs his city anthem at the World Series.

LOS ANGELES Michael Jackson's dermatologist has filed a nearly $50,000 claim against the singer's estate.

LOS ANGELES "Michael Jackson's This Is It" premiered to high praise from fans who applauded at each number as though they were at a concert and marveled as the singer stepped nimbly through his moonwalk and other signature moves.

BERLIN Lucky U2 fans have found what they were looking for.

MCHINJI, Malawi Madonna and her four children have visited the orphanage that kept one of her sons before his 2008 adoption from the impoverished southern African country.

NEW YORK Eric Clapton has pulled out of this week's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert in New York after undergoing gallstone surgery.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. The parents of a Virginia Tech student who disappeared outside a Metallica concert said Tuesday they fear she is the victim of foul play.

iTunes' top 10 selling singles and albums of the week ending Oct. 19, 2009:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Bruce Springsteen canceled a performance in Kansas City after his cousin and road crew member died.

NEW YORK Argentine opera singer Gabriela Pochinki said Monday that she was talking to the organizers of the Las Vegas premiere of Michael Jackson's film "This Is It" when she was arrested at a swank Manhattan restaurant for yelling into her cell phone.

NEW YORK Chris Brown has announced the release of his first CD since his February altercation with then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Rod Stewart, "Soulbook" (J Records)

NEW YORK The New York Yankees have been blasting Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" during their playoff run. Now, the team is having the rap king perform the song live to kick off Game 1 of the World Series.

The Swell Season, "Strict Joy" (Anti-)

LILONGWE, Malawi Madonna marked the start of construction of her school for girls in Malawi on Monday by planting a tree at the planned site of the $15 million school.

LONDON The official exhibition of rare Michael Jackson memorabilia will go on display in London this week.