Arch MUSIC NEWS for 8/29/12

Michael Jackson‘s hometown is paying tribute to the late King of Pop on what would have been his 54th birthday. The city of Gary, Indiana is recognizing today, August 29th, with a series of events celebrating Jackson’s life and career over the next few days.  Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson and children — Prince, Paris and Blanket — will take part in the city’s four-day tribute dubbed “Goin’ Back To Indiana: Can You Feel It.” Festivities will kick off tonight with Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson leading a candlelight tribute at the site of Michael’s boyhood home at 2300 Jackson Street.  Meanwhile, Spike Lee’s documentary on the late King of Pop will make its televised debut on ABC this Thanksgiving. The network announced Tuesday that it had acquired the rights to Lee’s “Bad25,” a film about the making of Michael Jackson’s hit 1987 album “Bad.”

The Hall and Oates Fans For America Super PAC has been dissolved. The singers’ manager Jonathan Wolfson tells “The New York Observer” both Daryl Hall and John Oates had “concerns regarding the unauthorized use of their names” for political fundraising purposes, so their reps contacted the Super PAC’s founders and “amicably resolved” the issue. He says the two men behind the Super PAC understand that using the name “Hall and Oates” for fundraising purposes “is not an appropriate fan activity,” and that they were able to reach an agreement “both sides are pleased with.” Wolfson adds that both Hall and Oates “are honored to be supported by their fans everywhere regardless of political affiliation.”  The Hall and Oates Fans For America Super PAC was launched last week by two Hall and Oates fans in Atlanta. At the time, co-founder William Hansmann said the Super PAC was started as “just kind of a joke” they came up with during a night of drinking. He explained that they chose the moniker because it’s bipartisan and something “any American could support.” Hansmann added that Hall and Oates Fans For America had no political affiliation, but admitted to “The Atlantic Wire” that their goal was to raise money to make anti-Romney parody videos to Hall and Oates songs.

Will.i.am‘s latest song debut is out of this world. The Black-Eyed-Peas‘ singer-rapper teamed up with NASA to debut his new song “Reach for the Stars” on the Mars Curiosity Rover on Tuesday afternoon. Will.i.am joined NASA and a group of students at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California to hear the song being played from Mars and explain the technology that made it happen. The rapper has been actively promoting the importance of science and technology education for a few years now. On Monday evening, he tweeted that he would be a part of the first song ever to be sent from another planet. His message was retweeted by music industry pals like Britney Spears and Katy Perry.

Justin Bieber is rumored to be in talks to take on a mentor role on the upcoming season of Simon Cowell’s talent search competition “The X Factor.” Sources tell TMZ.com the pop superstar will work with judge L.A. Reid to coach his group on the show.

Alanis Morissette is revealing more about her battle with postpartum depression. Speaking on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Tuesday, Morissette said after she sought treatment and came to terms with her condition, she wanted to be transparent about it and make it public. She says women should not feel guilty for asking for help and encourages them to seek it out early. Alanis adds that she and her family are still healing from the effects of her postpartum depression. Morissette married rapper Mario “MC Souleye” Treadway in May 2010. The couple’s son Ever was born on Christmas Day that year. Morissette’s eighth studio album “Havoc and Bright Lights” was released on Tuesday.