While we are still mourning the life of a legend and musical icon, here are some of the stories going around in the music world:

• Post-humos Michael Jackson is creating a buzz. This time by dominating the UK charts for both albums and singles.  According to NME, he scored the number one album and almost a quarter of entire top 200 single countdown. List of where he lies on the chart for both albums and singles are available.  (NME)
• During their headlining set at Glastonbury’s Jazz World Stage, pop superstars Black Eyed Peas paid tribute to the King of Pop, who passed away on June 25th.  Of the global icon, band member Will.i.am had kind words:  “He was a friend and we’re gonna miss him very much. Thank you very much for all you’ve done, I’m gonna miss you.” More info on their performance is available including a full list of the  songs played and why the crowd booed them early in the set. (NME)

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Bands from the indie elite are lining up to pay tribute to 20 years of Merge Records.

Merge Records is offering a series of  14 compilation records in 2009 curated by bands, actors, comics and other celebrities including Peter Buck of R.E.M., The Upright Citizens Brigade, Amy Poehler, David Byrne and Zach Galifianakis. The series is available via subsrciption on Merge Records website and the releases will be mailed throughout 2009.

The subscription will set you back $179 before November 8 and $199 after. The proceeds will benefit charities picked by the curators of the compilation albums.

In addition to the series, a subscription will also include The Merge Covers Album and The Merge Remix Album. The Covers Album will feature artists like Death Cab For Cutie, Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, The Apples In Stereo and others covering their favorite songs from the Merge catalog. The Remix Album, obviously enough, will feature remixes of Merge favorites by Battles, Caribou and Junior Boys among others.

Check out the lists of artists involved in the two albums after the break.

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