Lennon still helping me, Yoko Ono says (AP)

AP - Yoko Ono says John Lennon is still helping her in her endeavours as an artist and peace activist as she pays tribute to her late husband before what would have been his 70th birthday.

Veteran group Banda el Recodo still going strong (Reuters)
Reuters - After more than seven decades in the business, seminal act Banda el Recodo remains one of the top-selling groups in the genre of brass-based Mexican music. Founded in 1938 by Cruz Lizarraga, the band has continued to thrive through the years thanks to Lizarraga's two sons, Joel and Alfonso, who have adapted the traditional banda format to multiple musical styles and contemporary arrangements.

Fox: Kara DioGuardi departs 'American Idol' (AP)

AP - Kara DioGuardi is following Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell out the door at "American Idol."

Sharon Corr steps out as solo artist (Reuters)
Reuters - Five years after Irish sibling band the Corrs took a prolonged sabbatical, violinist Sharon Corr is back in a new role, as lead vocalist on her debut solo album, "Dream of You."

Brazilian superstar Ivete Sangalo plays NY arena (AP)

AP - The most Earth-shattering event in Brazil this weekend took place in New York, where singer Ivete Sangalo played a sold out show at Madison Square Garden. Too bad, few Americans even noticed.

Appeals court sets hearing in Jackson estate case (AP)

AP - An appeals court has scheduled a hearing for lawyers for the father of Michael Jackson to argue that he deserves a role in decisions involving his son's multimillion dollar estate.

Rapper T.I. arrested for drug possession in LA (Reuters)
Reuters - Rapper T.I. has been released from jail after being arrested on suspicion of possessing ecstasy, police said on Thursday.

KT Tunstall finds new musical edge on "Tiger Suit" (Reuters)
Reuters - At a recent media showcase in London, KT Tunstall offered an unusual description of the songs from her forthcoming third album: "Like Eddie Cochran working with Leftfield," she told the assembled press.

Parenthood hasn't mellowed Sleater-Kinney's Tucker (Reuters)
Reuters - The prevailing cultural attitude, at least for the middle-class, Caucasian, Western world, seems to be that the moment a woman gives birth, her taste in culture dies. "Mom blogs" peddle mewling folk singers, and your infant suddenly determines not only your musical preferences, but your outlook on life.

Katy Perry's chart-topper sparks new sales worries (Reuters)

Reuters - The Capitol release bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, thanks to first-week sales of 192,000 units in the United States, the ninth-best debut week so far this year, according to Nielsen SoundScan.