Michelle Obama, daughters attend Beyonce concert

By MESFIN FEKADU

Michelle Obama was with the single ladies this weekend, joining 5,500 fans at a Beyonce concert in Atlantic City.

Michelle Obama, daughters attend Beyonce concert

Michelle Obama is with the single ladies this weekend: The First Lady is at a Beyonce concert in Atlantic City.

By BJOERN H. AMLAND

Sweden's Loreen wins Eurovision song contest with dance hit, pushing aside elderly rivals.

Country's George Jones released from hospital

By CHRIS TALBOTT

Country music star George Jones has been released from the hospital.

NC musician Doc Watson still in critical condition

Grammy-winning folk musician Doc Watson remains in critical condition at a North Carolina hospital after undergoing colon surgery this week.

Zimbabwe arrests British music presenter

Organizers of a classical music festival in Zimbabwe say authorities arrested a prominent British music personality at a concert in the second city of Bulawayo.

Morocco hosts world's artists, imprisons its own

By PAUL SCHEMM

Morocco's glittering Mawazine international music festival wraps up this weekend with performances by Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz, after nine days of showcasing the North African kingdom's cool factor _ even as dissident Moroccan musicians…

'Idol' moves toward lower payouts for runners-up

ANTHONY McCARTNEY

Coming in second on "American Idol" may still be a path to superstardom, but it no longer offers guaranteed paychecks worthy of the next pop idol or rock star.

Calif. activist guilty in Vietnamese singer attack

A California activist faces up to three years and eight months behind bars for spraying an irritant at a pop singer from Vietnam to protest communism.

Records: Winans' license suspended when carjacked

By DAVID N. GOODMAN

Records show Detroit pastor and gospel singing icon Marvin Winans' driver's license was suspended and there was a warrant out for his arrest when he was carjacked last week.

Gregg Allman engaged to 24-year-old girlfriend

By CHRIS TALBOTT

Gregg Allman is getting married for the seventh time.

Nina Stemme triumphs in `Salome' at Carnegie

By MIKE SILVERMAN

Someone forgot to tell Nina Stemme that the opera season here is supposed to be over. Thank goodness!

Protesters held in Azerbaijan before song contest

By PETER LEONARD

Dozens of anti-government protesters were detained by police Friday in this former Soviet nation as it prepares to host the finals of the Eurovision song contest.

Turkish pianist accused of insulting Islam

Turkey's state-run news agency says a prosecutor has proposed charging an internationally known Turkish pianist and composer with insulting Islamic religious values in comments he made on Twitter.

Folk musician Doc Watson critical in NC hospital

By MARTHA WAGGONER

Grammy-winning folk musician Doc Watson is in critical condition Friday at a North Carolina hospital after falling at his home in Deep Gap earlier this week.

Bayou Country Superfest to begin Saturday in La.

By STACEY PLAISANCE

A horn section backs up country singer Jerrod Niemann this weekend in south Louisiana's Bayou Country Superfest, a two-day festival that includes Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Sara Evans and others.

This is pop? A look at wacky Eurovision contenders

PETER LEONARD

A memorable melody. Distinctive stage presence. Some horse-trading of votes.

Born this way? Lady Gaga meets Thai 'lady boys'

By JOCELYN GECKER

Lady Gaga has met Thailand's premier "lady boys" at a Bangkok drag show featuring busty dancers who were not born that way.

Lady Gaga won't change show for protests: manager

Lady Gaga's manager says the pop diva has no plans to tone down her act, even if that prevents her from performing in some countries on her Asian tour.

Michelle Obama's dream job: Being Beyonce

Who would Michelle Obama be if she could be anyone? Beyonce.

Journalist finds additional calling as songsmith

By Tim Shellberg Times Correspondent

When it came to creating his most recent set, “Silhouette of a Fool,” Jim Hoehn’s worlds as a songsmith and news reporter were fused.

Lisa Marie Presley returns with rootsy third album

By Ryan Pearson AP Entertainment Writer

After moving across an ocean to rural England, Lisa Marie Presley found herself as close as she's ever been to her father, at least musically.

Lady Gaga angers Thai fans with fake Rolex comment

By JOCELYN GECKER

Lady Gaga wants to go shopping in Bangkok _ for a fake Rolex.

Shirley Manson celebrates return of Garbage

By NATALIE ROTMAN

Shirley Manson still remembers the words of wisdom Bono gave her about keeping a band intact for the long haul.

McGraw to give 25 homes to members of military

By CHRIS TALBOTT

Tim McGraw will be saluting veterans in a big way while on tour this summer.

Beach Boys lead a 'Surfin' Safari'

By Eloise Marie Valadez Eloise.Valadez@nwi.com, (219) 933-3365

Summer seemed as though it was in full swing May 22 during The Beach Boys' concert in the Windy City.

Disco queen Donna Summer laid to rest in Nashville

Family and some of her closest friends helped celebrate the life of Donna Summer at the singer's funeral.

'Duck' Dunn remembered on Memphis' Beale Street

By ADRIAN SAINZ

The late bass player Donald "Duck" Dunn was honored Wednesday in the city where he performed on some of R&B's best-known hits, with musicians leading a lively funeral march down Memphis' Beale Street.

3 Doors Down guitarist Matt Roberts leaves band

3 Doors Down says on its website that founding member and guitarist Matt Roberts has left the rock band because of health problems.

46th annual CMA Awards to be held Nov. 1

The Country Music Association's 46th annual awards show is scheduled for Nov. 1.

Library of Congress taps 25 sounds for registry

By Brett Zongker Associated Press

From rare audio interviews of former slaves to recordings by Donna Summer and the Grateful Dead, 25 sounds that shaped the American cultural landscape are being inducted into the National Recording Registry.

Review: Garbage releases your kind of album

By CRISTINA JALERU

Garbage, "Not Your Kind of People" (Stunvolume Records)

Iranians seek return of singer from Germany

Iran's official news agency says protesters in front of the German Embassy in Tehran are seeking return of an Iranian-born singer who went into hiding after receiving death threats.

Library of Congress taps 25 sounds for registry

By BRETT ZONGKER

From rare audio interviews of former slaves to recordings by Donna Summer and the Grateful Dead, 25 sounds that shaped the American cultural landscape are being inducted into the National Recording Registry.

Azerbaijan basks in glitz, fears exposure

By PETER LEONARD

On a recent evening on Baku's seaside promenade, throbbing Euro-dance music blared out from an open-air concert as families strolled by. Cafes serving fragrant skewered meat served throngs of locals and foreigners.

Review: Ditto & Co. deliver delightful dance tunes

By RON HARRIS

Gossip, "A Joyful Noise" (Columbia)

Lisa Marie Presley returns with rootsy third album

By RYAN PEARSON

After moving across an ocean to rural England, Lisa Marie Presley found herself as close as she's ever been to her father, at least musically.

List of 25 sounds saved by Library of Congress

By The Associated Press

Here's a listing of the 2011 inductees to the National Recording Registry in chronological order:

Young Hollywood stars strike out on own at Cannes

By JAKE COYLE

Vampires, Transformers, singing high-schoolers: They can all be tough to outrun.

'Polka King' Eddie Blazonczyk dies at 70

By CARYN ROUSSEAU

Grammy Award-winning polka great Eddie Blazonczyk, who began playing the lively music in the 1950s and went on to earn the nickname "Polka King" after starting his own band and label, has died. He was 70.

Kanye leads in BET nods, Samuel Jackson to host

It's a family affair at the upcoming BET Awards: Kanye West has the most nominations with seven, while his mentor, Jay-Z, earned five, and Jay-Z's wife, Beyoncé, received six.

Pearl Jam, Skrillex to perform at Philly festival

By MESFIN FEKADU

Pearl Jam, Skrillex and D'Angelo are among the performers scheduled to take the stage at the Made In America music festival Jay-Z is curating in Philadelphia in September.

R&B singer Usher claims ex-wife spit at girlfriend

R&B singer Usher Raymond is locked in a legal battle with his ex-wife arising from a custody fight over their two sons.

The top 10 songs and albums on the iTunes Store

By The Associated Press

iTunes' Official Music Charts for the week ending May 21, 2012

Ray J hospitalized near Las Vegas for exhaustion

R&B singer Ray J has been hospitalized near Las Vegas for exhaustion.

'Idol' judge Tyler charmed by 'sexy beast' J-Lo

By JOHN CARUCCI

Steven Tyler is mum on whether he or Jennifer Lopez will return to the judging panel on "American Idol" next year, but the rocker says he has loved the experience of sitting next to her.