In Case You Haven't Heard ...

A Quick Serving of News and Gossip from the Music Biz

This week’s news is all about celebration!

Congratulations go out to Kelis! Nas’ wifey was acquitted of disorderly conduct for a 2007 arrest where she had been accused of harassing two female police officers posing as prostitutes in Miami Beach, Fla.

Congratulations also go out to the winners at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards! Trophies went to Britney Spears (“Best Pop Video,” “Best Female Video” and “Video of the Year,” all for “Piece of Me”), Chris Brown (“Best Male Video” for “With You”), Pussycat Dolls (“Best Dancing in a Video” for “When I Grow Up”), Linkin Park (“Best Rock Video” for “Shadow of the Day”), Lil Wayne (“Best Hip-Hop Video” for “Lollipop”) and Tokio Hotel (“Best New Artist).

Congratulations are also sent to Rhythm & Blues Foundation “Pioneer Award” recipients Chaka Khan, Kool & the Gang, Bill Withers, The Whispers, The Funk Brothers, Donny Hathaway, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Al Bell and the Queen of Ivory Soul, Teena Marie.

Happy 25th anniversary to the ever-popular NOW compilation series. The UK version will celebrate with a three-disc set collecting a quarter century of hits from artists such as Queen to the Spice Girls to Katy Perry. (Will Estelle make an appearance? If not, at least her album has returned to the U.S. iTunes site after being removed a few weeks ago.)

Fall’s new music calendar is full of heavyweights, including Michelle Williams (Unexpected), Sarah McLachlan (Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan) and Avant in October; Beyoncé in November; and Queen Latifah in December.

In Case You Haven't Heard ...