Destiny's changing course

Group member Michelle William's is expected to release a gospel album early next year. Michelle will, in fact, be the first member of Destiny's Child to launch a solo career. Kelly Rowland will be working on an alternate R & B album which should see the light of day by early 2003. Beyonce Knowles is expected to have a go at movies. Rumours circulating suggest she may accept a role in the Austin Powers film titled "Goldmember". Beyonce will keep in touch with music by recording a solo album which is expected to come out late 2002.

Meanwhile, the management of Destiny's Child is to work out a scheme so that Williams, Rowland and Knowles will not compete with each other when their completed work hits the market. In another development, Destiny's Child have cancelled their forthcoming tour of Australia following the September 11 attacks in America. 

Britney Spears cancelled a recent appearance on US television following an Anthrax scare. The singer was due to appear on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno but she pulled out after NBC television was caught up in the biological attack. This was after an employee of NBC was tested positive at its New York headquarters last weekend. 

Britney Spears advisors made the decision to pull out of the widely watched "The Tonight Show" despite the Jay Leno show being filmed at NBC's studio in Los Angeles. The punchy dance sound of Kylie Minogue is very much in control of the UK singles. For a fourth consecutive week, the Australian singer's hit 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head', is at the No: 1 spot.

The song has sold over 600,000 copies, been certified with a Platinum disc and is now the year's best selling single in the UK. It also equals the four-week reign of Atomic Kitten's 'Whole Again' from February this year. Thus both songs share the slot for the longest stay at the No: 1 position. 

An artiste who posed a threat to Kylie was Michael Jackson. His new single 'You Rock My World' was released last week. Being the star he is, the pundits and chart watchers were predicting a sweep for the 43-year-old mega star. Mid-week sales also indicated Jacko was in the lead. But it was only perhaps hot air. Gradually disappointment about Michael's new song 'You Rock My World', sank in. By Friday, pint-sized Kylie Minogue was waving the Aussie flag once again as she was poised to lead in the sales and extend her reign on the singles chart for a fourth consecutive week. 

So with Michael Jackson missing the crown, one wonders what challenge Kylie's song could face next week. A check over the horizon at least for the moment indicates a clear path for 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head.' 

'You Rock My World' - Michael Jackson's newest song, his first new hit since 1997 entered the No: 2 position this week. It's a very good position to enter the single chart. But for a star of Michael's calibre, it's a disappointment. Having taken the lead mid-week this very disjointed Jackson song was humiliated by Kylie Minogue's single. Four years of being in the studio has not worked with the public. 

Michael is due to release his next album 'Invincible' on October 29. It is being referred to as the most expensive album in history. How his fans and those he may try to win over as fans, react to it is the big question. 

Police in Holland have arrested a man who was stalking Spice Girl - Melanie C. The arrest was made over the weekend after the man sent Mel C a string of death threats. Melanie Chisholm was given round the clock police protection as she received sexually explicit letters and sinister taped messages. One such message on tape said, "This is the day we are both going to die". As the Metropolitan Police stepped in to guard Melanie's North London home, a woman constable was assigned to accompany the singer when she stepped out of home. 

Scantily-clad Geri Halliwell and equally exotic back-up singers entertained British Armed Forces personnel in Oman last week. Geri belted out her chart hits in the desert to a group of enthusiastic soldiers. The group Steps also performed at the same time for the troops who had completed operation "Swift Sword" with Omani troops.