Madonna [ tickets ]'s second book for children, titled "Mr. Peabody's Apples," was released on Monday (11/10). Her first, "The English Roses," debuted at No. 1 on the The New York Times' children's picture book best-seller list, where it has remained for six consecutive weeks.

Michael Jackson [ tickets ] issues a five-track CD-single featuring the R. Kelly-penned song "One More Chance" on Nov. 25.

Included in the set will be a remix of the song by Paul Oakenfold.

Pop singer Jessica Simpson [ tickets ]--whose life with her husband Nick Lachey is on display in the hit MTV series "Newlyweds"--has signed a development deal with ABC to star in a scripted comedy series that is targeted to debut in the fall of 2004.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the concept of the series hasn't been determined.

Willard Grant Conspiracy [ tickets ], a band fronted by Robert Fisher that features a rotating cast of up to 31 members, will release its fifth full-length album, "Regard the End," on Feb. 17.

Among the guest vocalists who contributed to the album were Kristin Hersh [ tickets ], Blake Hazard and Jess Klein.