The first new track by Michael Jackson to emerge since the star's death was released online today.

The single, "This Is It," was posted on Jackson's official Web site, www.michaeljackson.com, at midnight EDT. The site says it is "a brand new song" that "marks yet another exciting moment in music history for one of the world's most revered artists; featuring backing vocals by Michael's brothers."

The song precedes a two-disc album of the same name that will be available internationally on Oct. 26 and North America on Oct. 27 through Sony's Columbia/Epic Label Group. The album contains music from the movie "Michael Jackson's This Is It," which will have a limited run in theaters from Oct. 27 and will also be on DVD and Blu-ray.

Jackson, who died in June at age 50, sold 750 million records worldwide in his lifetime.

FILM INDUSTRY WILL HONOR MIKE NICHOLS

LOS ANGELES — Director Mike Nichols has been chosen to receive the 38th American Film Institute's life-achievement award.

Nichols, whose films include "The Graduate," "Working Girl," "Silkwood" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" will receive the AFI honor at a ceremony next summer.

The 77-year-old Nichols joins past AFI award recipients such as "Virginia Woolf" star Elizabeth Taylor, "Silkwood" star Meryl Streep and "Graduate" star Dustin Hoffman.

Nichols' most recent film was 2007's "Charlie Wilson's War," starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

'MAD MEN' STAR FRETS OVER TRASH TRUCKS

NEW YORK — "Mad Men" star John Slattery says not in his backyard.

The actor, who plays advertising executive Roger Sterling on the hit television drama, is fighting plans to build a $346 million Sanitation Department building in his Manhattan neighborhood.

New York City officials say the new building on Spring Street will get trucks off the street and into a garage and will provide the trucks direct access to the West Side Highway.

Slattery says his neighbors are worried about pedestrian safety, with garbage trucks adding hundreds of visits to the neighborhood each day.

'COUPLES RETREAT' IS A BOX-OFFICE WINNER

LOS ANGELES — "Swingers" co-stars Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau buddied up for the weekend's top movie as "Couples Retreat" debuted with $35.3 million, while the micro-budgeted fright flick "Paranormal Activity" leaped into the top 10.

Shot for a reported $15,000, "Paranormal Activity" came in at No. 5 with $7.1 million as distributor Paramount expanded it into daylong release after two weeks of midnight-only screenings.

Sony's "Zombieland," the No. 1 movie the previous weekend, slipped to second place with $15 million, raising its total to $47.8 million.