Problems along the way for the Michael Jackson memorial concert
Yesterday, arguments over the "Michael Jackson Forever Tribute Concert" had escalated.
The company supporting this concert has not yet provided the list of people who are supposed to perform. On August 3, Michael’s mother and four of his siblings confirmed the news of a concert held in his memory during a press conference. Chris Hunt, the manager of Global Live Events, had promised to bring the best names in the music industry to perform at the concert. The list of names was supposed to be announced within 10 days, but that didn’t happen.
A company spokesperson said that the people are still busy signing contracts, and the list of names will not be announced until everything is finalized. A formal statement was supposed to be released on Thursday, but again it didn’t happen.
Ticket sales for the concert—planned for October in Wales—were supposed to begin on Thursday, but fans still don’t know what they’re buying tickets for.
The ticket sales process and its pricing have also angered fans. When they visit the ticket-selling website, they find out that to have a chance of getting a ticket, they must pay more to charity. One of the event’s fans wrote on the event’s Facebook page: "The ticketing system is very bad. All Michael fans who don’t have good financial situations."
After several days of facing hostile messages from fans on Facebook, the company removed the Facebook link from the ticket sales website.
But the concert’s troubles began from day one, with the withdrawal of two of Michael’s brothers, Jermaine and Randy Jackson. In a statement, they said that due to the concert coinciding with the trial of their brother’s killer, they are not willing to cooperate with other members of the family and the company organizing the concert.
Chris Hunt had said that holding this concert could be a way for the brothers to reunite on stage; now, with Jermaine Jackson’s statement, it can be said that such a reunion will not happen at least in October. Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, and Michael were members of the Jackson 5 in the 1960s and 1970s. Over the years after the group fell apart, Jermaine tried to reunite them and stage a joint tour, but he never succeeded.
If all these problems weren’t enough, it should also be added that the Michael Jackson Foundation has officially withheld its support for this concert and said that they have not given permission for the use of Michael Jackson’s name in this concert. The use of Michael Jackson’s name and commercial credibility, according to his will, is fully in the hands of his foundation, which is led by his two longtime friends and partners, John Branca and John McClain.
A foundation spokesperson, Jim Bates, said that Global Live Events has not yet contacted the foundation to obtain a permit to hold this concert and to use Michael Jackson’s name commercially.
Source: eMJey.com / CNN.com