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NEWS : STORIES
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03.04.2009 3:16 PM EST
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Michael Jackson Expected To Announce London Concerts
Series of shows at O2 Arena may be announced at press conference Thursday.
by
Gil Kaufman
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Michael Jackson
(Photo:
Matthew Simmons/ WireImage
)
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Prince, Britney Spears ... and Michael Jackson. The self-proclaimed "King of Pop" is scheduled to make a
personal appearance Thursday to announce an upcoming residency at London's O2 Arena, according to British media reports.
Jackson, who has struggled to regain his career footing since his acquittal on child-molestation charges in 2005, has not performed live in England since his brief 2006 appearance at the World Music Awards and has not played a consistent string of dates since his 1996-97 HIStory World Tour.
The popular O2 Arena has been the site of a number of artist residencies, including a 21-night stand by Prince in 2007, a 17-night sold-out run by the Spice Girls in 2008, stints by Take That and Kylie Minogue, and a two-week string of shows by Britney Spears slated for June.
A spokesperson for Jackson did not return an e-mail requesting comment at press time but said Tuesday that a "special announcement" about Jackson would be made Thursday at the 20,000-capacity venue, according to reports.
In late November, Randy Phillips, President and CEO of AEG Live, said that the company — which books and runs the O2 — has been chasing Jackson for two years looking for a multi-night engagement. Though no deal was signed at the time, Phillips said AEG has had a "standing offer" to Jackson since 2006 to re-create his landmark Thriller album in its entirety at the O2 but had struggled to nail down a firm deal with the elusive singer. The Associated Press reported that it's been widely rumored that Jackson could play up to 30 dates at the O2, smashing previous residency records. A spokesperson for AEG Live had not returned requests for comment at press time.
London's Telegraph reported that Jackson, 50, arrived in Great Britain on Tuesday. Though his Thriller is the biggest-selling album of all time, Jackson's career has been overshadowed for much of the past 15-plus years by his reported financial problems, mysterious actions, multiple lawsuits, controversies surrounding his three children, failure to return to commercial viability with his recent albums, the forced sale of his Neverland Ranch last year and an upcoming April auction of thousands of his personal possessions, which were reportedly put on the block to stem some of his alleged financial distress.
Though many artists have claimed to be working on songs for Jackson's upcoming album, the singer has not played a full concert or released a new record since 2001's lackluster Invincible.
This report is provided by MTV News
 
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