Tribute Concert Promoters Fail to Sway Jackson Fan Clubs
By JAMES C. MCKINLEY JR.
The promoters of a Michael Jackson tribute concert tried to dispel the concerns of fan clubs Monday during a series of international conference calls on Wednesday, but leaders of some large groups said afterwards they were still opposed to the event.
For weeks, fan clubs have criticized the promoters for staging the “Michael Forever” concert in Wales on Oct. 8, around the same time as the involuntary manslaughter trial in California of Dr. Conrad Murray, the physician who was caring for Mr. Jackson when he died in June 2009. Several fan clubs have criticized the promoters for not releasing details about how much money from the concert’s proceeds will go to two charities that Mr. Jackson had supported during his life. Many have also said the promoters should have reached an agreement with Mr. Jackson’s estate before staging the concert.
“In all honesty, they haven’t answered any of my questions,” said Gary Taylor, the president of the Micheal Jackson Community in Britain, which has 80,000 registered members. “Where is the money going? Who is benefiting?”
“They just don’t want to listen to what we have to say,” he added.
Juliette Harris, a spokeswoman for the promoter, Global Live Events , said the goal of the calls was to open a dialogue with the fan clubs and counter some false reports on fan Web sites, among them the charge that none of the ticket proceeds would go to charity and that the tickets could not be refunded. “We are not trying to persuade people or change their minds,” she said. “Our goal is to say ‘Here are the facts.’”
The opposition of the major fan club groups presents a problem for the promoter, Chris Hunt, a British filmmaker who formed Global Live Events this spring to put on the show. The fan clubs wield influence with many of the people most likely to buy tickets to the events. Mr. Hunt did not take questions from the heads of fan clubs Wednesday. Instead Global Live was represented during the calls by another executive, Andy Picheta.
The concert has divided the Jackson family. Janet Jackson and Jermaine Jackson – who have had the most successful solo careers – are boycotting the event, along with their brother Randy Jackson, because it conflicts with the trial. La Toya Jackson and three other siblings – Tito, Marlon and Jackie — are planning to attend and may perform.
The executors of Michael Jackson’s estate, which is not controlled by any of the siblings, have also raised questions about the charitable intentions of the promoters. They have made it plain the promoters may not use Mr. Jackson’s image, name or other intellectual property to sell the concert.
Wesley Noorhoff, the president of the Legendary Michael Jackson Fan Association in the Netherlands, which has 25,000 members, said the conversation with Global Live officials had not swayed him. Holding the concert during the trial and excluding the estate from the project still bothered his members, he said.
“We are still not behind the concert,” he said after the telephone call. “The biggest problems we have are the timing and not working with the Michael Jackson estate and not getting all the Jacksons onboard.”
