Confidential sources have confirmed to TicketNews that Michael Jackson will be performing live in a series of shows, possibly in 2009, which will be announced within a week. While the exact location and duration of the engagement are forthcoming, recent published reports have conjectured about a 30-show run in Las Vegas or London.
Talks of a Jackson comeback event have been brewing for the past year as the beleaguered star has battled various financial setbacks and explored new sources of income.
When private equity group Colony Capital purchased the loan on Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in California last year, speculation surfaced that the company was looking in to various repayment options for the King of Pop — including a series of live performances. The Los Angeles-based firm owns a number of casino and resort properties, including the Las Vegas Hilton.
According to the New York Daily Mail, insiders estimate an extended-stay concert series could net the performer as much as $215 million. His Neverland-related debt alone was approximated at $24.5 million prior to its sale to Colony Capital. In April, Jackson’s estate is expected to auction off thousands of his possessions and collectibles during a five-day sale to help counter his debt.
In October 2008, Jackson dismissed that he was in talks with his siblings for a Jackson Five reunion tour. Despite denying the plans, Jackson did confirm in a statement at the time, “I am now in the studio developing new and exciting projects that I look forward to sharing with my fans in concert soon.”
Most recently, Jackson has also confirmed plans to put some of his best known music on show on the Great White Way. A Broadway adaptation of “Thriller” is in works for a future staging. According to published reports, producer James L. Nederlander holds rights to make and stage the musical, but a creative team has not yet been announced for the project.
