Michael Jackson will take over London’s O2 arena for two months this summer after signing a deal worth more than £100 million it has been revealed.
The 50-year-old singer, who will formally announce the concerts at the venue tomorrow, will earn the extraordinary amount for the residency scheduled for June and July.
The deal, which a source said could go 'up to 50 nights', was hammered out this week following months of negotiations between the singer’s representatives and AEG, operators of the 20,000 seater-venue.
Promoter Harvey Goldsmith also played a key role.
They will be the only concerts Jackson performs in the world this year and tickets will be priced from £75 upwards.
They are his first major performance since his acquittal on child abuse charges in 2005.
It will be the longest run of shows by any one act since the venue beneath the former Millennium Dome opened in 2007.
It is the type of deal which until now had only been seen in Las Vegas, where both Elton John and Celine Dion have had long-running residencies which were established by Frank Sinatra.
A source is quoted as telling London's Evening Standard that Jackson negotiations have involved a series of ‘creative commercial opportunities’ connected to the residency, which could include a new album being given away free to fans, a share in merchandise sales and an official DVD of the shows.
The ‘King of Pop’ is said to be finally putting the finishing touches on his first new album since 2001, and has collaborated with songwriters Kanye West, Will.I.Am and Ne-Yo.
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