Jackson concert promoters pay up as anniversary nears

The promoter behind Michael Jackson's ill-fated concert tour on Friday contributed more than $1 million (Dh3.67 million) toward the costs of the singer's memorial service last year, one week ahead of the one-year anniversary of the King of Pop's death.

AEG and the executors of the Jackson estate said they have given $1.3 million to the city of Los Angeles to help cover the $3.2 million cost of policing and other measures for the July 2009 public memorial at AEG's Staples Centre venue.

But the anniversary this Friday is expected to be largely low-key and there are no known official plans by the Jackson family to publicly mark the day.

Discussions have been held between the family, local police and cemetery officials with a view to allowing limited fan access to Jackson's burial site outside Los Angeles, but no plans have yet been announced.

Michael Jackson's mother Katherine was reported on Friday to be planning to publish a book next week of personal photographs of her son.