MJ’s O2 Shows Not AllGood

Michael Jackson’s planned 50-show residency at London’s O2 will breach a non-compete agreement the performer’s reps signed with AllGood Entertainment as part of plans for a Jackson Family reunion one-off, says CEO Patrick Allocco. And he is prepared to file suit Friday to enforce the blackout, the promoter told Pollstar.

A cease-and-desist letter has been issued to the reps, including Frank Dileo and others with Dileo Entertainment, and AEG Live.

Allocco provided Pollstar with a copy of the non-compete, signed by Allocco, Dileo and four others not including any Jackson family members, that purports to prevent any Jackson family member from negotiating another event for 18 months from Nov. 26, 2008.

Allocco said his company had originally intended to stage a Jackson Family reunion concert at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium in July as a one-off, pay-per-view webcast event. When he learned of negotiations between Jackson’s camp and AEG Live to do a series of concerts in London, and subsequent date conflict with his plans, he moved the Jackson Family show to July 3, 2010, in Dallas, Allocco said.

“Michael personally assured me he intended to do this concert in Dallas,” Allocco said. “When the O2 concerts came up, we realized we had a date conflict with that this year and agreed to hold a date in 2010, which we have.”

Now, as Jackson famously told a press conference announcing the O2 shows, “this is it” – and he has ceased cooperating with AllGood for the Dallas show next year, Allocco alleged.

“We’re ready to work with them; all we want is our show,” Allocco said of the disagreement. “If they won’t work with us, we have no choice but to enforce the non-compete.”

AEG Live President/CEO Randy Phillips told Pollstar that while his company doesn’t comment on pending litigation, “We are aware and consider the claims meritless. [Michael Jackson’s] rehearsals continue unabated.”