Michael 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 toward the costs of the singer's memorial service last year, one week ahead of the 1-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 Center venue.

Jackson, 50, died in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009, just days before a planned series of comeback concerts in London organized by AEG.

His death of an overdose of powerful sedatives, painkillers and the anesthetic propofol triggered grief around the world and sent sales of his records soaring.  

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio is among groups organizing special tributes to Jackson next weekend and fans are expected to visit the Jackson family hometown of Gary, Indiana.

But the anniversary this coming 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.

Showbiz411.com''s Roger Friedman reported that the coffee table style book would be called "Never Can Say Goodbye" and would be self-published by the 80 year-old matriarch of the Jackson 5 singing family.

Representatives of Katherine Jackson did not return calls for comment on Friday.

The "Thriller" singer''s father Joe is expected to file a civil wrongful death lawsuit before June 25. Joe Jackson is expected to accuse the concert promoters of making inadequate arrangements for his son's medical care during the lead-up to the planned 50 concerts at AEG''s 02 arena in London, according to legal sources.    

Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, was charged in February with involuntary manslaughter after acknowledging he gave Jackson propofol as a sleep aid. But it is likely to be months before the trial in Los Angeles gets underway.

MTV has several Jackson TV specials planned for next weekend and ABC will air a two-hour program on Jackson''s death and its aftermath.

But some events have faltered over music copyright issues and use of Jackson's name, likeness and other memorabilia that are owned by his estate.

They include a new TV Guide documentary called "Gone Too Soon" that has been sold to 50 nations, but will be broadcast without significant musical content.