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http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index....1c-d6038823ae0e
Michael Jackson Takes on World, Wins
by Gina Serpe
Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:51:40 AM PST
The King of Pop is about to be crowned King of the World.
Michael Jackson is set to receive the Diamond Award at the World Music Awards in London next month, honoring his career album sales in excess of 100 million.
Jackson, who now calls Ireland home, will make a rare public appearance at the Nov. 15 ceremony to collect his hardware.
Upping the spectacle ante: Lindsay Lohan has been tapped to host the to-do, taking place in the U.K. for the first time in its 18-year history.
According to the organizers, Jackson was chosen to receive the Diamond Award due solely to his impressive sales, despite the fact that he hit the 100 million milestone years ago. He joins of select list of winners that includes Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Bon Jovi and Celine Dion.
The World Music Awards does not dole out the prestigious honor every year, and not only because of a dearth of qualified recipients. According to the awards show, the honor is presented only when there is "a very special reason for it, and there can be no doubt that Michael Jackson is the most special reason."
Jackson, of course, has been attempting to raise his musical profile—while keeping his personal travails on the down low—as he strives toward a comeback.
The timing of the award also happens to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Thriller, Jackson's ground- and record-breaking album that has sold more than 40 million copies since its 1982 release.
In any event, Jackson and Lohan aren't the only VIP RSVPs. Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli will all perform at the ceremony.
Aside from preparing his acceptance speech, Jackson is also said to be working on his long-coming follow-up album to the critically panned 2001 release, Invincible, despite having recently split with the Bahrain-based record label Two Seas.
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Times reported that Jackson had enlisted the help of several prominent hip-hop producers and was working his way to a more urban sound.
Ron "Neff U" Feemster, who has worked with Eminem, 50 Cent and Ne-Yo, reportedly traveled to Britain in September to collaborate with Jackson, as have the Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am, Jackson's Dangerous producer Teddy Riley, 50 Cent's turntablist DJ Whoo Kid and Charles "Big Chuck" Stanton.
"He's ready to take over the world," Stanton told the Times of Jackson's musical strides. "We're giving Michael a lot of edgy street records. He's putting melodies to some hard party records."
When Jackson was partnered with Two Seas, his camp proclaimed that a new album would be out in 2007. |
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