The media post mortem following Michael Jackson’s death, which shows no signs of abating, has unearthed some astounding observations. With the tearful tributes, the questions about cause of death, the demand for a second post mortem, potential custody battles over his children and the absence of any will and testament, I can’t help feeling that the greatest tragedy in this whole sad affair, is the unadulterated exploitation of a man who was clearly disturbed and at the mercy of a number of charlatans.
Of course show business is exactly what it claims to be – business – and it’s always been the same for stars. Very few have had real control, whether you’re talking about Buster Keaton, Judy Garland or Marilyn Monroe. But there’s usually a team of people behind the star who know how to make money and keep the brand going, but with Jackson he seems to have been constantly exploited, either by those in his entourage or by his family.
The word is that the pressure on Jackson to perform fifty dates at the O2 arena contributed to his untimely death. Wouldn’t his fitness to perform have been checked in a medical before the ten dates turned into fifty. Surely the heart would be the major organ to feature in such medicals?
It’s been suggested that the sharp rise in the number of dates was also responsible for Jackson losing his nerve, another issue that needed treatment from his “private” doctor. But why was Jackson playing fifty dates at the O2 when he could have played eleven dates at Wembley Stadium to the same amount of fans. The o2 holds 20,000 and Wembley Stadium holds 90,000. Weighing in at only 8 stone, with a suspected pill habit, why did Jackson’s advisors think it beneficial for him to do fifty dates instead of eleven?
It seems that Wembley has been overtaken as the definitive rock venue by the O2, which is hoovering up all the gigs. But there was a time, a few years back, when you couldn’t pay anyone to set foot in the place; now it’s the mecca for rock music, made cool by the likes of Led Zeppelin and Prince. The turn in fortune for the o2 was partly down to Rob Hallett, the head of the o2’s programming who was purportedly the man behind the increase in the number of Jackson dates. He was backed by Randy Phillips who heads up AEG worldwide- both parties no doubt benefiting extensively from this business deal. The statement released this morning that AEG intends to treat the Jackson fans with as much respect as Jackson himself did is rather jarring considering the statement was accompanied by a calculated publicity stunt.
This must be the biggest single event to be cancelled – ever. The tickets have been sold internationally, via internet sellers, through agents and touts and on ebay, making a vast network of ticket owners. The idea, then, that AEG is offering the fans a choice of a refund for the ticket price or the concert ticket itself as a souvenir, which could be worth something in years to come, is a stroke of (obvious) PR genius.
The cost of a paper ticket will have been a fraction of the price of the ticket value, and a large proportion of those fans will probably opt for the ticket rather than a refund as it will be one of the last items of Jackson memorabilia available to them. Handy really for AEG, as it turns out they are apparently only insured for ten Jackson dates. If, however, they are hoping that people will go for the ticket as a possible investment, the people who booked tickets should be aware that there are 1 million of them and this doesn’t make for much of a limited edition. AEG might have done better to promise some of the money to a Jackson-friendly charity.
Jackson was surrounded on both sides by people draining him - by fans on one side, who drooled over his every word and on the other by people making money out of him who kept him divorced from reality. He always surrounded himself with sharp operators who were top-notch at short-term brand work – but no one who could play the long game, which would explain all the difficulties that dogged throughout his life. I worked with him once, briefly, a long time ago, and his people always had their own agenda. I was unable to work with his entourage as I was just a pawn in a multifaceted chess game. Jackson, however, was just a puppet in the middle.
The same is true in death; the scrum to loot Jackson’s brand is underway and, like the beat, it will probably go on and on. The Jackson brand will never be laid to rest.

Now, people are free to turn Michael Jackson into what they always wanted him to be; the perfect pop prince who will be spotted living on the moon with Elvis one of these days, humming a few bars of Thriller. Death cleanses people like Jackson; all the negative copy has been laid to rest on the man himself. Instead it is being directed at the sharks gathering at his coffin side, the whole dysfunctional family, who have come to loot what they can. AEG are benefiting, albeit inadvertently, from Jackson’s death, but many others are cashing in on the Jackson brand whether it be via merchandising or creating DVDs from Jackson’s upcoming show rehearsal clips. Jackson’s father, however, is using this time to launch a record label as a method of mourning.

Jackson is, simply, worth more dead than alive – his death allows his life to become the Disney fairy tale he always wanted it to be. And, like a Disney fairy tale, all the really strange and unfortunate aspects of Michael Jackson’s life have been excised.

He will be buried at Neverland, the palace he built to try and contain his long-lost youth, after being carried through the streets of LA in a glass coffin placed on a carriage drawn by white horses and followed by a motorcade and doubtless hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people will come to watch. This was the family’s idea of a special send off

Jackson is being Dianified. And on top of that I have it on good authority that there are plans already afoot to create holograms of Jackson that will, effectively, keep him as a ‘living’ presence for evermore. Imagine it – Michael Jackson, permanently fit unless there’s a powercut, playing Vegas forever. It really wouldn’t surprise me if holographic technology were brought forward by decades just to achieve this.

I have asked my old mate Roger Edwards, who used to be marketing director of Wembley Stadium, to provide me with his own reminiscences on the Michael Jackson circus from the time he worked at Wembley. It is still surprising to consider that fifty nights at the O2 would have translated as five nights at Wembley in Roger’s day - something a little more manageable for Jackson, though not necessarily, given how very frail he turned out to be.

Wembley Stadium is now owned and run by the FA so its priority is football. The FA have always been an organisation that has had its issues. A strong vision might get them back up to speed, competing for gigs with the O2.

Michael Jackson at Wembley

Jackson played an unprecedented seven sell out concerts at Wembley Stadium on the BAD tour summer 1988 putting him in the Guinness Book of World Records. Demand was such that there could have been another seven but Brent Council had capped the number of concert licenses for the Stadium at 8 and the Stadium was already committed to the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Concert (Mandela was still in prison in 88 and this multi artiste concert simulcast around the world was to foster awareness). Originally pencilled for up to three days, when the concerts went on sale further dates were rapidly added, as it was clear demand would exceed the agreed number of dates, Brent Council were approached to extend the agreed number of concert events but could not be budged. Originally the Wembley dates were intended to be the UK’s only Jackson appearance. With the cap on Wembley and demand still running at a record level further dates were added at Cardiff Arms PK Liverpool Aintree Racecourse, Milton Keynes Bowl and Leeds Roundhay Park.

Jackson was at his absolute performing peak, the shows were fabulous audience reaction what can only be described as ecstatic. The demand and volume giving rise to a number of other interesting aspects. Merchandise ran at an unprecedented level but not without its curiosities. The merchandise company Brockum anticipating pirate sales had engaged an investigation firm to monitor known unofficial producers; the week before the first run of Wembley dates they trailed two forty foot trucks of unofficial merchandise from the North to the M1 Scratchwood services where the police impounded both lorries and their contents. This action however failed to completely stop off site unofficial sales.

The ticket sale profits from a later date were donated to the Princes Trust and Princess Diana attended the concert. This involved an exercise in getting Michael Jackson from the Stadium backstage area to the Banquet Hall where together with others he could be presented to Diana. This was following explanation to his people that she would not come back stage, Michael had to the Banquet Hall, this at a time when the audience were crowding the outer concourse. He made this journey in an unmarked van being dropped off at the kitchen loading bay before progressing past the well used bins, up a back staircase, through the kitchen and into the banquet hall where he joined the presentation line-up. I recall his being placed at the start of the line-up as the first to be presented but there was to be a wait until Princess Diana’s arrival, after metaphorically clicking his heels for a few moments he proceeded down the line introducing himself to others to be presented to Diana before returning to his first position at the start of the line.

There had been some debate prior the concert as to whether “Dirty Diana” should be dropped from the set list in case the audience thought this was some reference to the Princess.

On a personal front my eldest, four and a half at the time, joined Michael on stage at one concert before the 75,000 audience. At each concert a group of small children were collected to crocodile around the stage while Michael sang Working Day and Night.

Having enjoyed a very long career in venue management this sequence of concerts was undoubtedly a high point. It was pre internet ticket sales so sales were principally over the phone so for Wembley required briefing British Telecom who would filter calls so as to reduce the load on the local exchange to prevent it crashing. Tickets were security printed with a multiplicity of control features as was the norm at Wembley to prevent or at least limit forgery. I had never experienced such demand before and certainly nothing anywhere near since; the BAD tour was very much a moment in time.

The Return 1992 - the Dangerous tour

Not the same, by 92 that moment had passed although a longer run of dates were pencilled only three went to contract with only one other UK date at Sheffield Don Valley being included in the tour. Still a spectacular production including courtesy of David Copperfield the master illusionists advice Michael being made to disappear on stage as a closing routine before re-emerging flying round the side of the stage courtesy of a personal “jet pack” before finishing the concert with The Man in the Mirror as in 1988.

There was one unusual experience in the 92 tour; Michael was taken ill late in the day resulting in the necessity to cancel the concert. The decision was made to let the audience into the Stadium before telling them as being the most effective means of delivering the same message to everyone. Fortunately due the extra dates that were not taken up the concert was restaged later.

Roger Edwards Sales and Events Director the Wembley Complex 1987 - 92

Using shock tactics at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is less likely to garner publicity in this desensitised media age, argues PR guru Mark Borkowski

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is nearly upon us. And to prove it, should proof be needed, the first stunt of the summer has aroused a flurry of media interest and rattled the comedy commentariat.

It’s not surprising that there has been a fuss, given that the stuntster, comedian Lewis Schaffer, chose to hang the stunt on a surgical strike at the heart of Edinburgh, attributing some deeply scurrilous quotes to the dame of the theatrical aristocracy, producer Nica Burns.

http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/24846/stunt-master

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Andy Murray prepares for a practice session surrounded by his team of coaches.

Long tipped as a possible Wimbledon champion, it is not only Andy Murray’s game that has vastly improved. The relaxed demeanour, iconic all-white kit and trim haircut on show this week are a long way from the surly teenager with unruly curls who first inspired those predictions of greatness.

The makeover is a by product of an ambitious master plan by the company formed by Simon Fuller, the impresario behind the Spice Girls, David Beckham and Pop Idol, to turn him into a global sporting icon on a par with Roger Federer and Tiger Woods.

Work will begin on reviewing Murray’s portfolio of sponsors and replacing some with global brands, helping to establish him as an international star. His contract with Fred Perry is up at the end of this year and rivals including Adidas are already courting him heavily.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jun/26/andy-murray-wimbledon-new-look

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I was on the Today programme at 8.40 this morning, with Phil Hall from PHA Media, discussing Simon Lewis’s new role as director of communications for Gordon Brown and how he might turn Brown’s premiership around. A challenging role, as Phil and I agreed, especially given that he has to follow in the footsteps of Tony Blair’s cabal of effortless communicators.

Gordon Brown, we suggested, needs Simon Lewis to create a compelling narrative, pushing Brown into a position of leadership rather than the reactive PM we’ve seen in the press. He needs to communicate key policies.

The same needs to happen with Fred Goodwin. Throughout the saga, Sir Fred has been right legally. However, his biggest error has been failure to accept that his legal rights were, in the eyes of the world, wrong. While the banks were rolling in clover, the cash seemed justified, but when it went wrong he should have made some concessions to the public mood.

Other bankers comprehend that remorse requires addressing the issue head on. Andy Hornby, former chief executive of HBOS, waived his rights to severance pay and to a massive pension. As such, he is being given a second chance at Alliance Boots.

Phil Hall knows about challenging clients – he has Fred ‘The Shred’ Goodwin on his books. Phil wryly acknowledged on the show that rehabilitating Fred Goodwin is “certainly a challenge”. But it’s one he seems to be rising to, if you look at recent news on Goodwin.

By agreeing to the £200,000 a year reduction in his pension payments, Sir Fred is perhaps showing that something like a change in his thinking is coming. Goodwin certainly seems to taking control of the situation at last and not letting the media dictate the agenda. Perhaps it’s all too little too late, but it certainly seems that Phil is brewing up a compelling narrative for Fred Goodwin at a time when there are bigger financial scandals consuming the public’s attention. If so, Phil deserves a slap on the back for his canny sense of timing.

All that remains to be seen is whether Simon Lewis can begin to do the same for Gordon Brown.

To listen again to the broadcast, click here and scroll down to 8.40 a.m.

I gave an interview for Austrian radio last week on the nature of fame in the 21st Century. The podcast is available now but I am posting up the extract of my interview on this site.

Click here to listen to my comments on Fame on Austrian Radio or, to hear the full podcast, click here.

The papers have been full of Prince Harry’s new girlfriend Caroline Flack, the presenter of Gladiators and, it has become clear, a full throttle Alpha Female and a hedonist of the first order.

But now The Sun has announced that Harry’s dumped Flack because he misses Chelsy Davy, quoting him - through a friend - as saying: “I lost the best thing that ever happened to me and I’m paying for it.”

I wonder if this is the true voice of the Prince, who has proved time and again that you can’t keep a young, rich and eligible man from seeking out trouble in one form or another, or the voice of the Royal press machine.

Harry and Chelsy

It seems more likely that the Royal press machine is helping to distance Harry from his troublesomely party-friendly girl before things get out of hand. They’re clearly very good at talking sense into the Prince and have an excellent relationship with the editors of the tabloids. Seeding the line that Harry is heartsick for Chelsy is an immaculate piece of flackery in action - and the Sun’s source also tellingly insists that Caroline Flack is “just not the Royal Family’s type”.

One thing is for certain, the press are not going to be able to feast on the headline “The Prince and the Showgirl” for much longer. Whether this volte face is followed up by Harry returning to the girl he is said to miss remains to be seen; having been discovered in the wrong part of a nightclub indulging in a dose of the forbidden, Harry will no doubt have to settle for a nice girl from a good school who adores men in tight polo kit. Someone more country set than metropolitan uber-babe.

Could the tabloid-friendly sight of Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris Hilton in a Los Angeles nightclub the night before the footballer’s Real Madrid deal was confirmed be a coincidence? Originally published on the Guardian website

Call me a cynical old publicist but I have to admit that I am hardly surprised to see Cristiano Ronaldo spread across the tabloids today with Paris Hilton tucked under his arm at a club in Los Angeles.

It’s a marriage made in franchise heaven - the world’s most expensive footballer and the headline-grabbing socialite together on the eve of Ronaldo’s ascension to the giddy heights of football godhood - and an act of sublime stuntsmanship. It cannot be a coincidence.

Bear in mind that Real Madrid is almost certainly banking on being able to get more than a bit of loose change back from Ronaldo’s £80m price tag - not to mention his mooted wages of £200,000 per week - on the back of selling shirts, and it makes perfect sense that Ronaldo is to be found in an American nightclub… the night before the deal is announced.

They want to hook the American Latino market, which is where the US’s huge soccer audience is to be found. They need Ronaldo to follow in the golden boots of David Beckham. What better way than to place him at the jugular of America’s uber-celebrity, Paris Hilton?

Rumour has it that the deal was put in place a year ago - Real Madrid have had time, then, to plan an assault on the media to hurtle their player into the celebrity stratosphere. Ronaldo’s nightclub dalliance is simply the first step on the road to turning him into the biggest brand in the world of soccer. Already today, by playing the Paris card, he’s knocked Becks off the tabloid front pages in his latest photoshoot in his grundies.

All the ingredients have been carefully crafted and placed in the Petri dish of fame. Over the coming weeks we are going to see a new mutant ogre celebrity emerge from the stew that’s been cooked up.

Football is less and less a game of two halves - it is becoming more like a 3D chess set. On the lowest level is the game itself. Above that are the great players and their wives and girlfriends. But on the topmost level are the superstar money-spinners like Beckham, who hardly even need to play football anymore to earn everyone a living - and now Cristiano Ronaldo is clawing his way up there too.

It’s game on for the press. The planning phase is over and the celebrity games have begun. You can forget the likes of SuBo and the reality freakshow turns - Cristiano Ronaldo is where the uber money’s at. This is the million dollar deal.

ROBERT Burns has become the first real person to feature on a Coca-Cola bottle.

The special edition reproduces the image of Scotland’s national poet between the antlers of a stag to mark Homecoming Scotland 2009, in a colourful red, white and gold tribute.

Although an image of Santa Claus has previously appeared on a bottle of Coke, it is the first time the company has used the image of a historical figure on a bottle.

In another marketing milestone it is the first time Coca-Cola has dedicated a special edition to a nation.

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Ae-fond-fizz-from-CocaCola.5340942.jp

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It is already one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year, but there are few promotional posters on display and the trailers have yet to be screened.

Bruno, which stars Sacha Baron Cohen as his latest alter ego, a gay Austrian fashion presenter, has redefined the way films are marketed, masterminding a series of publicity stunts that culminated in Sunday’s appearance at the MTV Music Awards.

Mark Borkowski, founder of Borkowski PR, described Baron Cohen as “a PR person’s dream”. He said: “It is a clever strategy because the film world is a marketplace of ideas, and the conversation with the punter has become extremely noisy. Baron Cohen uses old-fashioned tactics to rise above all the other promotional din.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/05/sacha-baron-cohen-bruno-film-comedy

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