Sunday, August 21, 2011 10:40am ET by  
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Michael Jackson tribute concert tickets to go on sale

Tickets for the Michael Jackson tribute in Cardiff will go on sale next week despite increased criticism of the event, its UK-based promotion consultant says.

Paul King said the plan was for tickets to go on sale to the general public at 9:00 BST on Wednesday morning.

On Friday, music website Stereoboard UK branded the gig "a damp squib" and cast doubt on whether it would still take place.

But Mr King insisted: "The concert is very much going ahead."

The Michael Forever concert at the Millennium Stadium on October 8 was announced by producers Global Live Events on Monday, July 25 but has since been surrounded by controversy.

Despite reports that Jackson's mother Katherine, his sister La Toya and brothers Tito, Marlon and Jackie, were endorsing the event, the late singer's other brothers Jermaine and Randy labelled it "inappropriate" and "ill-timed".

On Thursday, there were reports that rock band Kiss had been dropped from the bill, after comments about the star as child abuser, prompted Jermaine Jackson to say: "This mishandling reinforces my view that this promoter is getting it all wrong."

Michael Jackson, who died in June 2009 aged 50 while rehearsing for his 'This Is It' tour, was cleared of child molestation in 2005.

In response Global Events Live chief executive Chris Hunt called the Kiss booking an "oversight".

Christina Aguilera and Leona Lewis are due to take part in the show.

Other stars set to appear include Cee Lo Green, Smokey Robinson, boy band JLS and Jackson's nephews 3T.

Watch Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' here: