I have to admit, the planning for the big Michael Jackson tribute concert in Cardiff this weekend has seemed, from the outside at least, so shambolic, I’m curious to see how it turns out on the day. However, without train tickets booked for Cardiff, it’s looking like I won’t get to see the show, because, according PC Mag, and in the latest shambles associated with the concert, the Facebook live webcast of the event is off.

Promoters Global Live Events only announced that the show would be webcast last weekend, offering fans the chance to see the show live via the Facebook platform for four dollars, or five dollars if they paid on the day. But, it seems, it didn’t occur to anybody that such a webcast would need licences from the publishers who own the songs being sung at the show, and given that Facebook itself doesn’t have any licences from music companies, the whole thing’s hit a hurdle.

PC Mag initially noticed that the Facebook page meant to host the webcast had gone down. The magazine contacted the technology company which was managing the live stream, which explained: “Due to legal challenges brought by the music labels [or, rather, publishers] that own the rights to Michael Jackson’s lyrics, concert promoter Global Live Events has notified us that the live Facebook broadcast of the Michael Forever tribute concert has been cancelled. As the technology provider behind the live Facebook broadcast, Milyoni will fully refund all customers who pre-purchased access to the concert using Facebook Credits or PayPal”.

The statement continued: “While social media presents a new opportunity for artists and concert promoters to reach global audiences, it is still a new and disruptive frontier ripe with challenges. Milyoni will continue to work closely with our music and entertainment partners to pursue this new channel of distribution, beneficial to both artists and fans worldwide”.

So there you go, now Facebook users won’t be able to watch the Black Eyed Peas not performing. They, of course, pulled out of the show earlier this week, leading to tabloid speculation their current hiatus was about to become a proper split. Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Cee Lo Green, Leona Lewis and Craig David are all set to perform though.

As previously reported, while the show is endorsed by part of the Jackson clan, including the late king of pop’s mother Katherine, some of the family have criticised the show because of its timing, in the middle of the high profile trial of Conrad Murray, the doctor accused of causing Michael Jackson’s death.

Sections: Digital - Gigs & Tours News - Top Stories | Tags: Facebook, Global Live Events, Michael Jackson

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