On July 13th, the late Michael Jackson was set to start a 50-date residency at London's O2 Arena. He supposedly only agreed to ten shows and was furious about the addition 40 bookings (who wouldn't be). It's hard to deny that the hype surrounding these shows was pretty massive. You don't sell out 50 shows in an hour and not get world recognition...or have the shows promoters freaking out about losing millions of dollars (way classy of AEG to put this release out mere hours after Michael's death).

More than $85 million worth of tickets have already been sold for the series of performances, which have the now sadly ironic title "This Is It." As much as $30 million has already been spent on production, according to sources close to the situation. So what's at stake for AEG, the world's second-largest concert promoter, can't be overstated.

Concert business executives have estimated that AEG paid Jackson an advance of as much as $10 million. That, plus the production costs, would mean AEG stands to lose as much as $40 million if nonappearance insurance isn't substantial enough to cover this contingency. For AEG, "it's either horrible or really horrible," a concert business executive says.

But a source familiar with the situation says a traditional nonappearance policy was never written. Billboard couldn't confirm that at press time. Even if AEG had a policy, that doesn't mean Jackson's death, and the losses incurred, would be covered. "If it was a pre-existing condition or drug- or alcohol-related, a normal cancellation policy would not cover that, even if he had passed a medical exam," the source says. AEG could be on the hook "if death was from something that's excluded in the policy."

Whatever happens, the $85 million taken in from ticket sales will need to be refunded to the public. It will be messy, as well as expensive, and it will need to happen quickly by law.

Anyway, the setlist MJ had been practicing for the London residency has been leaked. I thought we'd look at it compared to setlists from his other solo tours, even though he continued touring with his brothers from the Jackson Five through 1984's Victory tour, all of which were either booked into arenas or stadiums. All of which were very, very sold out.

His first New York area show as a solo artist was at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on November 8, 1979. Off the Wall was just starting to make Michael from the guy from the Jackson 5 with the few solo hits into one of the biggest stars of all time.

The last public concert he ever did was the tribute shows he threw for himself at Madison Square Garden on September 7th and 10th, 2001. These two shows, which featured Slash, Britney Spears, Usher, *NSync, Marlon Brandon and others, were surprising not sold out at all.

This Is It - O2 Arena Residency - Proposed Setlist (2009)
Billie Jean / Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Rock With You / The Way You Make Me Feel / Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough / I Just Can't Stop Loving You / Human Nature / Smooth Criminal / Girlfriend / Man In The Mirror / Beat It / One Day In Your Life / Heal The World / You Are Not Alone / Remember The Time / Thriller

HIStory Tour (1996-1997)
Scream -> They Don't Care About Us -> In the Closet / Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Stranger in Moscow / Smooth Crimina / You Are Not Alone ->
The Way You Make Me Feel / I Want You Back -> The Love You Save -> I'll Be There / Rock with You -> Off the Wall ->Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough / Remember the Time / Billie Jean / Thriller / Beat It / Come Together / Blood on the Dance Floor / Dangerous // Black or White // Earth Song / Heal The World

Dangerous Tour (1992-1993)
Jam / Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Human Nature / Smooth Criminal / I Just Can't Stop Loving You / She's Out of My Life / I Want You Back -> The Love You Save -> I'll Be There / Thriller / Bean Jean / Workin' Day & Night / Beat It / Will You Be There / The Way You Make Me Feel / Bad / Black or White / Heal the Word / Man in the Mirror

Bad Tour (1987-1989)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Heartbreak Hotel / Another Part of Me / I Just Can't Stop Loving You / She's out of My Life / I Want You Back / The Love You Save -> I'll Be There / Rock with You / Human Nature / Smooth Criminal / Dirty Diana / Thriller / Workin' Day and Night / Beat It / Billie Jean / Bad //The Way You Make Me Feel // Man in the Mirror

Victory Tour (1984)
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' / Things I Do For You / Off the Wall / Human Nature (with "Ben" introduction) / Heartbreak Hotel / She's out of My Life / Jermaine Jackson medley: Let's Get Serious -> You Like Me Don't You -> Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True) / Jackson 5 medley: I Want You Back -> The Love You Save / I'll Be There / Rock with You / Lovely One / Workin' Day and Night / Beat It / Billie Jean / Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)

Triumph Tour (1981)
Can You Feel It / Things I Do for You / Off the Wall / Ben / This Place Hotel / She's Out of My Life / I Want You Back -> ABC -> The Love You Save / I'll Be There / Rock With You / Lovely One / Working Day and Night / Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough / Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)

Destiny Tour (1979)
Dancing Machine / Things I Do For You / Off the Wall / Ben / I Want You Back -> ABC -> The Love You Save / I'll Be There / Rock With You / Enjoy Yourself / Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough / Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)