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CNN Live At Daybreak

Michael Jackson to Promote Concert at Nasdaq

Aired August 30, 2001 - 08:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The Nasdaq marketsite may never be the same again. The past year has been a rough one for the technology- heavy Nasdaq composite index, but officials hope today's appearance by Michael Jackson might bring a morale boost.

Bill Tush is in Times Square anticipate with all of the rest of the fans out there.

Hey, Bill, this is kind of different.

BILL TUSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's certainly different. I don't know if it will turn the Nasdaq around or not, but they are going to give it a shot.

There's about 100 people that have showed up so far. The New York police force concerned with crowd control sent two officers to cover the crowd here.

And we've got a lady here that's from -- oh -- from France -- right -- from Paris. This is Celina as in Dion.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. How are you?

TUSH: Now, are you interested in the Nasdaq, or are you a Michael Jackson?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, well, as to be frank, I am more interested in Michael Jackson.

TUSH: OK. And how long have you been -- you didn't come here from France just for this event, did you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

TUSH: Are you going to go to the concert next week? That's the big thing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I am going on the 7th.

TUSH: You are?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

TUSH: How did you get a ticket? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I went through the fan clubs, and that's how you get the tickets.

TUSH: From his fan club?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

TUSH: Did you get his new album yet?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, it's coming out on October 30 in the States.

TUSH: And you'll be in line for that, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

TUSH: All right, Celina, you have a good time at that concert next week. That's a hard ticket to get, because they went on sale -- the tickets for the Madison Square Garden concert, which is next Friday and then again next Monday as a star-studded affair. It's the first time Michael will be on stage in the U.S. in 11 years.

When tickets went on sale, people from around the world, just like Celina from downtown France here, she and other people came, bought tickets, paid anywhere from $40 to $2,000. The concert sold out in less than five hours. And the reason the concert sold out is not only Michael, but maybe because it's going to be the Jacksons, the Jackson Five. I really don't know what the difference is between the two, but anyway, that's what they call them. And also a lot of people in the music business -- a lot of film stars are going to be showing up. Elizabeth Taylor, I think, is expected. It's going to be quite a night at Madison Square Garden.

And the reason Nasdaq is involved. Here is the tie-in, because I don't know -- when I think of Nasdaq, I really don't think of Michael Jackson. But what they are going to do is after the concert on Friday night, they are throwing a big party at Tavern on the Green. And now we go back to Atlanta -- Carol.

LIN: It sounds good -- and have a good time, Bill, and say hi to Michael for us.

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