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Wednesday, 3 July, 2002, 16:28 GMT 17:28 UK
Jackson made Exeter FC director
Michael Jackson
Jackson recorded a charity song for Sept 11 victims
Michael Jackson has been made an honorary director of Exeter City football club, his friend and co-director Uri Geller said on Wednesday.

The singer visited the third division club during a trip to south west England last month, hosted by psychic celebrity Geller.

"When I asked him what does he know about football he said 'absolutely nothing but I love Exeter City,'" said Geller.

Jackson at Exeter
Michael Jackson visited Exeter FC in June but did not sing
"We did this out of respect. He put Exeter City on the international map."

Jackson is now entitled to play a full part in the club's boardroom, including voting on key decisions about players.

He will also enjoy free admission to any games he may want to attend and will be able to travel to away matches with the players on the club coach.

Beatles

In a separate move, Jackson is buying the rights to 55,000 country music songs including the music of Hank Williams, the Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison.

Together with Sony Music Entertainment he is buying veteran country music publisher Acuff-Rose for $157m (�130m).

Oh Pretty Woman, made famous by Roy Orbison, is one of more than 100 Acuff-Rose tracks that have been broadcast more than one million times.

Copyright for songs by the Beatles, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and Pearl Jam, are already owned by Jackson and Sony, in a joint company called Sony/ATV set up in 1995.

Jackson stunned the music world in 1985 when he bought the Beatles library, a move that music channel VH1 ranked No. 38 on its "most shocking moments in rock 'n' roll" list.

Charity dispute

But the singer's relationship with Sony recently suffered a setback.

Jackson is said to be furious that Sony Music failed to release a charity track entitled What More Can I Give.

The song, which he recorded with fellow music stars Mariah Carey and Ricky Martin, was meant to raise money for the victims of the 11 September terror attacks.

See also:

14 Jun 02 | Entertainment
14 Jun 02 | England
21 May 02 | Exeter City
01 May 02 | Entertainment
28 Oct 01 | Entertainment
05 Mar 01 | Entertainment
05 Mar 01 | Entertainment
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