POP icon Michael Jackson has died, a Los Angeles County Coroner's office spokesman has confirmed.

Lieutenant Fred Corral told CNN that Jackson, 50, was pronounced dead at 2.26pm on Thursday local time, (0726 AEST Friday) after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest.

Hear the 911 call made from Michael's house.

The entertainment TMZ website reported Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest earlier on Thursday afternoon and paramedics were unable to revive him.

Earlier, a fire department official told the Los Angeles Times that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital.

Steve Ruda told the newspaper on Thursday that Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12.30pm.

The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the paper.

Meanwhile, Michael's father Joe Jackson told E! Online he was aware of the emergency but did not know further details.

"I am in Las Vegas, but yes, people in Los Angeles called me and are with Michael and tell me he was taken to the hospital," he said. "I am not sure what's wrong. I am waiting to hear back from them."

The reports came as Jackson prepared to make a keenly anticipated concert comeback in London, his first series of shows in more than a decade and the first since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges.

However those concerts -- billed as the "final curtain" -- had been thrown into doubt after Jackson pushed back the opening dates last month.

Organisers of the concerts had stressed the delay was not linked to Jackson's health.

Promoters and producers AEG Live said the rescheduling was done because of the "sheer magnitude" of the show and the desire for fans attending the opening nights to get the same experience planned for all 50 shows.

In a press conference from the United States broadcast over the Internet, AEG Live president Randy Phillips was asked about Jackson's health and said: "I would trade my body for his tomorrow. He's in fantastic shape."

 While Jackson reigned as the King of Pop in the 1980s, his once-stellar career had been overshadowed by his colourful public behaviour, his startling physical transformation and multiple allegations of child abuse.

Jackson lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and plotting to kidnap his young accuser.

Despite his acquittal, the trial was a body blow from which the pop music superstar struggled to recover.

 Four years later, Jackson is still worshipped by fans for revolutionising music, dance and music videos at the peak of his success.

The attention however paid to him in recent years has been less flattering, focusing on apparent cosmetic surgery -- which he denies -- his baby dangling antics and a decade of swirling child abuse allegations.

Jackson's close friend Uri Geller, the television psychic, said he was "devastated" at the news of the pop star's death - and admitted he still hoped it was not true.

"I'm just devastated, very very sad. I pray that his soul is up there now," Geller told the BBC, after multiple US news outlets reported Jackson's death.

"I'm still trying to hold on to the glimmer that it is not true. It is too surreal for me to absorb that Michael is no longer with us."

The man responsible for co-writing Jackson Five hits, ABC and I Want You Back, says the genius in Michael Jackson was buried just beneath the surface when he was a young boy.

American Deke Richards, who helped put together the hit-making production team The Corporation which had an affiliation with Motown, told AAP on Friday he was deeply saddened by the death.

"I am fortunate to have worked with the genius of Michael Jackson and I am very, very sad of his passing.

"He is a talent that will not soon be forgotten.

"He always gave more than he got.

"In the small period of time I helped mould the clay of Michael Jackson, the genius was deep within him.

"I feel honoured to have worked with him."

The reports of his death came as Jackson prepared to make a keenly anticipated concert comeback in London, his first series of shows in more than a decade and the first since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges.

However those concerts - billed as the "final curtain" - had been thrown into doubt after Jackson pushed back the opening dates last month.

Organisers of the concerts at the time stressed the delay was not linked to Jackson's health.
In a press conference from the United States broadcast over the internet, AEG Live president Randy Phillips was asked about Jackson's health and said: "I would trade my body for his tomorrow. He's in fantastic shape."

Jackson death shocks Aussie music industry

The Australian music community is grieving this morning over the reported death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, at age 50.

The pop icon reportedly died in Los Angeles after suffering a cardiac arrest just after 12pm local time (0500 AEST).

Many singers and musicians were quick to express their grief at his passing on social networking website Twitter.

"I wish I got to tell him how much his music & existence changed my life," Lisa Origliasso from The Veronicas wrote on Twitter.

"He was my biggest inspiration and will forever live on in my heart."

Delta Goodrem said she heard the news when she woke up this morning.

"I feel so thankful for him sharing his brilliance," she wrote.

Australian Idol winner Wes Carr said he shocked by the singer's death.

"Pretty upsetting to wake up to that news, I'm going to play one hell of a show tonight in honour of the great man," he tweeted.

The social networking website went into meltdown for a short while this morning.

"The King of Pop, greatest entertainer ever, is gone. Thanks for the boogie," wrote TV personality Andrew G.

Pop singer Nikki Webster, who also started out in the entertainment industry at a young age, said her thoughts were  with Jackson's family and children.

"The music industry will not be the same," Webster wrote.

"You are a true inspiration and genius."

Rock band Grinspoon added: "You knock me off of my feet now baby hoo hoo ... Bye Michael. Thanks for the tunes."

The Michael Jackson story

While Jackson reigned as the King of Pop in the 1980s, his once-stellar career had been overshadowed by his colourful public behaviour, his startling physical transformation and multiple allegations of child abuse.

Jackson lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and plotting to kidnap his young accuser.

Despite his acquittal, the trial was a body blow from which the pop music superstar struggled to recover.

Four years later, Jackson is still worshipped by fans for revolutionising music, dance and music videos at the peak of his success.

The attention however paid to him in recent years has been less flattering, focusing on apparent cosmetic surgery - which he denies - his baby dangling antics and a decade of swirling child abuse allegations.

Born on August 29, 1958, Jackson made his show business debut with four of his older brothers in the Jackson Five pop group, and went on to lead the stage clan with a piping soprano and dazzling dance moves.

By 1969, the group had signed a contract with Motown Records, becoming one of the last great acts to emerge from the legendary label.

The Jacksons produced seven platinum singles for Motown, selling over a million, and three multi-platinum albums, selling more than two million.

They moved to CBS's Epic Records in 1976.

Despite the early success, Jackson was to recall those years as unhappy and lonely ones. Eventually the family act broke up, as Jackson went solo.

In 1979, Quincy Jones produced Jackson's first solo album for Epic, Off the Wall, a huge disco-oriented success that sold 10 million copies.

They teamed up again in 1982 for what would be Jackson's breakthrough album as a composer and co-producer, Thriller, which became the top-selling album of all time, with sales exceeding 41 million.

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