Self-styled King of Pop is shunned by younger stars

When Michael Jackson unveils his charity single for victims of the terrorist attacks in America, the self-styled King of Pop need have no concerns over being upstaged by younger stars.

Britney Spears and Destiny's Child have already pulled out of the record, called "What More Can I Give?", showing that, at 43, Jackson is no longer the force he was.

Jackson is now said to be relying on the talents of the Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, his brother Aaron and the country music star Reba McEntire.

Midge Ure, who co-wrote "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for the Band Aid appeal, said: "This could have something to do with the fact that Michael Jackson is of a different generation and is surrounded by the wrong people in his secluded, strange world, and so a bit out of touch with today's music."

Three weeks ago Jackson was rejected by the television producers of a telethon fundraiser that was attended by a plethora of Hollywood stars. "We felt he didn't fit the spirit of the show," an organiser said. "The fear was that his performance would have been about him, not the victims."

Jackson, who has two children, Prince Michael and Paris Michael Katherine, spent more than two years making his new album, Invincible, which is said to have cost up to £30m.

During that time it was re-recorded more than once. However, despite the best efforts of songwriters and producers including Whitney Houston's collaborator Rodney Jerkins, the R&B kings Teddy Riley, R Kelly and Babyface, and even the veteran songwriter and musician Carole Bayer Sager, the 16 tracks on the album have been poorly received.

Jackson's own comeback concert at Madison Square Garden last month was hardly a success. His first live performance in a decade, featuring appearances by Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando and Liza Minnelli, failed to impress his younger fans, who booed, slow hand-clapped and eventually walked out.