Mariah concert shelved after row

Mariah Carey won three awards at this year's Grammys

Singer Mariah Carey's concert in Hong Kong has been shelved after a dispute between the star and promoters.

The 36-year-old's manager has denied that it was cancelled due to poor ticket sales and "specific last-minute demands" from the star.

Benny Medina told the Associated Press that the gig was scrapped because promoters Concerts Asia failed to pay the singer her fee on time.

He added that they are trying to stage the concert with another promoter.

But Carey is planning to return to the US to work on a film and her next album, while Concerts Asia said on its website that an announcement will be made next week about refunds for ticket holders.

'No question'

Mr Medina said that the date would have been honoured even if ticket sales had proved sluggish, adding that 8,000 tickets had been sold - double the figure claimed by the promoter.

"If there were only 10 people in this venue, and this particular promoter had fulfilled his contractual obligations, we would be there. Mariah Carey loves her fans in South-East Asia.

"He has defaulted several times, right up into the last 48 hours. Literally we tried to hang in there with this guy.

"There's no question that Mariah is excited to go back to Hong Kong in the very near future," he added.

The tour was the first since the release of Carey's Grammy-winning album The Emancipation of Mimi, which Mr Medina has called her most successful to date.