Michael Jackson's new song This Is It unveiled for the first time

Sony delivered copies to radio stations at 7.30am with a convoy of security to rival that of royalty.

This Is It was actually a reject from recording sessions for the 1991 album Dangerous, although Sony is billing it as Jackson’s 'new' single, saying he probably planned to debut it at The O2 shows.

The ballad, punctuated by clicking fingers, has the feel of a typical song from the King of Pop, and features Jackson singing softly: 'I never thought that I would be your lover ... This Is It'.

Featuring backing vocals from Jackson's brothers, the song was delivered to radio stations amid tight security, so that they could play it from 7.30am.

Fans Daniel Halawi, and brothers Amir and Ali Khorasany, held copies of the new song triumphantly after it was delivered to the Sony Music office building in Kensington, west London, early this morning.

The track is on Jackson's website www.michaeljackson.com but the single won't actually be for sale.