LOS ANGELES -- A proposal that pop singer George Michael might perform a

benefit concert as payback for his May conviction on lewd-conduct charges has been

thrown out at the artist's request, according to his London spokeswoman.

With just nine weeks left to serve his 80 hours of community service, the solo artist and

former singer for the '80s dance-pop duo Wham! has yet to make a decision on how to

fulfill the requirement.

Michael's attorney, Ira Reiner, recently said that the British pop star was thinking about

playing a benefit show to fulfill at least part of his required 80 hours of community

service, following a May conviction of lewd conduct. However, Josephine Green, an

assistant to his London publicist, Connie Filippello, said Friday (Sept. 4) that a concert is

not a consideration.

"At the present moment, that is not a possibility," Green said.

The benefit concert was one of the suggestions made by the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center,

which Michael had chosen as the recipient of his 80 hours of required community

service. Michael has yet to serve any of the time, which was his punishment after

pleading no contest to lewd conduct in Beverly Hills Municipal Court on May 14,

following his arrest in the men's public restroom in a park known as a popular gay

cruising spot.

He has until Nov. 10 to fulfill the hours, but can request an extension on the requirement.

"He does not know what he's going to do," Green said. "They laid open to him a number

of possibilities and ways he could fulfill his community service, of which, I believe, a

concert was one. But, at this stage, he's not planning to do it; he does not want to do it."

Green said she did not know why Michael does not want to play a concert, adding, "It's a

personal decision, really."

The Beverly Hills District Attorney's office had suggested that a benefit concert would be

an ideal way for Michael to serve his time.

"Community service is good for the soul," said Ellen Aragon, the deputy in charge of the

Beverly Hills district attorney's office. "Whether he gives a concert or assists the Gay &

Lesbian Center in some other way, often people find it a very rewarding experience."

Michael was alone at the time he was arrested by an undercover police officer for

engaging in an unspecified lewd act. Three days later, the singer came out on CNN,

saying that he was "embarrassed and ashamed" that his sexuality was exposed that

way.

The former Wham! member, who found his greatest success via his solo debut,

Faith (1987), is currently working on several new songs, three of which will

appear on his double-album greatest-hits compilation. The album, which was part of the

agreement that released him from his former label, Sony, is being put out by the Sony

subsidiary Epic Records on Nov. 10.

The release will feature songs from his solo career, but will not include Wham! hits. A

Wham! greatest-hits album, titled The Best of Wham!: If You Were There ... , was

released last year.

The greatest-hits album's first single, according to Michael's official website, Aegean Net,

is titled "Outside." The total number of tracks has not been decided, Green said.

Despite reports that Michael had canceled a 1999 world tour, the singer -- who has not

toured since his "Cover to Cover" outing eight years ago -- will probably hit the road at

some point in the coming year, Green said, though no dates have been scheduled.