Michael Jackson blocks himself from new No. 1s on several Billboard charts as both Thriller and “Billie Jean” hold atop different R&B tallies. US popstar Michael Jackson addresses a press conference at the O2 arena in London, on March 5, 2009. Pop megastar Michael Jackson announced Thursday he will play a series of comeback concerts in London in July, his first major shows for over a decade. Four years after his infamous child abuse trial, the 50-year-old eccentric singer confirmed he will play 10 gigs at the giant London O2 arena starting on July 8. AFP PHOTO/Carl de Souza (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)
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Michael Jackson’s biopic Michael is no longer the top-grossing movie in America each week. In fact, as of this most recent weekend, the musical biopic – the highest-grossing theatrical release of its kind – is no longer counted among the 10 top-grossing in America week by week.
The fact that Michael is losing steam when it comes to box office receipts is not surprising, as the film has been out for months and performing well for longer than the vast majority of theatrical releases. The impact of Michael can still be felt on the Billboard charts, as Americans rediscovered this spring their undying love for the King of Pop and his many, many hit songs and bestselling albums. Jackson continues to sit at No. 1 on a variety of charts in the U.S., and he even blocks himself from scoring a new leader on multiple rankings with different titles.
Michael Jackson Keeps at No. 1 With Thriller
Jackson’s Thriller is in charge of the Top R&B Albums chart once again. This frame, the blockbuster holds on the throne of the ranking of the most-consumed R&B collections in the country.
Thriller debuted on the Top R&B Albums chart back in February 2017, already decades after it took over several other Billboard lists, such as the Billboard 200, but it didn’t rise to the summit until this May. Thanks to the release of Michael, Thriller has now spent seven of its 445 weeks running the show.
Number Ones Is Blocked From Hitting No. 1 Again
While the success of Thriller is certainly exciting, if not unexpected, its continued dominance does keep Jackson from posthumously collecting another champion. His Number Ones compilation is stuck in the runner-up space on the Top R&B Albums chart yet again. The hits-packed project reached that position in February of this year, and has yet to topple Thriller.
If Number Ones can eventually pass Thriller, it will become Jackson’s third No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums ranking. Number Ones will join not only Thriller, but also Xscape, a posthumously released compilation which debuted at the summit half a decade after Jackson’s passing.
“Billie Jean” Won’t Allow “Chicago” to Reach No. 1
The late, great superstar is also the king of the R&B Streaming Songs chart. Once again, “Billie Jean,” which became his sturdiest ruler only a few frames ago, refuses to cede control over the top spot on the list of the most-streamed R&B cuts in the U.S.
“Billie Jean” is one of a trio of No. 1s by Jackson, and its eight weeks in the highest space beat the five that “Thriller” managed and the one that “Don’t Matter to Me,” a collaboration with Drake, scored when it arrived. At the moment, Jackson’s “Chicago,” which was never properly released as a single, is forced to settle for second place yet again. “Chicago” became a sudden hit following the release of Jackson’s biopic, and millions of fans around the world discovered the tune for the first time.
“Chicago” danced its way to No. 2 for the first time only about a month ago on the chart dated June 6. Less than a month prior, “Human Nature” soared to the same position, but was similarly unable to rule.
Michael Jackson Charts Five R&B Albums
On the Top R&B Albums chart, Jackson fills 20% of all of the spaces on the 25-rung roster. As Thriller and Number Ones keep at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, The Essential Michael Jackson lifts a pair of spaces to hit No. 17. Xscape and Bad both fall from where they sat only a few days ago, and appear at Nos. 23 and 25, respectively.
Michael Jackson Charts 10 Songs on the R&B Tally
The R&B Streaming Songs chart is shorter than the Top R&B Albums ranking, as it only includes 15 spots, and yet Jackson is significantly more successful on the former. 10 of the 15 most-streamed R&B cuts in the nation come from Jackson, and seven of those smashes live inside the top 10. The King of Pop even manages to keep his control over the top four, with “Billie Jean,” “Chicago,” “Beat It” and “Human Nature” appearing at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.