Michael Jackson "Number Ones" Tops the Charts, Becomes King of Pop Once More

Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, is back at the top of the charts. After dismal sales of his last couple albums, Michael Jackson's albums have assailed the albums and singles charts around the world. Michael Jackson is hitting number ones all over the globe again.

Sadly, all he had to do was die.

It is often said that when an artist dies, his net worth increases. It is an unfortunate truism for many, especially artists who have seen the stock or reputation take a slide. Michael Jackson had seen that terrible skid. But his death on Thursday, June 25, changed all that.

PaidContent.org reported that ten hours after Michael Jackson's death, 21 of his songs had entered the iTunes Top 100, with "Thriller" leading the way at No. 11. Amazon's MP3 downloads saw the King of Pop place 15 albums in their Top 25, taking the entire Top 12 spots and 13 of the Top 14.

The Official Charts Company reported that they expected Michael Jackson's "Number Ones" album to go to the No. 1 position in the United Kingdom, with another half dozen making it into the top 75.

They were right. According to The Age, "Number Ones" jumped from No. 121 to No. 1, the first time a Michael Jackson album has sat atop the charts since 2003, when "Number Ones" was released. "Thriller," Michael Jackson's greatest accomplishment and the best selling album of all time, placed at No. 7, rising from No. 179. "King of Pop" reached 14, "Off the Wall" made it to 17, and "The Essential Michael Jackson" hit number 20.

Michael Jackson's singles also have soared up the charts since the singer's death. "Man in the Mirror" re-entered the UK charts at number 11, "Billie Jean" came in at #25, "Smooth Criminal" made it to 28, "Beat It" dropped in at #30 and "Earth Song" entered at No. 38.

The King of Pop's music is hitting the top spot on various charts in every country around the world. Billboard will reflect American sales in another week, but until then Amazon.com records Michael Jackson as clinching their entire Top 10 on their album sales chart with "Thriller: The 25th Anniversary Edition" leading the way. According to the National Business Review, in the digital store, on iTunes, Jackson captured seven of the Top 10 album positions. On the iTunes singles chart, Jackson's highest entry is an impressive #4: "Man In The Mirror."

Number one again. Top of the charts. The King of Pop. No doubt the numbers will continue to be impressive in the days to come, a tribute to a musical legend and a genius. But if one were to have been asked to predict what kind of demand for the pop idol's music his death would bring, no one would have predicted the actuality.

An interesting note: The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) lists the No. 1 selling album of all time (worldwide), "Thriller," in the No. 2 position behind The Eagles, "Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975" in the United States. Roughly a million copies separate the two albums and it took years for The Eagles to climb past "Thriller." With the massive sales influx brought on by the King of Pop's death, it is probably a safe bet that the top selling album of all time in the U. S. is about to become another of Michael Jackson's number ones.

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Sources:

ChesterChronicle.co.uk
NBR.co.nz
TheAge.com.au
PaidContent.org