’21’: Adele Outsells Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ In The UK

Published: Thursday 3rd May 2012 by David

She’s finally done it.

In what marks yet another milestone in Adele’s short career, her latest LP ’21’ has done what once thought impossible- outselling Michael Jackson‘s ‘Thriller‘ in the United Kingdom.

Full story below…

Since its January 24th 2011 release,  ’21′ has movedd over 4,274,300 copies; an impressive  500 copies ahead of Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, which has sold  4,273,800 since its launch in 1982.

This now makes ’21′ is now the fifth highest-selling album in UK, after selling 8.91 million copies in the US- set to be the highest selling album of the year for the second consecutive time. For,since January of this year it has sold 3.1 million copies worldwide, but is unlikely to best ‘Thriller‘s worldwide or US sales since it has now gone platinum 29 times.

Your thoughts?

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  1. O_O May 3, 2012

    Trust it to be in the UK. I love Adele, really I do, but it is time for you idiots to stop buying this album. Thriller is a record that should never be broken – I know records are made to be broken – Thriller is a timeless masterpiece, that needs to remain the standard until something that deserves that title earns the spot…..21 is awesome but a timeless masterpiece it is not.

  2. Onyx May 3, 2012

    Please! like really, call me when “21” sales surpass the 100 million Worldwide like “Thriller”. Are people still buying that album like really one word for this (OVERHYPED), the album has sold 20 million copies Worldwide is not a big deal, Madonna’s “Ray of Light” sold the same and many other albums too, so stop with this s***, is a good album but not a Masterpiece.

  3. WILD DEBUTANTE May 3, 2012

    That’s a great accomplishment for Adele, she deserves all her success. I remember listening to her 19 album and hoping she would have a massive break-out and 21 did that for her.

    21 is definitely THEE album of our time.

  4. Queen. May 3, 2012

    Her record sales aren’t too far fetched. My best friends’ grandmother loves Adele. I mean, this woman bought a copy for everyone at her class reunion. Not only does Adele have great music, she’s hella marketable. She has a banging personality, and she was at the right place at the right time. “Rolling In The Deep” crossed over to urban radio. Don’t get too comfortable, because truth be told this album isn’t dying down anytime soon.

  5. Noel May 3, 2012

    LOL Why do some people sound so pressed. The fact that she was able to accomplish that, especially within the climate of album sales right now, says a lot. Good for her! It’s okay to like more than one artist! 🙂

  6. NANA YAW May 3, 2012

    Oh No! She outsells my favourite album. @wild debutante how are you?

  7. B. Hill May 3, 2012

    If only the UK mattered…

  8. Beyhive May 3, 2012

    She done what? Dont ever underestimate OR COMPARE MJ TO ADELE MJ S A LEGEND WITH OVER 1BILLION RECORD SOLE WORLD WIDE Adele’s 21: 20,000,000 worldwide.
    Michael Jackson’s Thriller: 100,000,000+ worldwide.
    See? Now everyone STFU

  9. DTG May 3, 2012

    LOL@at the people who’re getting their noses bent out of shape because of this. At least this isn’t Rihanna…

  10. Bey May 3, 2012

    Adele is a fat c*** b**** who use boys then release single after that who’s Adele to MJ?

  11. ADC143 May 3, 2012

    Agree with DTG. Not a fan of Adele or his music, but I would rather it be her than the likes of Rihanna, Katy or Gaga.

    Oh well. 21 has a loooooooong way to go before it reaches Thrillers *cumulative* sales.

  12. Miguel May 3, 2012

    THIS PROVES THAT MUSIC THAT IS REAL AND POWERFUL, NOT CHEAP AND DESPERATE, IS THE ONE THAT ULTIMATELY MAKES A MARK.

    …No matter what the music industry likes to believe or shove down our throats.

  13. Nats May 3, 2012

    This album is so overrated, it has some good songs on it but none that’s a classic. It is being overhyped and I don’t see the reason why. Total b******* that people are still buying this album.

  14. POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY) May 3, 2012

    “21” is so much better than “Thriller” IMO ………….

    U go adele. 🙂

    • esperanza September 17, 2012

      You have no clue what good music is. Do not compare Adele to the world’s MOST SUCCESFUL artist of all time! I’m 34 years old and have never met ANYONE – young or old – who have never heard of Michael Jackson!!! Now Adele, most people still give a puzzled look when asked if they know who she is! Whether you like it or not, she cannot compare to the King of Pop!!! Not even close!!!!!

  15. JJFan1814 May 3, 2012

    A lot of people are so mad that their faves can’t sell like Adele…Kikiki.

  16. JAKE (KING BEY, QUEEN ADELE & EMPRESS GAGA = 21ST CENTURY ICONS. #DEAL) May 3, 2012

    YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!

    YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!

    YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!!!

    THE F****** QUEEN LADIES & GENTLEMAN!!!!!!!

    BUT, I MUST SAY – THAT GRAPE JUICE NEEDS TO STOP COMPARING “21”‘s SALES TO “THRILLER”!!!

    MICHEAL JACKSON, ALTOGETHER, HAS SOLD OVER 1 BILLION RECORDS WORLDWIDE!!!

    THRILLER HAS SOLD 30 MILLION COPIES IN THE U.S.A – AND ALMOST HALF OF ITS SALES WERE FROM 1984-1995 ALONE!!!!!!!

    THRILLER HAS ALSO SOLD 100+ MILLION RECORDS WW – CAN U IMAGINE? AN ALBUM WITH JUST 9 SONGS HAS SOLD THAT MUCH? *FAINTS*

    NO OTHER ALBUM IN THE HISTORY OF RECORDED MUSIC WILL EVER BREAK “MICHAEL JACKSON’S” FEAT –

    NOT KING BEYONCE.

    NOT EMPRESS GAGA.

    AND DEFINETELY NOT QUEEN ADELE.

  17. Onyx May 3, 2012

    POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY)
    May 3, 2012 at 11:37 am
    “21″ is so much better than “Thriller” IMO ………….
    U go adele.

    Pop boy what kind of drugs are you taking?

  18. JohnVidal (RIPWhitney-true great) May 3, 2012

    She has done so amazing that it is normal a record like this was gonna happen in her own country. People getting mad have no reason. A different thing would be if she were outselling Thriller and some other albums worldwide, or in the USA. That would be way too much
    Anyway, I think I need people to start moving on from the “21” era. I blame the record labels who have had the indecency of only promote one talented and timeless artist for like the last… 5 years? And the rest of music they promote is crap for the most part. They need to do with some other talented artists what they did with Adele

  19. jnyce411 May 3, 2012

    Really people yall madd cuz Adele is doing her thing no matter what she put out people are going to hate she doing good cuz she has fans done deal
    …….get over it (YOU MADD)

  20. Bey Fan May 3, 2012

    POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY)

    “21″ is so much better than “Thriller” IMO ………….

    U go adele
    _______________________________________________

    o_O …. say what????

  21. POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY) May 3, 2012

    it’s my opinion guys , calm down 🙂

  22. keep it 100 May 3, 2012

    You can’t tell people not to be upset about an album that has been done before. We’ve seen 21 in black to black(better vocals,lyrics,packaging)…to other albums dealing with heartbreak…. You can’t say it’s her voice there are plenty of singers that will sing circles around adele…lady gaga,Beyonce,Alicia keys,Christina,fantasia,Brandy,Monica,Jennifer to name a few

    What it all boils down to is the masses never having a mind to think on their own
    No matter how much you try to convince me this album is great….ill still say it’s a snooze fest.

    The record companies know that the masses love hype and feed off of it hence the only reason why this album is still selling….
    Call me pressed or a hater…I don’t care.
    I’ll just think of you as one of the many who think when someone else’s opinion differs from their own…thats the first word you throw out

    I’ll give her props for her sales though
    But she is grossly overrated.

  23. B. Hill May 3, 2012

    Only an idiot would think 21 is better than Thriller. So I’m not surprised an idiot said it.

  24. She is dope May 3, 2012

    21 is by no means a masterpiece but it is a stand out piece of work in a muddy muggy climate of trash, people were so thirsty for quality and their drinking it up before it goes out of print.

  25. Why you mad? May 3, 2012

    Babies fresh out the womb must have copped this cd cos I don’t………..

  26. QueenSize May 3, 2012

    I guess that’s cool. A fat white woman that sings soul music that got her feeling hurt by a n*****. I’m sure with all that fame she’ll get another n***** to hurt her again. But this time she won’t want one because she’s successful now, I don’t think the album in its entirety is that great. I few singles are banging. That’s all. Congrats nevertheless.

  27. Onyx May 3, 2012

    @POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY)
    Babe what happen to you? are you depressed these days, baby i want you to comeback.

  28. skintightjeans May 3, 2012

    But nobody cares about the UK though so……

  29. BitchIcantevenspellwelfare May 3, 2012

    I agree with @ JOHNVIDAL. This is her home country. It’s wonderful that her countrymen and countrywomen are showing her love. If she were to outsell “Thriller” in the U.S.A. now that would be something else.

    It’s great to see such a quality album have such long legs. What I don’t want to happen is for “21” to stand out as an anomaly while the rest of mainstream music remains crap. Popular music does not have to be terrible and I hope the success of “21” helps to usher in more quality.

  30. Onyx May 3, 2012

    @skintightjeans
    Your Grav, makes me horny.

  31. POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY) May 3, 2012

    B. HILL
    May 3, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    Only an idiot would think 21 is better than Thriller. So I’m not surprised an idiot said it.
    _____________________________________
    WRONG !!

    you forgot them words “SO MUCH” before “BETTER” which i typed in my comment :mrgreen:

  32. POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY) May 3, 2012

    @onyx :

    I’M GOOD 🙂 !!

  33. 2/11Songscribe May 3, 2012

    Let Adele do her thing. Yo favs r selling s** while Slaydele is pushing units. LMAOooooo! She is not even promoting, not perfoming, no tv appearances or wtsover. Thts the power of giving the ryt product at the tym. The divorce rate is high, so many people are depressed and can actually relate to 21,,,yes its true!!#deal.

  34. Onyx May 3, 2012

    @POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY)
    I’m kidding babe.

  35. POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY) May 3, 2012

    2/11SONGSCRIBE
    May 3, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Let Adele do her thing. Yo favs r selling s** while Slaydele is pushing units. LMAOooooo! She is not even promoting, not perfoming, no tv appearances or wtsover. Thts the power of giving the ryt product at the tym. The divorce rate is high, so many people are depressed and can actually relate to 21,,,yes its true!!#deal.

    _________________________________________________
    Wrong !!
    “21” is that album that is for everyone , it is real music ! it is not about a d*** missing a p**** and vice versa , it is about love in it’s real form. the classy kind of love. not s** !!

    so no , not only depressed and divorced ppl listen to it , everyone listen to it WW and can relate to it , it is not for a specific group of people ” teenagers , adults , etc .. ” , it is for everyone and about LOVE in it’s REAL form. and LOVE is not all about S**. that’s why i said it is so much Better than “thriller”. IT IS LIKE a virgin album ! so PURE and innocent and classy 🙂 ! REAL MUSIC !
    and that’s why it keeps on selling. everyone who’s in lOVE or who got his/her heart broken will relate. not the kind of music we are having right now ” i’m having fun in the club , i’m a hard d*** and wanna find me a p**** ” kind of songs.

    ppl who actually buy albums got so sick of those kind of songs. time to realize it PPL.

    SLAYADELE !!!!!

  36. POP ROYALTY ( RUDE BOY) May 3, 2012

    @onyx :

    I know bro 😉

  37. lsb May 3, 2012

    I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ITS A CONSPRIACY THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE AN WHITE ARTIST NO 1. THESE FIGURES ARE FAKE

  38. bill May 3, 2012

    Thriller is better.

  39. tony May 3, 2012

    Rip King MJ

  40. JohnVidal (RIPWhitney-true great) May 3, 2012

    @BitchIcantevenspellwelfare
    Exactly! Perfect comment

  41. luck May 3, 2012

    Why do you people care who sells more. She is trash to MJ. He is the definition of IMMORTAL.

  42. ADELE: THE QUEEN OF POP May 3, 2012

    Adele is SLAYING & Moving those units and breaking records. YALL NO TALENT & GIMMICK using FAVE H*** being vaporized and slaughtered by QUEEN OF POP ADELE! This is a sign that REAL MUSIC is making a COMEBACK and this album will be a classic and is truly a masterpeice and groundbreaking soulful album! ADELE 21 SOLD 20 MILLION COPIES WORLWIDE! How many Artists doing that NOW???? Adele is not promoting, no T.V interviews, live performances, videos,etc. The Album speaks for itself and SLAYS. This is amazing and its great to see her breaking records in her home country. still cannot believe it SURPASSED Michael Jackson Thriller! MIchael Jackson thriller sold 100 MILION COPIES WORLDWIDE and no one will touch MJ! GO ADELE ! SHOW THESE B****** HOW ITS DONE!!!! QUEEN ADELE SLAYING! SHE IS THE QUEEN OF POP! COWDONNA CAN SLIDE OVER. THIS WILL OUTSELL HER BEST SELLING ALBUM SOON.

  43. MISHKA May 3, 2012

    And?

    “Human Nature” SH!TS on Adele’s whole repertoire. And she knows it dam* well.

    I like Adele but 21 is overhyped to the most. Stop the madness, please.

  44. Boopi May 3, 2012

    Hmmm….I must be the only person on Earth that has never heard this album except for the snippets on iTunes. And I really don’t like it, but everyone else seems to. Interesting…

  45. raquel May 3, 2012

    OMG OMG . THILLER mj king of pop, its f****** thilller and MJ . the masterpieice , a work of art and classic epic ablum .
    ADELE 4 YEARS IN THIS MUSIC BUSINESS BEAT IT (IN UK CHARTS ) WITH ABLUM THAT JUST HAVE BREAK UP SONG . I LOVE ADELE TOO DAMN THIS IS EPIC BUT HOW THE hell adele PASS thiller .
    ADELE is way better than lady gaga for SURE

  46. jnyce411 May 3, 2012

    What I dont get is people saying its over hyped when shes clearly not promoting that cd nor is the record label get over it most people are downloading cds this days and artist are making any money due to that fact so I think its big that people are still buying this album good for her people can relate to it… its real and true…thats all let dont hate just understand she is slaying the charts without doing nothing…

  47. jnyce411 May 3, 2012

    Are not making any money typo 🙂

  48. jnyce411 May 3, 2012

    Are not making any money typos

  49. wmtproductions147 May 3, 2012

    Don’t get me wrong I love Adele like the next person but the album is not on Thriller’s level! Its a good album no doubt but seriously I don’t understand why its still selling so big! But to each its own; I’m not hating on her, I’m proud of her and she deserves every bit of success she has! Wish some of the other great artist could get this kind of recognition! Adele keep doing your thing!

  50. TAYLOR SWIFTS NUMBER 1 FAN!!! May 3, 2012

    But thriller has 4 good /great songs, They’re “Thriller, beat it, Bill jean and human nature…. the other 5 are meh. It seems like whenever an artist comes close to beating a record.. mj fans will just insult them. Let adele have the success she deserves.

    Adeles album has passed thriller.. Get over it! Stop getting mad!

  51. luck May 3, 2012

    This dumb h** just said “thriller has 4 good /great songs “lmao what a sheep. Never even listen to thriller. PYT, BABY BE MINE list go’s on and on. Don’t ever talk s*** about a real legend. If you never saw him in his prime dumb kids today.

  52. vince May 3, 2012

    Mj is way better lmao.

  53. TAYLOR SWIFTS NUMBER 1 FAN!!! May 3, 2012

    @luck
    How can you call me a sheep, when My opinon is pretty much the opposite of everyone elses? If anything you’re the sheep. Im not saying Mj isnt a legend, but the fact remains the other 5 songs aint great, and if they wasnt on the album.. you wouldnt be saying they were…. Also. Mj only wrote 4 of the 9 songs…
    I have listened to Thriller, thats just my opinon.

  54. Ugh May 3, 2012

    keep it 100

    May 3, 2012 at 12:13 pm

    You can’t tell people not to be upset about an album that has been done before. We’ve seen 21 in black to black(better vocals,lyrics,packaging)…to other albums dealing with heartbreak…. You can’t say it’s her voice there are plenty of singers that will sing circles around adele…lady gaga,Beyonce,Alicia keys,Christina,fantasia,Brandy,Monica,Jennifer to name a few

    What it all boils down to is the masses never having a mind to think on their own
    No matter how much you try to convince me this album is great….ill still say it’s a snooze fest.

    The record companies know that the masses love hype and feed off of it hence the only reason why this album is still selling….
    Call me pressed or a hater…I don’t care.
    I’ll just think of you as one of the many who think when someone else’s opinion differs from their own…thats the first word you throw out

    I’ll give her props for her sales though
    But she is grossly overrated.
    _______________________________________

    Alladat

  55. milan May 3, 2012

    even if the types such as adele beyonce etc sell 1000 000 million albums… they will never touch the true legends
    Bless michael en whitney <3 for i miss them
    I feel lucky to have lived in a time that these to artist were also alive

  56. BitchIcantevenspellwelfare May 3, 2012

    @KEEP IT 100,

    I’ve been thinking about your comment & I have to agree with you that “Black to Black” is a far superior album to “21.” Now I do like “21” a lot but Amy’s song writing abilities are definitely in another league. ( I miss her so much. 🙁 )

    While I certainly don’t think “21” is a “snooze fest,” I do understand where you are coming from in your post.

  57. BitchIcantevenspellwelfare May 3, 2012

    ooops, “Back to Black”

  58. maria May 3, 2012

    @TAYLOR SWIFTS NUMBER 1 FAN – You can say that adele surpassed thriller on her turf but in the USA …. NOT! She’ll have to beat him in over-all sales and that’s over 100 million copies. You need to word things appropriately sweetie don’t post false misleading comments. Adele hasn’t SURPASSED thriller in terms of over-all sales chile that would have been BREAKING NEWS. Yes she deserves her success but stop trying to down-play michael’s. The powers that be want thriller surpassed so bad by somebody white they can taste it. It hurts to see somebody black on top huh?

    Adele hasn’t even out-sold any of his other albums (minus invincible) Yet people have the nerve to jump right over his other projects and compare 21 to thriller in terms of album sales …. I’M SO DONE LOL!

  59. RYAN May 3, 2012

    @TAYLOR SWIFTS NUMBER 1 FAN- Thriller is superior.

  60. Saetana May 4, 2012

    Great to see a British artist outselling an American one in the UK, although frankly I don’t like either Adele or Michael Jackson so my vote goes to Adele on patriotism alone. Why is everyone whining about Thriller’s total sales? The article was clear, Adele has passed MJ’s Thriller in UK SALES. I could never understand why people go gaga over Jackson, I’ve never liked male voices where they sound as if someone has their balls in a vice. Its a great achievement for another reason – album sales have steadily been dropping over the last couple of decades, making Adele’s feat even more impressive. Singles sales have increased due to cheap downloads but album sales are the pits, only Adele and Gaga managed to sell over 5,000,000 worldwide last year (maybe Michael Buble as well, not sure on that), to me it shows how many thieves there are out there who are not paying for their music ;o)

  61. paris May 4, 2012

    @SAETANA F*** off, Thriller is better.

  62. Larry May 4, 2012

    Adele’s feat even more S*** because most people can’t sing live today. So they jump on overrated trash.

  63. TAYLOR SWIFTS NUMBER 1 FAN!!! May 4, 2012

    @maria
    I didnt think I’d have to say the uk.. because the post says it for me. Also.. you’re foregetting.. 21 sold this with the internet… The internet has killed sales I can download any album I want for free., if thriller came out today, no way would it have sold as much as it did.. I doubt you’ll accept that… because you’re to blind and in love with Mj.

  64. Oh Yeah May 4, 2012

    I think the figures are fake too!

  65. mjlover May 23, 2012

    i hate adele i hate the way she sings i hate her…………………i hate adele forever hate adele!!!!!!!!!!!!!michael jackson the king of pop!!!!!!

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