Michael Jackson may already be listed in history books as the most successful solo recording artist in history, but even 13 years after his death the King of Pop’s reign shows no sign of slowing.
On what would have been his 64th birthday (August 29), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) took to press to reveal tunes from the late Pop icon’s timeless musical catalog have had their certification statuses updated due to astonishing and ongoing consumption on digital platforms.
The result – as expected – is nothing short of historic as he now towers above the competition with quite a few unique achievements.
Details inside:
Three months ahead of the 40th anniversary of Jackson’s game-changing album ‘Thriller’ (which, at 34x Platinum in the United States, stands as the best-selling LP ever by a solo artist), its title track and fan favorite, ‘Billie Jean,’ were certified Diamond – a measure that denotes sales of 10 million in the United States. The pair are his first singles to ever reach the RIAA rung.
Further, they are respectively the 84th and 85th songs in history to be certified as high or higher (among all artists).
In fact, the only tunes from the ‘Thriller’ album not listed in the RIAA’s latest slew of Michael updates were ‘Baby Be Mine,’ ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin,’ and ‘Human Nature.’
See the refreshed list below.
Diamond (10x Platinum)
- ‘Billie Jean’ (Single)
- ‘Thriller’ (Single)
8x Platinum
- ‘Beat It’ (Single)
4x Platinum
- ‘Pretty Young Thing (P.Y.T.)’ (Single)
1x Platinum
- ‘The Girl Is Mine’ (Single)
Gold
- ‘The Lady in My Life’ (Single)
With the upgrades, MJ – in fashion that’s no stranger to his career stats – broke or set multiple RIAA records.
- First, 1983’s ‘Billie Jean’ now beats Whitney Houston‘s signature classic ‘I Will Always Love You’ as the oldest Diamond-certified song in history by a solo act. The only single older to have been certified as high is Queen’s 1975 classic, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’
- Second, ‘Thriller’ bests Pop diva Katy Perry‘s ‘Teenage Dream’ to reclaim the title of highest-certified era of any act. With the updates listed above, ‘Thriller’ (with its album and single sales combined) has sale units of 74.5 million attached to the era. Under the same criteria, Perry’s sits at 67.5 million.
- Third, ‘Billie’ and ‘Thriller’ are the first songs from the 80s to be certified Diamond.
- Next, the updates make MJ the first artist whose prime predates the Soundscan era to have multiple Diamond singles in the digital era.
- Finally, and most importantly, Jackson becomes the first singer in American history to own multiple Diamond singles and albums. Before ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Thriller’ (the song) crossed the sales threshold, their parent album and its 1987 follow-up, ‘Bad,’ beat them to the punch. The latter LP sits at 11x Platinum.
Among all acts, only rapper Eminem beat MJ to become the first performer to boast multiple Diamond singles and albums.
The emcee’s LPs ‘The Eminem Show,’ ‘The Marshall Mathers LP,’ and ‘Curtain Call: the Hits’ have sold 12 million, 11 million, and 10 million copies respectively in the U.S. while his singles ‘Lose Yourself,’ ‘Love the Way You Lie,’ and ‘Not Afraid’ have shifted 13 million, 13 million, and 11 million respectively in the same territory.
True King
That boy good😊
The KING OF POP
THE KING!!!!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
the ACTUAL king of pop.
Aye, Rolling Stone magazine trying to give that title to a white man who ain’t even come close to that level of success and fame. It ain’t even theirs to give. Legally too. I think the MJ Estate trademarked it after he died.
WHO?
This ugly creepy disgusting PeD, o, File is irrelevant today 😂. The inconvenience album, I mean INVINCIBLE his last album FLOPPED hard lol and it took him forever to achieve what EMINEM already did. Plus he only had like 15 Grammy’s and like 5 #1 albums. His highest crossing tour was only like $180 million lol FLOP
Lol MJ was a super FLOP, ofcourse he’s going to sell in an era where 1 there’s no song/dance competition and 2 ppl had no option but to buy NEW music. MJ had it easy cause NOBODY but him was singing AND dancing.
So OVERRATED, his Superbowl performance was BORING too.
USHER JUSTIN CHRIS BROWN & OMARION are all better than MJ.
That invincible album did not flop just because it didn’t sell as much as the other albums don’t mean it wasn’t successful people like you don’t got nothing better to do than to try to tear somebody down or be negative he still is one of the best selling artist alive or dead he still selling millions from old CDs and recent CDs and your mad weird ass 😒🙄🤔
He Cleared of everything he was accused of you Muppet, and the ONLY Artist that has sold more records than him is The Beatles.FACT ! He is the BIGGEST selling Solo Artist of all Time !
OJ was also cleared. 😂
Funny how ‘Diabetes’ lists artists who are all huge fans of MJ. And also has absolutely no clue whatsoever what the music scene was like when MJ hit.
But eh ‘Diabetes’ also believes tabloids over actual court files and evidence so…
Funny how Em achieved this BEFORE MJ considering the fact most music critics have argued for decades how Hip-Hop is the worst genre, rapping is NOT talent.
Goes to show they were only saying this due to race.
Oi, ‘Diabetes’, OJ was NOT cleared. Prosecution screwed up but he was found responsible for the deaths in his 1997 civil case. MJ was found completely not guilty on all 14 charges including four misdemeanours that should have been easy to get him guilty on if there was ANY evidence he ever did anything. But you know why he got cleared? Because evidence proved the allegations simply could not have happened. His accusers tripped up on their own lies in the court room and the mother (Janet Arvizo) was later charged with welfare fraud, perjury and had also made her kids falsely accuse their own father. Chris Tucker and Jay Leno also stated the same family had tried to scam them too.
Also “USHER JUSTIN CHRIS BROWN” have all called MJ one of their absolute heroes and inspiration and sure as heck wouldn’t appreciate you telling lies. Omarion literally did “Omarion presents Thriller Night” in 2020 with Mike’s son Prince, so again would think you a total clown.
MJ had it easy? Seriously? In that extra racist age and lack of internet streaming and people had to actually get off their butts and actually purchase music from a store? And MTV initially didn’t want to even play his music cos they didn’t think black artists were worth much? If he so ‘irrelevant’ how come he has a hugely successful Broadway musical about him that just won 4 Tonys and performs sell out shows every night? And the Las Vegas Cirque show MJ One has been performing for the past decade (in fact fraud Wade Robson only started his allegations after being REJECTED for a high paid job on that show, he BEGGED to be hired and is on video talking like he got the job). Here in UK his “Number Ones” been a regular in the top 40 album chart for over a decade. And most years he’s been the number one top earning celeb usually far, far ahead of Elvis.
If i was looking like u i wouldnt ever comment you look and soud so delutional get some help the hate for mj consume you
Too bad nobody will ever top him death or alive he rocks
I think you should be bothered about Diabetes.
Fat clown
What an extremely stupid comment. Not a single intelligent fact presented to show why those people are better than MJ. Even names a bunch of medium-level acts who are all inspired by MJ.
Quote
“of course he’s going to sell in an era where 1 there’s no song/dance competition and 2 ppl had no option but to buy NEW music. MJ had it easy cause NOBODY but him was singing AND dancing ”
Unquote
What kind of nonsense is that ??
The KING OF MUSIC
Diabetes UNBOTHERED get some help you need it you are delutional and hatful for someone u never met zip it ignorant mj was never convited of anything allthe music you listening too is garbage
There would never be an artist like this ever beyond legendary
So wait if Eminem has also completed the feat then how can MJ be considered the first act to achieve it. Just because his music is older doesnt actually negate the fact Eminem was the first to get there.
The article said “singer” NOT artist.
Wrong, if you look at the numbers between Eminems’ albums ie 11M 12M etc. Look at Thriller’s numbers. Thriller sold 32 million in the 1st year. Thriller has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. Bad has sold over 32 million. They just didn’t do it till now. Plus these are album sales which predates the streaming era.
It’s MULTIPLE Diamond Status of Singles AND Albums ….M&M only has Singles MJ is the ONLY Artist to have Muliples of Both Singles and Albums….that’s why he’s THE KING !
Let’s remember this is only North America! MJ is the GOAT Worldwide! The Greatest Ever!!!
KING Michael, THE King of Pop…Not onlt in USA but ALL OVER THE WORLD…
MJ is the GOAT OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE,THERE IS NO OTHER KING OF POP THAN MJ HIMSELF,THERE’S NO COMPARISION TO MJ, MICHAEL JACKSON IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE KING OF POP,FOR ETERNITY,HIS MUSIC LIVES ON,RIP KING OF POP FOREVER, GREATLY MISSED.I LOVE YOU MJ.
It’s MULTIPLE Diamond Status of Singles AND Albums ….M&M only has Singles MJ is the ONLY Artist to have Muliples of Both Singles and Albums….that’s why he’s THE KING !