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.