Michael Jacksons Thriller Blocked From Finally Rising To No. 1

Michael Jackson's Thriller Stops at No. 2

Michael Jackson's Thriller steps up on this week's Top Album Sales chart, ascending from No. 6 to No. 2. That's as high as the blockbuster has ever reached on this list, though it has conquered other rosters, like the all-important Billboard 200, in the past. Thriller initially set its No. 2 peak position back in December 2022, decades after it altered what was possible for one project from an artist.

Le Sserafim Blocks Michael Jackson from No. 1

One debut stops Jackson’s Thriller from standing out as the bestselling release in America, at least according to a chart that was introduced decades after it had already sold more than 10 million copies. K-pop girl group Le Sserafim launches Pureflow atop the tally. The troupe earns its third champion with Pureflow, which follows two EPs, Crazy and Hot. The group has pushed seven releases to the ranking, and all but one have spent time inside not only the top 10, but the top three.

Michael Jackson Has Seen Two Albums Stall at No. 2

Thriller is one of two Jackson collections to fail to dominate the Top Album Sales chart by just one space. Xscape launched in the runner-up rung in May 2014, and it never managed to push any higher.

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The superstar has racked up 10 top 10 wins on the roster, four of which have led the charge. Jackson’s longest-running No. 1 on the Top Album Sales chart remains Dangerous. That full-length opened in first place in December 1991 and managed four frames atop the rundown. That’s as long as the performer’s three other leaders – Invincible, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I and Michael Jackson’s This Is It (Soundtrack) – have held on to the peak position, combined.

Michael Jackson Scores Four Bestsellers This Week

Jackson scores a quartet of bestsellers on this week’s Top Album Sales chart, and all but one of them lives inside the top 10. Thriller, Number Ones and Off the Wall sit at their all-time highs of Nos. 2, 6 and 8, respectively. Further down on the roster comes Bad, which dips one rung from its No. 20 high point.

Michael Jackson Rules With Thriller Elsewhere

Thriller also settles for second place on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally, though it is not Le Sserafim that keeps the singer from returning to the throne. Drake’s Iceman, one of three albums he released less than a month ago, earns a second stay after debuting at No. 1 last week.

Thriller does command the Top R&B Albums tally. On that rundown, Jackson replaces Drake at No. 1 as Thriller takes over from Habibti, another one of the trio of projects that Canadian hip-hop talent recently delivered.

ForbesMichael Jackson Defies The Odds And Sends Several Songs To New PeaksBy Hugh McIntyre