by Michael Jackson was one of the most successful pop artists of all time.
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Over the course of his career spanning five decades, Jackson broke countless music industry records and revolutionized the landscape of pop music. Through his innovative music videos, electrifying live performances, and genre-bending sound, Jackson transcended racial barriers and became the first global pop star. His artistic brilliance, showmanship, and commercial dominance are unparalleled in the history of popular music.
Sales Sensation
By any measure, Jackson was a sales juggernaut. He is estimated to have sold over 750 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. This figure is all the more remarkable considering it was achieved primarily during the era of physical album sales before digital music and streaming became dominant revenue sources. Jackson demonstrated an uncanny ability to tap into the public consciousness on a global scale like no artist before him.
Many of Jackson’s albums sold extraordinarily well. His sixth studio album Thriller, released in 1982, remains the best-selling album of all time with estimated sales of over 66 million copies worldwide. In the United States alone, Thriller has been certified 33 times platinum by the RIAA, equivalent to over 33 million copies sold. Jackson held the top two spots on the best-selling albums list for over a decade, with Bad following Thriller as the second best-selling album of all time. Other blockbuster albums from Jackson include Off the Wall, which has sold over 20 million copies globally, and HIStory, which sold over 20 million copies in its first year.
Jackson’s dominance of the singles charts was equally impressive. He achieved a total of 13 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, more than any other male artist in history. This includes iconic, culture-defining songs like “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”, “Rock With You”, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'”, and “Black or White”. His singles sales total over 100 million copies worldwide. Jackson’s commercial success was truly unmatched for a solo artist during his lifetime.
Chart-Topping Triumphs
As referenced above, Jackson achieved an incredible 13 number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 during his career as a solo artist. This record for a male artist has yet to be broken. But Jackson’s chart dominance extended beyond just the number one spots.
A remarkable 47 of Jackson’s songs managed to place on the Billboard Hot 100 chart over the years. His longevity and popularity allowed him to consistently deliver new hits to radio even into the 1990s and 2000s. In addition to his 13 number ones, Jackson landed 7 top five singles, 17 top ten singles, and 11 top twenty singles on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100.
Jackson similarly ruled the Billboard album charts throughout the 1980s in particular. Six of his studio albums reached number one on the Billboard 200, with Thriller famously spending 37 non-consecutive weeks at the top spot in 1983. This broke the previous record held by Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, showing the grip Jackson had on the national zeitgeist during the Thriller era. Off the Wall, Bad, Dangerous, and HIStory all debuted at number one upon release as well.
Jackson was also a force to be reckoned with on Billboard’s Black Albums and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. He scored 15 number one albums on the Black Albums chart, highlighting his immense popularity in the African American community in particular. On the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, Jackson placed 9 albums at number one, exemplifying his role in shaping the sound and direction of R&B and early hip hop.
Award Show Accolades
Jackson’s artistic brilliance and commercial achievements were recognized time and again by the music industry’s major award shows. He won a total of 13 Grammy Awards over the course of his career, the most for a male artist. This included a Grammy Legend Award and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, honors befitting his status as an icon.
At the American Music Awards, Jackson took home an unmatched 8 awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist. He also received the Artist of the Century Award in 1983, reflecting his unparalleled success and impact on popular culture in the 20th century. Jackson was presented with the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 1997 and the Diamond Award from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for lifetime artistic achievement in 2013.
Jackson made history by becoming the first artist to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – once with The Jackson 5 in 1997 and again as a solo artist in 2001. He was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. These honors from his peers in the music industry cemented Jackson’s place among the most influential artists of the rock era.
Early Success with The Jackson 5
While Jackson rose to unimaginable heights as a solo performer, his success story began at a very young age as the lead singer of The Jackson 5. Formed in 1964 when Michael was just 6 years old, The Jackson 5 was composed of Michael and four of his older brothers – Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. Managed by their father Joe Jackson, the group developed their prodigious talents through relentless rehearsals and performances at local venues and talent shows in their hometown of Gary, Indiana.
In 1968, The Jackson 5 secured a recording contract with Motown Records. Their first four singles, “I Want You Back” (1969), “ABC” (1970), “The Love You Save” (1970), and “I’ll Be There” (1970), all rocketed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 – a rare and remarkable achievement. The Jackson 5 became the first group in history to have their first four singles reach number one, establishing them as pop sensations. By the time Michael was 10 years old in 1970, The Jackson 5 had notched an impressive five number one hits.
Michael’s soaring vocals, dazzling dance moves, and charismatic stage presence made him a star from an incredibly young age. He helped propel The Jackson 5 to become one of the biggest pop-soul groups of the early 1970s. They toured internationally to sold-out arenas and released multiple platinum albums. The success of The Jackson 5 laid the foundation for Michael’s even greater accomplishments as a solo artist later in his career.
The Legacy and Influence of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson left an indelible mark on popular music and culture that remains potent even over a decade after his untimely death. Through his innovative music videos that brought the emerging medium to new heights, Jackson helped usher in the era of global music video broadcasting on channels like MTV. Hits like “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, and “Thriller” were groundbreaking in their scope, blending dance, storytelling, and cinematic flair in ways never seen before.
Jackson’s musical style was equally pioneering. He merged pop, rock, funk, soul, and dance genres into a hybrid sound that pushed creative boundaries. His pristine vocals, flashy dance moves, and meticulous attention to detail in his recordings raised the bar for live performances and set a new standard for studio production quality. Songs like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'”, and “Smooth Criminal” introduced new rhythms and styles that would influence the development of genres like new jack swing, hip hop, and contemporary R&B.
Through his talent, showmanship, and crossover appeal, Jackson shattered racial barriers. As a black American artist, he became the first to consistently find success on MTV in the early 1980s. World tours in the late 1980s shattered box office records previously held by The Rolling Stones. His music and iconic image were embraced globally by all demographics. Jackson paved the way for diverse representation in mainstream pop culture.
Today, Michael Jackson continues to be a towering figure in popular music. His catalog of hits is woven into the cultural fabric and his music remains deeply influential. New generations of artists still cite Jackson as a seminal influence and inspiration. His artistic brilliance, groundbreaking innovation, and unparalleled commercial success during his lifetime cemented Michael Jackson’s status as the King of Pop – an artist who raised the bar for live performances, music videos, record sales, and all aspects of the pop music industry. His musical legacy and cultural impact will endure forever.
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