by Michael Jackson Wasn’t Literally a King, But His Award Achievements Earned Him the “King of Pop” Title
Michael Jackson was one of the most famous and successful pop artists of all time. While he didn’t rule over any literal kingdom, his extraordinary achievements and records in the music awards realm earned him the well-deserved nickname of “King of Pop.” Jackson dominated the awards shows of the 1980s like no other artist, breaking numerous records along the way. By the sheer number of awards he accumulated over his career as well as his record-breaking wins, Michael Jackson solidified his claim to the pop throne and cemented his legacy as the self-proclaimed “King of Pop.”
Sheer Number of Awards in Jackson’s Collection
One of the biggest factors that supports Jackson’s “King of Pop” title is simply the massive number of awards that are in his collection. By the end of his career, Jackson had amassed a staggering 13 Grammy Awards. This total includes special awards like the Grammy Legend Award which he received in 1993 and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award which he earned in 2010, several years after his death. Beyond the Grammys, Jackson also took home multiple American Music Awards, earning the Artist of the Century award in 2002. He won numerous Billboard Music Awards, Brit Awards, and more.
The sheer volume of awards Jackson won over the course of his four-decade career in the music industry is truly impressive. Some artists are lucky to win even one Grammy over their entire career. But Jackson was winning multiple Grammys almost every single year during his peak in the 1980s and continued collecting awards well into the 2000s. His trophy case must have been overflowing by the end. No other pop artist has matched Jackson’s award total both in terms of quantity and variety, cementing his place high upon the pop throne.
Record-Breaking Wins at Awards Shows
It wasn’t enough for Jackson to simply accumulate awards – he had to break records along the way as well. Perhaps his most famous record-breaking achievement came at the 1984 Grammy Awards, where Jackson took home a then-unprecedented eight awards in a single night. This included Album of the Year for Thriller and Record of the Year for “Beat It.” No other artist had ever swept the major categories like Jackson did that night. His eight wins set the bar impossibly high for other artists to match. Over 30 years later, the record still stands.
Jackson also holds the record for the best-selling album of all time for Thriller, which has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. He took home another seven Grammys in 1985 for the Thriller album and videos. Throughout the 1980s, Jackson continually raised the bar for other artists at awards shows by breaking new records each year. Whether it was album sales, TV viewership for a music video, or number of awards won in a single night, Jackson shattered expectations at every turn. These record-breaking achievements showed that Jackson truly reigned supreme as the biggest pop star on the planet during his peak decade.
Dominance at 1980s Grammy Awards
Taking a closer look at Jackson’s Grammy wins specifically in the 1980s, it’s easy to see how he rose to the top of the pop throne during that transformative decade for pop music. According to Grammy statistics, Jackson won a total of 13 awards between 1980 to 1989. The next closest artists during that time period were Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, who each won 6 Grammys in the 1980s. No other artist even came close to touching Jackson’s dominance at the Grammys throughout the 1980s.
Some key Grammy wins for Jackson in the 1980s included Album of the Year for Off the Wall in 1980, plus Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance for Thriller in 1984. He won the same five major categories again in 1985 for Thriller. When looking back at the most decorated Grammy winners of the 1980s, Michael Jackson stands head and shoulders above any other artist of that era. His Grammy track record exemplifies why he earned the “King” moniker – because for nearly a decade, he truly reigned over the awards shows unlike anyone before or since.
Cementing His Legacy as “King of Pop”
While there is no literal crown or scepter handed to the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson’s incredible dominance at music awards ceremonies throughout his career helped cement that nickname and legacy. Between the sheer number of awards in his collection, his record-breaking individual wins at shows, and his unprecedented Grammy success in the 1980s, Jackson proved beyond a doubt that when it came to pop music awards, he was indeed “The King.”
Even after his tragic death in 2009, Jackson’s influence over pop culture lives on. His music and videos continue to inspire new generations of artists. And his award achievements have never been matched by another pop star. No other artist has come close to 13 Grammys or selling over 100 million albums. Jackson took pop music to a whole new level and changed the industry forever. Awards shows were happy to acknowledge Jackson’s greatness time and time again by bestowing him with trophy after trophy.
While Jackson may have humbly called himself the “King of Pop” in jest, his extraordinary accomplishments at every major music awards show helped solidify that nickname as more than just an ego-driven title – it became a statement of fact. Through breaking records, dominating entire decades, and amassing the largest award collection in history, Michael Jackson truly earned the right to be called the one and only “King of Pop.” His legendary career and unprecedented awards success cemented his place high upon the pop throne for all time. Even after his death, Jackson’s crown remains securely upon his head as the undisputed ruler and leader of pop music.
