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Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” Breaks Historic Global Record
Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” Breaks Historic Global Record
More than 43 years after its original release, Billie Jean by Michael Jackson has returned to the top of the global music charts, setting a major new record in the process.
The legendary track has climbed to No. 1 on both Billboard’s Global 200 chart and Spotify’s worldwide streaming chart, with reports showing more than six million daily streams across platforms.
The achievement makes “Billie Jean” the oldest song ever to reach the top position on Billboard’s Global 200 ranking.
Streaming Explosion Fueled by “Michael” Biopic
According to Billboard and data company Luminate, interest in Michael Jackson’s music surged dramatically following the release of the biographical film Michael.
In the United States alone, Jackson’s solo catalog generated approximately 137.5 million streams within a single week after the movie premiered.
Just three weeks earlier, “Billie Jean” had reportedly been sitting at No. 65 before suddenly exploding back into global popularity.
The film stars Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, in the lead role and has become a major international box-office success.
“Thriller” Era Classics Return to the Charts
Originally released in November 1982 as part of the iconic Thriller album, “Billie Jean” is now also credited with setting a record for the longest journey to No. 1 on the Global 200 chart after spending 144 weeks on the ranking before finally reaching the top spot.
The previous record belonged to End of Beginning by Djo, which reached No. 1 during its 94th week on the chart.
Other Jackson classics are also experiencing renewed popularity. “Beat It” recently climbed higher on the global rankings, while Thriller itself has returned to Billboard’s album charts and is once again among the world’s most-streamed catalog albums.
The Song That Introduced the Moonwalk
“Billie Jean” remains one of the most influential pop songs ever recorded. It was during a televised performance of the track in the early 1980s that Michael Jackson famously debuted the “moonwalk” dance move to the public for the first time, creating one of the most iconic moments in music history.
Jackson died in 2009, but his music continues to attract massive global audiences across generations.
Success and Controversy Surround the Film
While the movie Michael has achieved huge commercial success, it has also reopened debates surrounding Jackson’s complicated legacy and the allegations that followed him throughout his later life.
Reports state that the film earned around $97 million during its opening weekend in the United States and Canada, while global box office revenue surpassed $218 million, setting new records for a music biopic.
