The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has once again cemented his legendary status, achieving a musical milestone that no other artist in history has ever reached.
A Historic Chart Achievement
Following its annual Halloween resurgence, Jackson's iconic track 'Thriller' has catapulted back into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. This remarkable feat, occurring in 2025, officially makes Michael Jackson the first artist to secure Top 10 hits in six distinct decades. His chart dominance now spans from the 1970s all the way through to the 2020s.
This latest achievement carries significant historical weight, as Jackson officially surpasses the previous record held by the late Andy Williams, who had Top 10 placements across five decades. Williams's longevity was often powered by his holiday classic, a pattern mirrored by the seasonal success of 'Thriller'.
The Power of Streaming and a Biopic Buzz
The resurgence of 'Thriller' was not a fluke. It was driven by a massive performance on digital platforms, demonstrating the track's enduring appeal. According to data from Luminate, the song amassed an impressive 14 million streams in a single tracking week, propelling its dramatic leap from number 32 into the chart's upper echelon.
This renewed interest in Jackson's music coincides perfectly with the release of the trailer for his highly anticipated biopic, titled 'Michael'. The film's first look shattered records, becoming the most-viewed music biopic trailer ever with a staggering 116.2 million global views in 24 hours. This debut surpassed the previous record held by the trailer for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and set a new benchmark for the studio, Lionsgate.
A Legacy of Number Ones
While 'Thriller' is the song of the moment, it is merely the latest triumph in an unparalleled career. Over his incredible time in music, Michael Jackson accumulated a total of 30 Top 10 hits. Of these, an astonishing 13 reached the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to this recent success with 'Thriller', his last appearance in the Top 10 was in 2018 for a feature on Drake's 'Don't Matter to Me'.
The fact that a song first released in 1982, which originally peaked at No. 4, can generate such formidable streaming numbers over four decades later is a powerful testament to Michael Jackson's timeless artistry and undiminished cultural impact.
