Michael Jackson has been named the No. 1 artist on the Billboard Artist 100 chart for the first time, more than 15 years after his death. The achievement comes as his music experiences a major global resurgence, fueled by the continued success of the Michael biopic and renewed fan interest across streaming platforms.
The Billboard Artist 100 ranks artists based on overall performance, including streaming numbers, radio airplay, album sales, and digital song sales. Jackson’s combined activity across these areas placed him at the top of the chart during the latest tracking week.
Streaming played a major role in the milestone. Jackson’s catalog reached 161.2 million on-demand streams in the U.S. in just one week, making him one of the most-streamed artists of the period. Only a handful of active modern artists ranked higher, showing the scale of his renewed popularity.
Radio airplay also remained strong, with his music attracting more than 93 million audience impressions during the week. Classic hits continue to receive regular rotation across stations, keeping his legacy present alongside today’s biggest charting acts.
Sales figures further boosted his ranking. Jackson’s catalog moved 46,000 albums in a single week, placing him near the top among all artists. His songs also recorded 20,000 digital downloads, adding to his overall chart performance.
The resurgence is closely tied to the success of the Michael biopic, which has introduced his music to new audiences while reigniting interest among longtime fans. The film has become one of the highest-grossing releases of the year and has helped push several of his classic tracks back onto major charts.
On the Billboard Hot 100, Jackson currently charts six songs simultaneously, his highest-ever total in a single week. These include “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Human Nature,” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” alongside two re-entries.
His hit “Billie Jean” also reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, becoming the most popular song in the world for the week. Meanwhile, six of his albums re-entered or climbed the Billboard 200, including Thriller and Off the Wall.
Jackson now joins a small group of late artists who have topped the Artist 100 after death, alongside names like David Bowie, Prince, and Pop Smoke.
The latest milestone highlights how Jackson’s influence continues to shape global music culture, decades after his passing.
