Michael Jackson Blocked From His First No. 1 On One Chart By BTS

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentMichael Jackson Blocked From His First No. 1 On One Chart By BTSByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorMay 29, 2026, 08:34am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Michael Jackson misses out on hitting No. 1 for the first time on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. as "Billie Jean" climbs to No. 2, stopped from ruling by BTS. Michael Jackson performs on stage during his "BAD" concert tour held at Wembley Stadium ,London on the 15th of July 1988. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Getty ImagesFor the past month or so, Michael Jackson's music has gained considerably in terms of both sales and streams. The surge is connected to his highly anticipated biopic, Michael, which finally arrived in theaters earlier this spring. The superstar's name began reappearing on Billboard's charts in earnest before the movie finally landed, and for weeks since then, Americans and listeners around the world have seemingly not been able to get enough of the smashes that made him the King of Pop. The past several weeks have been incredibly exciting for Jackson's catalog, as he has racked up dozens of appearances on charts that did not exist while he was alive or which were compiled differently during his heyday, and it is clear that the human race is still deeply in love with his music. Jackson nearly reaches No. 1 for the first time on a tally that was introduced more than a decade after his passing, but the most successful boy band of the past decade beats him to the summit.Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" Climbs AgainOn this week's Billboard Global Excl. U.S., Jackson's "Billie Jean" surges almost all the way to No. 1. The career-defining hit, whi...