Michael Jackson Blocked From His First No. 1 On One Chart By Two Superstar Acts

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentMichael Jackson Blocked From His First No. 1 On One Chart By Two Superstar ActsByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorApr 21, 2026, 09:00am EDTMichael Jackson returns to his career high on the U.K.'s Official Albums Streaming chart, where he's blocked from No. 1 by Olivia Dean and Fleetwood Mac. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - NOVEMBER 10: Michael Jackson performs on stage during is "HIStory" world tour concert at Ericsson Stadium November 10, 1996 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)Getty ImagesMore than a decade since his death, Michael Jackson remains not only one of the most successful musical artists of all time, but one of the most popular acts on streaming platforms. Jackson’s catalog is so beloved to this day that even though very little has been added to it since his passing, he regularly rises into some of the highest spaces on the United Kingdom's Official Albums Streaming chart. Jackson comes as close as he ever has to conquering that list this frame, as a fan-favorite compilation finds its way back to its all-time high – a position it only initially reached only a few weeks ago.Michael Jackson’s The Essential Returns to Its PeakJackson's The Essential rises ever so slightly on the current edition of the Official Albums Streaming tally. This frame, the collection, which features many of the superstar’s most famous singles, improves from No. 5 to No. 3. The fact that a compilation by a musical icon who got his start decades ago is the third-most-played on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and others in one of the world's largest music markets is incredibly impressive. Another fact – that The Essential has never climbed any higher than where it sits right now – is slightly surprising.The Essential Debuted More Than a Decade...