Michael Jackson Stops Himself From Charting A New No. 1 Album

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentMichael Jackson Stops Himself From Charting A New No. 1 AlbumByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorJun 04, 2026, 10:37am EDTMichael Jackson keeps himself from collecting a new No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart as Thriller blocks Number Ones from dominating. 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 40 years after its release, Michael Jackson's Thriller sits at No. 1 on multiple Billboard charts. The project climbs from second place to first on three of the half dozen tallies on which it appears, and it nearly conquers a fourth. On just one of those rundowns, the ascent of Thriller keeps Jackson from scoring a new champion with another one of his most popular collections.Michael Jackson Sits at Nos. 1 and 2This week, Jackson fills the highest two spaces on the Top R&B Albums chart. The ranking focuses on the most-consumed – not bestselling or most-streamed – full-lengths and EPs that Billboard classifies as R&B. Both purchases and activity on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music dictate where a title lands. As Thriller returns to the summit, Jackson's Number Ones compilation improves from No. 3 to No. 2.Number Ones Returns to Its All-Time HighNumber Ones finds its way back to its all-time high on the Top R&B Albums chart as it nearly leads the charge. The compilation, which features many of the singer's most popular singles, reached No. 2 for the first time only a few months ago, in February. On the chart dated on Valentine's Day, Number Ones lifted higher than ever and almost became yet another ruler. Number Ones joined The Essential Michael Jac...