Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ Blocked From No. 1 By One More Hit

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentMichael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ Blocked From No. 1 By One More HitByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorJun 06, 2026, 08:00am EDTFor several weeks, Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" has been blocked from No. 1 on Billboard's R&B Digital Song Sales chart — now by several smashes. Michael Jackson poses at a press conference before a date on his HIStory world tour in 1996. (Photo by Phil Dent/Redferns)RedfernsFor well over a month now, Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" has been working its way toward the summit on Billboard's R&B Digital Song Sales chart. The decades-old smash, from perhaps the bestselling artist of all time, has never managed to conquer the list of the bestselling R&B-only tunes via platforms like iTunes. Of course, the ranking was introduced long after "Billie Jean" enjoyed a hugely successful run on various other charts, but the fact that it has come so close to dominating, yet never worked its way all the way to the highest rung, is surprising, given how popular it remains to this day. Even in the wake of Jackson's box office smash biopic, Michael, "Billie Jean" has been blocked from the penthouse – by multiple bestsellers.Bruno Mars Blocks "Billie Jean" From Hitting No. 1On this week's R&B Digital Song Sales chart, Bruno Mars returns to No. 1. His single "I Just Might," which introduced his then-upcoming album The Romantic earlier this year, vaults from No. 3 to the highest space. "I Just Might" has now led the charge for a dozen frames."Billie Jean" Holds at No. 2 – Again"Billie Jean," meanwhile, is stationary at No. 2, the highest it has ever climbed on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart. "Billie Jean" debuted on the ranking in...