Even in his absence, Michael Jackson remains unrivalled on the music charts. His 1982 classic track, Thriller, has returned to the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, signalling yet another triumph in the late King of Pop’s enduring legacy.
The resurgence of ‘Thriller’ follows the Halloween season and the buzz surrounding the upcoming biopic ‘Michael’, directed by Antoine Fuqua—factors that helped propel the song back into the limelight.
Crucially, the return of this track to the top 10 has allowed Jackson to set a new record: he is now the first artiste ever to achieve top 10 hits in six different decades (the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, 2010s and the 2020s).
Jackson’s chart journey began with his solo hit ‘Got to Be There’ in 1971. Over the course of his career, he amassed roughly 30 top 10 hits, including many timeless anthems such as ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Beat It’, ‘Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough’ and ‘Black or White’.
The latest surge for ‘Thriller’ has been driven by high streaming numbers and renewed radio play: the week in question saw about 14 million official streams and a radio-airplay audience of 9.3 million.
Jackson’s album ‘Thriller’, released in 1982, remains one of the bestselling albums of all time, further cementing his impact on global music.
This achievement is more than statistical: it speaks to Jackson’s enduring cultural relevance across generations — his music continues to resonate, whether via streaming, seasonal playlists or new media projects.
