Photo credit: Michael Jackson (Instagram)
Michael Jackson continues to make music history years after his death.
His classic hit “Billie Jean” has now spent 12 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart. The achievement marks the longest reign of any song in Jackson’s career on the streaming-based ranking.
The chart measures the most-streamed R&B songs across platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music in the United States.
The latest milestone comes as renewed interest in Jackson’s catalog continues following the release of the Michael biopic.
Billie Jean surpasses Michael Jackson’s previous No. 1 hits
The 12-week run gives “Billie Jean” a remarkable place in Jackson’s chart history.
Before this achievement, Jackson had earned two other No. 1 hits on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart.
“Thriller” spent five weeks at the top after reaching No. 1 in 2014.
Meanwhile, “Don’t Matter to Me,” his posthumous collaboration with Drake, debuted at No. 1 in 2018. However, the song remained there for only one week.
Together, those two chart-toppers spent six weeks at No. 1. By comparison, “Billie Jean” has now doubled that total on its own.
Michael Jackson dominates the Billboard chart
Jackson’s success extends well beyond a single song.
This week, he occupies the top three positions on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart.
“Billie Jean” remains at No. 1, while “Chicago” holds the No. 2 spot. “Beat It” follows closely at No. 3.
The movement pushed Beyoncé‘s “Morning Dew (Donk)” from No. 2 to No. 4.
Overall, Jackson has placed 18 songs on the R&B Streaming Songs chart during his career. Twelve of those tracks have reached the top 10.
Five Michael Jackson songs appear on the chart
Jackson currently holds five of the chart’s 15 positions.
Alongside the top three songs, “Human Nature” remains at No. 7.
“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” sits at No. 13 after slipping from the previous week.
The continued success of Jackson’s music highlights the lasting appeal of one of pop music’s most influential artists.
Decades after their original release, many of his biggest hits continue to attract millions of streams from longtime fans and new listeners alike.
With “Billie Jean” extending its record-breaking run, Jackson’s catalog continues to set new milestones in the streaming era.
Source: Forbes, Billboard
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