Michael Jackson tops Billboard Artist 100 for first time – Music News

Nearly two decades after his death, Michael Jackson is the biggest artist in the United States.

The late superstar, who died in 2009, has topped the Billboard Artist 100 chart for the first time, driven by the massive success of the Michael biopic starring his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, in the titular role.

The Artist 100 ranks the top artists in the US based on activity across streaming, radio airplay, album sales and track sales.

Jackson’s solo catalogue generated 161.2 million official streams during the 8-14 May tracking week, and sold a combined 46,000 albums.

Those and other metrics make Jackson the biggest artist in the States this week.

The biopic has sent many of Jackson’s songs and albums back into the charts around the world.

On the latest Billboard Hot 100, Jackson places six songs simultaneously: Billie Jean at number 15; Human Nature at 21; Beat It at 29; Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough at 36; Dirty Diana at 44; and Rock With You at 47.

Jackson becomes the sixth artist to top the Artist 100 posthumously, joining David Bowie, Prince, XXXTentacion, Juice WRLD and Pop Smoke.

Notably, the Jacksons are also benefiting from the Michael resurgence, as the group reenters the latest Artist 100 at number 98.