Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” surges 32-10 on the Hot 100. With the song, which hit No. 4 in 1984, the late King of Pop becomes the first artist ever to rank in the top 10 in six distinct decades (the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, ‘10s and now ‘20s). He surpasses Andy Williams, who died in 2012 and whose history includes placements in the top 10 in five decades (‘50s, ’60s, ’70s, ‘10s and ’20s, extended since 2018 thanks to “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”).
Jackson first reached the Hot 100’s top 10 as a soloist in November 1971 with his debut on his own, “Got to Be There.” (His fellow acts in the top 10 that week: Isaac Hayes, Cher, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Bread, the Chi-Lites, Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens, Sly & the Family Stone and The Osmonds.) Jackson boasts 30 top 10s, including 13 No. 1s. Until this week, Jackson, who died in 2009, last ranked in the top 10 as featured on Drake’s “Don’t Matter to Me” in 2018.
(Notably, with Jackson, then just 11 years old, as a member, the Jackson 5 spent its first week in the Hot 100’s top 10 on the last chart of the ‘60s, dated Dec. 27, 1969, with breakthrough hit “I Want You Back.”)
With Halloween kicking off the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 tracking week, “Thriller” drew 14 million streams (up 57% week-over-week) and 9.3 million in radio airplay audience (up 124%), while selling 3,000 (up 1%).
Additionally, “Thriller” is now Jackson’s sole longest-charting Hot 100 hit: 26 weeks. It one-ups two other classics from his Thriller album, as “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” each spent 25 weeks on the chart beginning in 1983.
