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On the Charts: Michael Jackson Catalog Explodes, Sales Top 800K

7/8/09, 11:33 am EST


The Big News: Four new releases stormed the top of the charts, but the King of Pop outsold them all — again — as sales of Michael Jackson’s catalog topped over 800,000 copies in the first full week since the singer’s death. Leading the charge was Jackson’s Number Ones, selling 339,000 copies to rank Number One on the Top Albums chart (Jackson’s discography is ineligible for the Top 200 chart because the releases are older than 18 months). Thriller came in at Number Two with 187,000 copies. Both albums sold more than the week’s Top 200 champ the Now 31 compilation, which sold 169,000 units.

Other members of the over 100K club this week include Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night (Number Two on Top 200, Four on Top Albums) with 129,000 copies, the Essential Michael Jackson collection at Number Five on the Top Albums list thanks to 125,000 copies and Rob Thomas’ Cradlesong, which sold 121,000 copies to place Number Three on the Top 200. Jackson also grabbed all of the Top 10 spots on the Top Catalog Albums chart. Amazingly, roughly 82 percent of Jackson’s album sales have come from CD purchases and not digital outlets, Billboard reports.

Debuts: Jackson’s chart reign almost overshadows the stellar debut of Wilco’s Wilco (The Album), which tied the debut of 2007’s Sky Blue Sky by bowing in at Number Four, selling 98,000 copies in the process. A pair of self-titled albums entered the charts at Six and Seven as Jeremih and Killswitch Engage made the cut with their eponymous releases. Other notables include Moby’s Wait For Me at 22, Levon Helm’s Electric Dirt at 36 and the Wu-Tang Clan project Chamber Music at 49.

Last Week’s Heroes: Michael Jackson’s increased sales kept him in the game while the rest of last week’s Top 10 took a tumble. Regina Spektor’s Far, a shocker in the Number Three spot seven days ago, dropped down to 26. The Jonas Brothers’ Lines, Vines and Trying Times fell from Two to Eight while Eminem’s Relapse was finally booted from the Top Five, falling from Five to Nine. Next week, with no major releases on this week’s slate, we’ll find out if the Michael Jackson discography can make a run at outselling the entire Top 200.


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Comments

Arlington, VA | 7/8/2009, 11:58 am EST

Billboard is a tool of the recording industry. They separated the charts for new releases from catalog releases because Dark Side of the Moon kept selling more copies each week than the new artists the labels were trying to promote. Somebody needs to compile one chart of sheer volume of sales and downloads. If MJ sells more albums than Jonas Brothers – meaning more folks are listening to Jackson – then that is what more people are listening to and that makes it the most popular record of the week! Plain and simple. As Ellington said, “if it sounds good, it is good,” – no matter what chart it is relegated to.

sh | 7/8/2009, 12:11 pm EST

Eminem 4ever

L | 7/8/2009, 12:28 pm EST

Michael Jakcson was a genius, people who didnt knew his music is discovering now, so its natural, Michael posessed what its called an ABSOLUTE EAR, therefore his abillity to mix all kind of styles, creating his own very style, there would never be nbe another artist of that caliber, geniuses go before their time, i think Michael would want just to do the tour and then retire and enjoy seeing their children go, my heart is with the Jackson family and the children specially, RIP MJ

Anonymous | 7/8/2009, 12:32 pm EST

i kinda agree Arlington, VA… there should be a chart for complete overall sales, no matter the genre. And if they want to publish additional charts broken down into specific sub-sections, that’s fine. but i’d really like there to be a total overall sales chart for all recordings.

vanessa jackson | 7/8/2009, 4:31 pm EST

yo creo que michale jackson era un gran lider,padre, cantante,actor y una gran persona es y sera el rey del pop

Anonymous | 7/8/2009, 6:39 pm EST

michaeljackson was a real art(music&dance)genius. try to watch his human beatbox where he did the “who is it” sound. it was so originally played into his real recording with the instruments and all.like what he said,his composition and the sounds he made came from above..

he was so humble for all the gifts he had in proclaiming that God gave it to him..and for that,he truly made God smile..(that was his favorite song).. so sad that only after he died, people greatly appreciated his deeds and researched for the truth about him..

until now, i can’t even imagine that he won’t come back to life..i always cry whenever i hear his voice..can’t cope up with this..

iloveyoumichaeljacks on eversince i was a kid..

reignforeverKING!!

maji | 7/8/2009, 6:39 pm EST

michaeljackson was a real art(music&dance)genius. try to watch his human beatbox where he did the “who is it” sound. it was so originally played into his real recording with the instruments and all.like what he said,his composition and the sounds he made came from above..

he was so humble for all the gifts he had in proclaiming that God gave it to him..and for that,he truly made God smile..(that was his favorite song).. so sad that only after he died, people greatly appreciated his deeds and researched for the truth about him..

until now, i can’t even imagine that he won’t come back to life..i always cry whenever i hear his voice..can’t cope up with this..

iloveyoumichael jacks on eversince i was a kid..

reignforeverKING!!

maji | 7/8/2009, 6:40 pm EST

michaeljackson was a real art(music&dance)genius. try to watch his human beatbox where he did the “who is it” sound. it was so originally played into his real recording with the instruments and all.like what he said,his composition and the sounds he made came from above..

he was so humble for all the gifts he had in proclaiming that God gave it to him..and for that,he truly made God smile..(that was his favorite song).. so sad that only after he died, people greatly appreciated his deeds and researched for the truth about him..

until now, i can’t even imagine that he won’t come back to life..i always cry whenever i hear his voice..can’t cope up with this..

iloveyoumi chael jackson eversince i was a kid..

reignforeverKING!!

maji | 7/8/2009, 6:40 pm EST

michaeljackson was a real art(music&dance)genius. try to watch his human beatbox where he did the “who is it” sound. it was so originally played into his real recording with the instruments and all.like what he said,his composition and the sounds he made came from above..

he was so humble for all the gifts he had in proclaiming that God gave it to him..and for that,he truly made God smile..(that was his favorite song).. so sad that only after he died, people greatly appreciated his deeds and researched for the truth about him..

until now, i can’t even imagine that he won’t come back to life..i always cry whenever i hear his voice..can’t cope up with this..

ilove youmi chael jackson eversince i was a kid..

reignforeverKING!!

maji | 7/8/2009, 6:40 pm EST

michaeljackson was a real art(music&dance)genius. try to watch his human beatbox where he did the “who is it” sound. it was so originally played into his real recording with the instruments and all.like what he said,his composition and the sounds he made came from above..

he was so humble for all the gifts he had in proclaiming that God gave it to him..and for that,he truly made God smile..(that was his favorite song).. so sad that only after he died, people greatly appreciated his deeds and researched for the truth about him..

until now, i can’t even imagine that he won’t come back to life..i always cry whenever i hear his voice..can’t cope up with this..

ilove youmi chael jackson eversince i was a kid..

reignforeverKING!!

unknown | 7/8/2009, 7:01 pm EST

why did MJ like 28 yr olds? Cause there were 20 of em.

What did MJ and Walmart have in common? They both have boys pants 1/2 off.

MJ was sick because he had eaten an eight yr old bag of nuts.

hafsa ahmad khan | 7/8/2009, 7:07 pm EST

Inna Lillah He Wa Inna Ileye Raajeoon
Allah may bless your soul.
Aameen!

unknown | 7/8/2009, 7:18 pm EST

GOD Bless his soul.

shirley | 7/8/2009, 11:06 pm EST

we can be together.

aprilia | 7/9/2009, 3:41 am EST

jacko is the best 4ever. . .

Jungleland2 | 7/9/2009, 1:57 pm EST

They could just do. “alive people” charts and “dead people” charts

Wilco [the album] is VERY good. I liked Sly Blue Sky better on first listen, but I think this one might ripen with age. (Actually kinda reminds me of Summerteeth)

unknown | 7/9/2009, 7:05 pm EST

you are a coward.

AUSTINTEXAS | 7/9/2009, 7:28 pm EST

A boy in San Antonio Texas 1968, started listening to you when he was 5 years old on 55 KTSA am radio. He used to watch the Saturday morning cartoon show “The Jackson 5″. “Never can say good bye” had special meaning as a child to him and the album “Off The Wall” reminds him of his highschool sweetheart that dumped him while he was in bootcamp. “Thriller” was the beginning of the music video Worldwide Premieres on MTV , and MJ you were the hottest ticket around.He and his bandmates would get set all week if you know what I mean, for 14 minutes of “What’s Michael got for us now?”
Of course he never let them down.Between that time and today he watched in complete admiration as you took each decade and made it the fabric of our lives. You owned every stage you stepped out on and You entertained us with everything you had. Then at some point the boy became older as you somehow seemed to get younger. And although life can sometimes move in directions that are not of our own choosing you chose to simply keep living…..I can remember all these things and more as though they were yesterday. What an astonishing journey to have been on. I will always remember The man, the boy. The way I want to remember. He was, My generation. My peer……My Memory.

RIP MJ

Gare

louis | 7/10/2009, 12:31 am EST

mj will be truely missed ,,,and in our lifetime we will not see anyone close to his calibure,,,,he did all the work,he earned his fame ,,its a shame he is gone,,,mj was here,but now hes gone, he left his name to carry on ,,,those who knew him ,knew him well ,,,and those who didnt can goto hell

gerry | 7/11/2009, 6:02 pm EST

i will miss MJ alot he will always b the King of Pop.There was John Lennon,Elvis Presley,Bob Marley,The beach boys and other great singers who became larger than life itself,i think the world became to small 4 them but MJ is one of my heroes.he always strived for peace amongst humanity.

vicka | 7/12/2009, 4:54 am EST

i love mj foreverrrr

Amy | 7/13/2009, 3:55 pm EST

Michael Jackson was a great performer. One of a kind. I wish that people would just let him be & rest in peace. If not for him, at least for his children. No one, but his kids really know the true MJ. He has been an inspiration to me over the years. His music & his character brought me such job & such positive messages. I will always remember him, & I am proud to live in the era in which he lived & was able to witness it all just as you all have. My only regret is that I wish that I would have went to one of his shows & stayed with him over the years. Now that he is gone, I get it, just as you all do. He was an amazing person & I believe that he is singing with the angels in God’s choir now. We all will meet him someday when it is our time to joing that choir. Until then, I & I hope that you all will to, will continue to show the love that he shared over the years.
I love you more MJ!!

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