More than 15 years after his death, Michael Jackson continues to redefine the limits of pop music immortality. The King of Pop has become the first artist in history to score Top 10 singles in six consecutive decades, as “Thriller” re-entered the Billboard Hot 100, climbing to No. 9 following a surge in global streams tied to the Halloween season and the viral “#ThrillerChallenge” on TikTok.
The milestone cements Jackson’s unparalleled influence across generations, from vinyl to streaming, and underscores how his catalog remains one of the most powerful forces in modern music economics.
“There’s never been another career quite like his,” said Billboard senior analyst Keith Caulfield. “To span six decades of the Top 10 - that’s not just longevity, that’s cultural permanence.”
Six Decades of Chart Dominance
Jackson’s Top 10 legacy stretches across a timeline that mirrors the evolution of pop itself:
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1970s: With The Jackson 5, songs like “I Want You Back” and “ABC” defined Motown’s golden era.
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1980s: The release of Thriller (1982) set an all-time benchmark — “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, and “Thriller” itself all hit No. 1.
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1990s: Tracks like “Black or White” and “You Are Not Alone” dominated a changing MTV generation.
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2000s: Collaborations such as “You Rock My World” kept Jackson relevant amid the digital shift.
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2010s: Posthumous remixes like “Love Never Felt So Good” featuring Justin Timberlake extended his reach.
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2020s: The Thriller resurgence — powered by streaming, viral dance videos, and a 40th-anniversary reissue — completes the record-breaking run.
