Michael Jackson has reached another extraordinary milestone in global music history, years after his passing, by setting a new record on Billboard. The late King of Pop has become the first and only artist to debut new songs on the Billboard Hot 100 across six different decades, reinforcing his unmatched influence in the music industry.
The achievement adds another major success to Jackson’s career, bringing his total to 52 Hot 100 hits as a solo artist. His journey on the chart began in 1972 with “Got to Be There,” marking the start of a legacy that would span generations and redefine pop music worldwide.
The milestone was fueled by the renewed success of “Chicago,” a track from the posthumous 2014 album Xscape. The song re-entered the Hot 100 at number 30, driven by a strong surge in streaming activity across the United States.
“Chicago” recorded 10.7 million official chart-eligible streams in the final week of May, showing a 30% increase from the previous week. Its streaming performance steadily rose from 3.8 million to 8.3 million over several chart tracking periods, reflecting growing global interest in Jackson’s catalog.
With this latest entry, Jackson’s Hot 100 presence now spans the 1970s through the 2020s. No other artist has achieved consistent chart appearances across six decades, making this milestone one of the most remarkable in modern music history.
Jackson’s influence continues to shape the global music industry, with his songs maintaining strong streaming performance across digital platforms. His debut on the Hot 100 in 1972 marked the beginning of a career that transformed pop culture forever.
Michael Jackson passed away in 2009 at the age of 50 due to acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication at his Los Angeles home. Despite his death, his music continues to inspire new generations, proving his lasting cultural and artistic impact worldwide.
