According to Billboard, Michael Jackson has officially become the first artist in history to achieve Top 10 placements on the Billboard Hot 100 in six different decades, as his legendary track “Thriller” surges back into the Top 10 nearly 42 years after its release.
Billboard reports that “Thriller” has jumped from No. 32 to No. 10 on the Hot 100 chart dated November 15, thanks to a Halloween-season resurgence in streams and airplay. The song originally peaked at No. 4 in 1984, but this new chart placement cements Jackson’s remarkable longevity — now spanning the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.
The milestone sees Jackson surpass the late Andy Williams, who had held a record for reaching the Top 10 in five decades, from the 1950s through the 2020s. Billboard notes that Williams’ modern-day success came from recurring holiday chart runs of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
Jackson first entered the Hot 100’s Top 10 as a solo artist in November 1971 with “Got to Be There,” his debut single. Across his career, he has earned 30 Top 10 hits, including 13 No. 1s. His most recent Top 10 appearance before this was in 2018, when he featured on Drake’s“Don’t Matter to Me.”
Billboard also highlights that Jackson’s chart history stretches even further back — to December 1969, when, at just 11 years old, he and his brothers in The Jackson 5 first broke into the Top 10 with “I Want You Back.” That track marked the start of a chart run that would span more than five decades, evolving through solo superstardom, groundbreaking albums, and enduring posthumous influence.
During the latest tracking week of October 31 – November 6, “Thriller” saw 14 million official streams (up 57% week over week) and reached a radio audience of 9.3 million (up 124%), while selling 3,000 copies in the U.S., according to data provided by Luminate.
The 1982 classic has also set a new personal record for Jackson: Billboard confirms “Thriller” is now his longest-charting Hot 100 hit, spending 26 weeks on the chart — surpassing “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” which each logged 25 weeks in 1983.
The chart milestone arrives just as excitement builds for the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, which recently made headlines of its own. The first trailer for Michael has become the most-watched biopic preview of all time, amassing unprecedented global views within its first 24 hours.
More than 15 years after his death, the King of Pop continues to break records and bridge generations — his unmistakable sound, signature visuals, and enduring legacy keeping his music alive on the world’s biggest charts.
Written by Louise Ducrocq
Louise is an expert content creator, and online author for Ireland's Classic Hits Radio. She's evolved in a few different fields, including mental health and travel, and is now excited to be part of the wonderful word of Radio.
