Michael Jackson Makes History as First Artist to Score Hot 100 Top 10 Hits in Six Different Decades

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” strikes like a beast, rising from No. 32 to No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated Nov. 15, granting the late King of Pop a new chart longevity record.

With the song, which hit No. 4 on the Hot 100 in 1984, Jackson, who died in 2009, becomes the first artist ever to rank in the top 10 in six distinct decades (the 1970s, ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, ‘10s and now ‘20s).

Jackson 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.” 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 their first week in the Hot 100’s top 10 on the last chart of the ‘60s, dated Dec. 27, 1969, with their breakthrough hit, “I Want You Back.”

With Halloween kicking off the Oct. 31-Nov. 6 tracking week, “Thriller” drew 14 million official streams (up 57% week-over-week) and 9.3 million in radio airplay audience (up 124%), while selling 3,000 (up 1%) in the United States, according to Luminate.

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.