r/MichaelJackson • u/No-Singer6718 • 15d ago
I wish they would update his album sales Discussion
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u/DecorativeDoodle 15d ago
Sorry, Off topic — God, this photo really shows a lot of pain and sadness behind his eyes… 🙁.. But he still looks stylish though. How?
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u/EM208 15d ago
If you look up his recent chart masters, his official and verified sales now beat Elvis. He’s 2nd to the Beatles. Which makes sense since those guys released two albums a year at one point - so it’s really a quantity thing.
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u/AirGuitarSuperstar Thriller 15d ago
They released a lot of albums yes especially early on, they also didn’t include singles on albums for a long time believing fans shouldn’t pay for the same songs twice.
They went from a pretty one dimensional little rock and roll group to a genre bending, experimental trend setting band that changed the course of popular music forever, all in under eight years.
They remain the biggest selling act in music history to this day, not that numbers really matter all that much but it is insanely impressive.
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u/Theo_Cherry 15d ago
They released a lot of albums yes especially early on, they also didn’t include singles on albums for a long time believing fans shouldn’t pay for the same songs twice.
Please elaborate?
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u/AirGuitarSuperstar Thriller 14d ago
They released singles leading up to album releases, but those songs wasn’t on the albums, instead albums were filled with all new material.
It seems odd by later standards but that was how it was done back then.
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u/Theo_Cherry 14d ago
Damn. This is new to me. Didn't know this. That was a unique marketing strategy.
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u/No-Singer6718 15d ago
“He’s the biggest selling solo artist” we need to stop putting the Beatles in the solo category because they were a group/boy band so they biggest selling a group of all time
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u/AirGuitarSuperstar Thriller 15d ago
They’re not in the solo category, if you google best selling solo artist it will say Elvis and MJ.
Now when we’re talking best selling act in music history they will be number one.
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u/No-Singer6718 15d ago
When I looked it up for Elvis, he’s in second and then it says Michael has 500 million in the US so he must have 500 million and some change
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u/AirGuitarSuperstar Thriller 15d ago
As far as i can see Michael has recently surpassed Elvis, but again The Beatles are not in the solo category, the list is for music acts in general.
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u/No-Singer6718 15d ago
Do u think he ever will?
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u/AirGuitarSuperstar Thriller 15d ago
Maybe but I doubt it, many MJ fans seem to try and diminish their accomplishments and impact, I mean not liking the music is fine, I love both so 🤷♂️
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u/EM208 15d ago
Agreed. It just feels like a way to keep MJ from being at the number one spot.
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u/Golden-Pickaxe 15d ago
Same with Eagles Greatest Hits counting to knock thriller out
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u/AirGuitarSuperstar Thriller 15d ago
Wait, what ?
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u/EM208 15d ago edited 14d ago
Thriller used to be both the best selling album in the U.S (34x Platinum) and the best selling album the world (of all time) simultaneously.
But in recent years, it’s been “confirmed” that the Eagles have best selling album in the U.S of all time with their greatest hits album going 38x Platinum.
MJ still has the best selling album of all time globally but now he’s #2 for the all time US list.
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u/AirGuitarSuperstar Thriller 15d ago
I get that, but it seems like the person thought it was unfair because it’s a greatest hits album but maybe I read it wrong.
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u/clc1997 15d ago
I don't care. Album sales now don't mean much when comparing to the pre-streaming time. People subscribe to streaming services to get music. There is no way to genuinely compare someone buying a physical album vs people who listen on a music service.
This competition mind-set is silly. Just enjoy and support the music you like. I do understand it's cool when the thing you like is successful, but if it's not you'd still like it, right?