Michael Jackson’s Current No. 1 Has Outlasted His Other Leaders — Combined
Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” holds at No. 1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart for a twelfth week, extending its lead as his longest-running champion on the ranking. The smash has now ruled twice as long as his other two leaders, “Thriller” and “Don’t Matter to Me” with Drake, combined. Jackson controls the entire top three this frame, as “Chicago” and “Beat It” return to their peaks of Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.
Michael Jackson is one of the most successful pop and R&B musicians of all time, as he scored some of the biggest hits in both genres. During his lifetime, he was regarded as perhaps the bestselling solo act ever, and in the years since his passing, his catalog has also found a strong footing on streaming platforms, which have completely revolutionized the music industry.
For months now, following the release of the movie Michael, the superstar has filled many of the highest rungs on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart. He does so again this week, and as he leads the way once more with what has turned out to be his longest-running champion, that special cut manages a notable feat within his discography.
“Billie Jean” is stationary at No. 1 on the R&B Streaming Songs chart. The Billboard list details the most-played R&B-only tunes on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music throughout the United States.
“Billie Jean” has now spent 12 weeks ruling the ranking. That run makes the decades-old smash Jackson’s longest-running No. 1 on the roster by a wide margin.
Jackson has claimed three No. 1 hits on the R&B Streaming Songs chart. Neither of his other two champions — “Thriller” and “Don’t Matter to Me,” his posthumous collaboration with Drake — has managed a double-digit run in first place.
“Thriller” has led the charge for five weeks, beginning in November 2014. “Don’t Matter to Me” opened at No. 1 in July 2018, when the song was new, but it only controlled the ranking for one frame.
Combined, Jackson’s only other two champions have spent six weeks at No. 1. That is only half as long as “Billie Jean” has now ruled on its own.
Throughout the years, Jackson has placed 18 tracks on the R&B Streaming Songs chart. A dozen of those hits have broken into the top 10.
Only two of Jackson’s entries have missed out on ruling by just one space. “Human Nature” and “Chicago” both stalled at No. 2 this year. “Human Nature” reached the runner-up rung in mid-May. “Chicago” followed shortly afterward, climbing to the same position in early June.
Jackson controls the three highest spaces on this week’s R&B Streaming Songs chart. As “Billie Jean” holds at No. 1, “Chicago” and “Beat It” both return to their all-time highs at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively.
The two tracks are able to gain ground as Beyoncé’s “Morning Dew (Donk)” dips from second place to No. 4. Even Beyoncé was blocked from the throne by Jackson, as her latest single stopped short of becoming another champion for the singer.
Jackson occupies one-third of the entire R&B Streaming Songs chart this week. The ranking features only 15 spaces, and five of them are filled by some of his most famous tunes.
In addition to the three tracks that control the loftest trio of spaces, “Human Nature” holds steady at No. 7. “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” moves in the opposite direction, falling from No. 8 to No. 13. Coincidentally, “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” lands at No. 13 during its thirteenth frame on the rundown.