HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Michael Jackson has solidified himself as the King of Pop in the days following his death.
The music icon has shattered several records since being pronounced dead last Thursday from an apparent cardiac arrest. Jackson holds a staggering nine out of the top 10 spots on Billboard’s Top Pop Catalog Albums chart, based on preliminary sales numbers from Nielsen SoundScan. Eight of those spots are comprised of Jackson’s solo work, with the other being a Jackson 5 compilation.
At the top of the list is Jackson’s greatest hits package “Number Ones,” which has sold more than 108,000 copies for a whopping sales increase of 2,340%. “The Essential Michael Jackson” and “Thriller” follow closely behind in the second and third place positions, respectively.
While Jackson’s releases are considered as Catalog albums that are ineligible to appear on the Billboard 200 albums chart, it’s the first time in history that a catalog release has outsold a Billboard 200 No. 1. In fact, all three of Jackson’s top-selling albums outsold the current Billboard 200 No. 1 — ” The E.N.D.” by the Black Eyed Peas.
Jackson also continues to dominate the Hot Digital Songs chart. The music icon has an incredible 25 songs in the top 75, led by his spooky track “Thriller.” Jackson’s charting 25 songs is comprised of 21 solo hits and four tracks as a member of the Jackson 5. The mark shatters the previous record of 14 established last June by “American Idol” star David Cook.
