Billboard requires a JavaScript enabled browser to get the full experience

Michael Jackson Makes History On Euro Charts

Comments

by Paul Sexton, London  |   July 16, 2009 5:44 EDT
Images
Launch Slideshow
MJJ Productions

Michael Jackson

In a history-making week on Billboard's European Top 100 Albums, Michael Jackson holds down a spectacular eight of the top ten titles. Meanwhile, "When Love Takes Over" (Positiva/EMI) by David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland starts a second week atop European Hot 100 Singles.

Jackson's domination also represents a near-lockout of the pan-European top ten for Epic/Sony Music Entertainment, in which last year's "King of Pop" compilation again comes out on top. It leads the way in no fewer than eight markets, holding at No. 1 in Germany and Austria, moving 77-1 in the Belgian region of Flanders, 6-1 in neighboring Wallony, 13-1 in Poland, 3-1 in Holland and 2-1 in Switzerland and Spain. It's top five in five other territories.

In the United Kingdom, it's "The Essential Michael Jackson" that rules, with 113,000 new sales last week from a running total in its four years on release of 483,000. That compilation holds at No. 2 Europe-wide, also moving 4-1 in Finland, 3-2 in Switzerland and entering and No. 3 in Norway and Portugal.

Next up, at No. 3 overall, is the original edition of "Thriller," which leaps to the top in Italy (12-1) and Spain (3-1) and is in the top five in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany. Its title track single also rises 4-2 in Italy. Jackson's "Number Ones" collection is up 6-4 on Top 100 Albums, sitting at No. 2 in both Ireland and Germany. "The Collection" is his only title in descent on the overall chart, down 3-6 despite holding at No. 1 in Denmark and racing 34-5 in Sweden and 19-9 in Germany.

With the regular volume of "Thriller" at No. 3, the 25th anniversary deluxe reissue also fares well, climbing 14-7 on the composite chart. It's up 12-2 in Hungary, 7-5 in Finland, 41-6 in Spain and 18-9 in the United Kingdom, but falls from the top spot in Switzerland and Poland. "Off The Wall," the studio predecessor to "Thriller," is up 34-8 on Top 100 Albums, fuelled by a 10-3 climb in the United Kingdom on sales of 39,000. Remarkably, that's the album's highest-ever position on the U.K. chart, where it previously peaked at No. 5 in its fourth week on the survey in October 1979.

 

The biggest leap of all Jackson's albums is taken by "HIStory - Past, Present & Future, Book 1," which zooms 92-9 after reappearing at No. 4 in Germany and 33-17 in the United Kingdom. Jackson also has two singles in the European top ten, holding at No. 7 with "Man In The Mirror" and dipping 9-10 with "Billie Jean."

The only non-Jackson titles in the top ten of the pan-European album chart are Black Eyed Peas' "The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)" (Interscope/Universal), which holds at No. 5, and labelmate Lady Gaga's "The Fame," down 8-10.

Guetta's single, a former U.K. No. 1, continues to lead the European Hot 100 as it extends its reign in Switzerland, Ireland and Wallony and climbs 6-3 in Austria, 4-3 in Germany and 11-10 in Italy.

« Previous Article Next Article »

Up for Discussion

Jump to Forums

Sort By

Page:

Connect with

More Features

All features

Listy

Billboard chart app

Billboard archives

Thanks For Joining Billboard

Log in to create your profile, speak your mind and connect with listeners like you.

Why Join ?

Don't just hear it. Live it. Go deeper than a casual listen: Voice your feelings, build a profile around your favorite music, connect with people who share your passions and discover new ones. Sign up for free.

Complete Your Registration at Billboard.com!

Haven't Joined Yet ?

For the full Billboard experience, you need to be a member. Sign up. It's free.

Join Billboard

Forgot your password?

Enter the e-mail address you used to sign up and we will email you the password .

Email Sent !

Your password has been sent to the email address you provided. Please sign in below :

Log In

Forget your password ?

Action Successful

We'd love to hear your feedback on the new Billboard.com!

Whether it's a feature request or a bug

We want to hear from you. Please use this form to anonymously give us your input.