Michael Jackson Posthumously Reaches A Milestone — Again

As of this week, The Essential Michael Jackson, one of the late star's biggest hits compilations, has lived on the Billboard 200 for 550 frames — a feat he's managed before. VARIOUS, VARIOUS - JUNE 25: Michael Jackson performs at the 12th Annual MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on September 7, 1995. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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Michael Jackson fills three spaces on the Billboard 200 this week, which details the most-consumed albums and EPs in the United States. Three simultaneous placements would be a sizable showing for any musician, let alone one who has been gone for more than a decade and a half, but Jackson actually claimed even more positions throughout the spring following the release of his massively successful biopic. Michael recently passed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, and renewed interest in the late superstar’s catalog remains strong, even as all three of his current Billboard 200 entries decline.

The Essential Michael Jackson Reaches 550 Weeks

The Essential Michael Jackson falls more than 20 spaces on the Billboard 200 this frame, dropping from No. 152 to No. 175. The compilation celebrates a momentous milestone – even as it appears ready to fall from the tally – as it has now spent 550 weeks as one of the 200 most-consumed releases in the country.

Only a tiny number of albums have lived on the Billboard 200 for that long. The Essential Michael Jackson debuted on the ranking years after the singer had established himself as one of the biggest solo stars in history, and its continued presence is largely tied to streams of the many familiar smashes featured on the collection’s tracklist.

According to Luminate, The Essential Michael Jackson shifted 9,650 equivalent album units during the latest tracking period. Only about 1,100 of those were actual purchases, and streaming activity was responsible for most of the total. The compilation dropped roughly 1,000 units when compared to the previous frame.

Michael Jackson Has Charted Two 550-Week Albums

The Essential Michael Jackson becomes the second project by Jackson to spend at least 550 weeks on the Billboard 200. Thriller passed that landmark years ago. The blockbuster extends its record within the King of Pop’s discography to 726 frames.

Seven of the 31 Jackson projects that have appeared on the Billboard 200 have managed triple-digit stays. His third-longest-running success, Number Ones – another greatest-hits collection – has not lasted even half as long on the chart as The Essential Michael Jackson. That compilation reaches 245 weeks on the tally this period.

Here are Michael Jackson’s albums that have spent at least 100 weeks on the Billboard 200.

• 726 weeks - Thriller
• 550 weeks - The Essential Michael Jackson
• 245 weeks - Number Ones
• 202 weeks - Off the Wall
• 173 weeks - Bad
• 127 weeks - Dangerous

Thriller Still Lives Inside the Top 10

The Essential Michael Jackson ranks as the lowest of Jackson’s three current Billboard 200 wins. Thriller amazingly holds inside the top 10, as the Album of the Year Grammy winner slips only one space to No. 8.

Number Ones falls farther, dropping from No. 8 to No. 12. The compilation misses remaining in the highest tier by only two rungs, while The Essential Michael Jackson barely holds on inside the bottom quarter of the 200-position roster.

The Essential Michael Jackson Falls on Two Charts

The Essential Michael Jackson appears on only two Billboard charts this week, and it declines on both of them. In addition to its fall on the Billboard 200, the compilation slips three spaces to No. 24 on the Top R&B Albums chart.

Five Michael Jackson Albums Chart in the U.S. This Week

Jackson places five albums on at least one Billboard ranking this period. In addition to the three titles found on the Billboard 200, both Bad and Off the Wall appear on the Top Album Sales and Vinyl Albums charts. Years after they first became bestsellers, the titles live within the top 10 on the vinyl-only roster and sit somewhere inside the top 20 on the general sales roster, which includes purchases on physical formats and via digital download stores.