They were also running out to buy, or download as much of it as they could, which landed Jackson's "Number One" and "Thriller", the best selling album of all time, the top two spots on the Billboards Top 100.
"When an artist of a certain stature passes away, especially a sudden passing, there is always that instant reaction on the Billboard." said Keith Caulfield, Senior Chart Manager for Billboard.
The increase in sales was also greater than that which followed the deaths of Elvis Presley in 1977 and John Lennon in 1980.
Presley's death came with much shock and sadness. The funeral an aftermath were a huge media circus.
"Elvis was huge for me personally. Our family had just imigrated from Germany to the U.S in 1957, and to me Elvis represented everything new and exciting about coming tothis country", said Esther Waldman 53, of the Bronx.
In city after city, record stores reported selling out of "The Kings" records within the hour his death was announced. Rain checks were offered but many distraught cutomers were convinced that without Presley, there would be no more records.
Likewise, The Beatles arrival had a huge global impact. Lennon was the sound of The Beatles. He was an artist, musical innovator and political activist. The fact that he suffered a tragic and violent death made his passing all the more shocking and had a tremendous impact on fans all over the world. Record sales soarded after his passing.
"Unlike the deaths of such icons, Caulfield said, whatever impact Michael Jackson's passing would have is amplified by the fact that we are now living digital music age. he sad. "Now you have digital albums, which didn't really exist when these stars died in the past."
Jackson also beat out Notorious BIG, whose record sales sky-rocketed after his death in 1997. Sales of BIG's double-disc set "Life After Death" exploded the day after his death and was number one on the charts 15 days later.
"Ready to Die", his debut album sales more than tripled in the week after death selling more than 10,000 copies worldwide.
Jackson's death left many heartbroken fans around the world.
"If you enter this world knowing you are loved and leave this world knowing the same, then everything in between can be dealt with." said Jackson.
The numbers speak for themselves.
4 comments:
its amazing how people who wouldn't have been caught dead listening to MJ's music while he was alive, go out and purchase his records and want to let people know they love his music after his death. All personal episodes aside, the man was a great entertainer.
I find it amazing how the media beat up MJ even after he died,and then turn around and flock to his momorial and talk about how great he was....can someone say Hypocrite
who is BIG compare to MJ? MJ was the best and his music will continue to be # uno
I was a fan of Michael Jackson. i thought it was funny to see at the memorial that all those people came out to express their love and devotion to him, but where were they when he was in court all those times. no where is sight i think that that was sad. but as a fan i am happy to hear his music being played again
Post a Comment