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Michael Jackson Scores First U.K. No. 1 Album in 17 Years After Biopic Boost
Michael Jackson's The Essential hits No. 1 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart dated May 8, his first U.K. No. 1 in 17 years after the new biopic's release.
Michael Jackson has reached No. 1 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart dated May 8, marking his first U.K. No. 1 album in 17 years.
Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1988. Kevin Mazur/WireImage
The career-spanning compilation The Essential Michael Jackson moved to the top spot after competing with Northern Ireland rap trio Kneecap and Spice Girl Melanie C. The rise follows the release of the biopic Michael, which coincided with a record-breaking opening in theaters and a spike in Jackson streams.
The Essential Michael Jackson is No. 1 for the first time since Jackson’s death in 2009. The collection originally ruled for seven weeks after his passing.
Two other Jackson albums climbed the chart this week. Thriller rose two places to No. 6. Bad jumped five places to No. 8, its first appearance in the top 10 in 14 years.
Kneecap earned a career-best with their second studio LP Fenian at No. 2. The trio, composed of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, had previously peaked at No. 42 with 2024’s Fine Art. Kneecap also topped the Official Vinyl Albums Chart this week by selling the most vinyl copies over the past seven days.
Melanie C’s ninth studio album Sweat landed at No. 3. It is her highest-charting solo LP, surpassing the No. 4 peak of Northern Star (1999). Sweat is now the highest-charting solo album by a Spice Girls member; Geri Halliwell’s Schizophonic and Emma Bunton’s A Girl Like Me both reached No. 4.
Last week’s chart-topper, Noah Kahan’s The Great Divide, fell three places to No. 4. Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving closed the top five at No. 5.
Kacey Musgraves’ Middle of Nowhere is at No. 7, giving the Texan her fourth top 10 entry in the U.K. Tori Amos reached her highest chart position in 12 years with In Times of Dragons at No. 13.
Additional entries include Zara Larsson’s Midnight Sun returning to the top 40 at No. 26 following the Girls Trip remix edition, Asake’s M$ney at No. 27 for a fourth top 40, The Black Keys’ cover album Peaches! at No. 33, and others across the chart.
Full placements are listed on the Official Albums Chart for the week dated May 8.
