Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Becomes First Album to Sell 30 Million Copies
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" has become the first album to officially sell 30 million copies.
News of the 1982 LP breaking the record was confirmed Wednesday, Dec. 16 by The Recording Industry Association of America in conjunction with the singer's estate and record labels, according to Rolling Stone.
"RIAA has awarded gold and platinum records on behalf of the music business for nearly 60 years, but this is the first time an artist has crossed the 30 times multi-platinum plateau," said Cary Sherman, RIAA chairman and CEO, in a statement. "What an exceptional achievement and testament to Thriller's enduring spot in our hearts and musical history."
Jackson's iconic record has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, and the RIAA claims he's sold 1 billion albums total.
"Thriller" was released on Nov. 30, 1982 and produced the hits "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin,'" "Human Nature," "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)," "Thriller" and "The Girl Is Mine" featuring Paul McCartney. The album, which was certified platinum on Jan. 31 the following year it was released, surpassed the 29 times platinum record on Aug. 21, 2009. Guinness World Records also has dubbed "Thriller" as the World's Top-Selling Album of All Time.
"It is crystal clear that Michael Jackson is simply the greatest, and biggest artist of all time," said L.A. Reid, chairman and CEO of Epic Records. "Not only are his charts, hits and sales stats staggering, but his pure musicality was otherworldly. 'Thriller' was groundbreaking and electrifying . . . it was perfection."
The last album released featuring music from Michael Jackson was his posthumous album, "Xscape," which dropped on May 13, 2014. "Love Never Felt So Good" and "A Place with No Name" were the two singles the album produced. The album topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and landed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart.
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