More than four decades after changing pop music forever, Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” has reached a brand-new commercial milestone. On May 15, the 1983 classic climbed to No. 1 on Spotify’s Daily Global chart with 6.028 million streams, marking the song’s highest position ever on the platform.
The achievement arrives 43 years after “Billie Jean” first appeared on Thriller, reinforcing the extraordinary resurgence surrounding Jackson’s catalog following the release of the Michael biopic.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and released theatrically on April 24, 2026, Michael opened with nearly $97 million domestically and over $217 million globally, setting a new benchmark for music biopics. The film stars Jaafar Jackson as the late singer and heavily incorporates Jackson’s original recordings, performances, and choreography throughout its runtime. Since its release, streaming consumption across Jackson’s discography has exploded worldwide.
“Billie Jean” has led that movement from the start. Earlier this month, the song surged into Spotify’s global top 10 before reaching No. 3 with 37.6 million weekly streams for the tracking week ending May 7. Days later, the track pushed even higher, eventually overtaking contemporary hits to secure the global daily crown.
Other Jackson staples have experienced similarly dramatic gains. “Beat It” recently climbed to No. 6 globally with more than 29 million weekly streams, while “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” jumped 42 spots to No. 16. Tracks including “Human Nature,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Thriller,” “Dirty Diana,” and “Rock With You” have all posted new streaming peaks during the past three weeks.
Audience growth around Jackson himself has accelerated just as quickly. His Spotify monthly listeners recently surpassed 98 million for the first time ever, placing him among the platform’s most-streamed artists worldwide despite his catalog predating the streaming era by decades. Earlier this week, Jackson ranked as Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally, outperforming several current chart-toppers.
The renewed demand has also translated into album success. Thriller recently returned to the top five of the Billboard 200, while Number Ones climbed back into the top 10, giving Jackson at least one top-10-charting release in every decade since the 1970s.
Released in January 1983 as the second single from Thriller, “Billie Jean” became one of Jackson’s defining records thanks to its instantly recognizable bassline, minimalist groove, and groundbreaking Motown 25 performance that introduced the moonwalk to a global audience. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks and later earned two Grammy Awards, including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
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