The renewed spotlight around Michael is already translating into massive chart gains for Michael Jackson’s catalog. This week, The Essential Michael Jackson climbs back to No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart for the first time in 17 years, marking a historic return for the 2005 greatest-hits collection as audiences revisit the singer’s music following the release of the long-awaited biopic.
Originally released in 2005, the compilation last topped the chart in 2009, when it spent seven consecutive weeks at No. 1 after Jackson’s death.
The renewed momentum extends far beyond one album. Thriller rises two spots to No. 6, while Bad vaults five places to No. 8, returning to the Top 10 for the first time in 14 years. That gives Jackson three albums simultaneously inside the Top 10, a feat few legacy artists have managed in the streaming era. Released in 1982, Thriller remains the best-selling album in music history, while Bad produced five Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles during its original run between 1987 and 1988.
Elsewhere on the chart, Melanie C achieves a major solo milestone as her ninth studio album Sweat debuts at No. 3. The project surpasses the No. 4 peak of her 1999 debut Northern Star, officially giving her the highest-charting solo album by any Spice Girl. Previously, that record had been jointly held by Geri Halliwell’s Schizophonic and Emma Bunton’s A Girl Like Me, both of which peaked at No. 4.
Kacey Musgraves also secures another strong showing with Middle Of Nowhere entering at No. 7. The album becomes her fourth Top 10 release, following Golden Hour (No. 6), star-crossed (No. 10), and Deeper Well (No. 3). Meanwhile, Olivia Dean continues her dominant run on the UK Singles Chart as “Rein Me In” logs a 10th non-consecutive week at No. 1, setting a new Official Chart record for a British female artist.
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