Michael Jackson Album Sales: Not Invincible
Michael Jackson's posthumous new album, Michael, sold 228,000 copies in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands more abroad in its first week.
The domestic haul lagged only Taylor Swift's Speak Now (259,000) and Susan Boyle's The Gift (254,000). Not Invincible, but very formidable.
While perhaps a bit of a letdown by MJ standards, the "new" material was unreleased for a reason, and his sales trounced Crystal Bowersox.
Not surprisingly, the late King of Pop's label notes that he "shipped platinum" in 14 different territories, meaning a million or more units were sent to those areas.
That's different from his sales, which weren't nearly that high, but it's indicative of the interest his camp feels Michael will generate over the coming months.
MJ hit #1 Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. He was #3 and #4 in Japan and the UK, respectively, but sold more than 100,000 copies in each.
The moral of the story? While will.i.am and Ne-Yo don't approve of the album, and the Thriller days are long gone ... the man is still pretty darn legendary.
Follow the jump to listen to three of the tracks from Michael ...
Related Posts
- Ola Ray, Michael Jackson Video Star, Settles Lawsuit Over "Thriller" Profits
- Matt Fiddes, Former Michael Jackson Bodyguard, Says MJ Tried to Have Brother Randy Killed
- Michael Jackson to Star in New Pepsi Ad Campaign
- James DeBarge, Conrad Murray Settle Jailhouse Beef
January 11th, 2011 6:15 AM
If a song is great, then the public will want to buy. Michael Jacksons songs on this new album are not very good. And like most of his albums he needed many musicians and producers to make his music. He was a great live performer and he made some great videos. But he was not a great writer and was not a musician. The album is weak. It is a bad album.
January 1st, 2011 4:59 PM
Sony has barely promoted that album, so this is no surprise. Also, there are questionable vocals on 3 of the tracks, there are fans boycotting the album due to the tracks not having authentic MJ vocals on them.
Sony and the estate has not proven to my satisfaction that it is MJ singing on all 10 of the tracks on the album.
So that is a real enthusiasm killer in my book.
January 1st, 2011 1:05 PM
I like micheal he is rock
January 1st, 2011 10:55 AM
He's the King of Pop and i bought the album and it sounds good to me. Trust me people are going to be talking and listening to his music for years to come. He might have been a litle weird but he transformed the music world today. If it wasn't for the King of Pop Michael Jackson then MTV wouldn't exsist. What i mean that it wouldn' be all this rap and hip hop.
December 26th, 2010 9:40 PM
From IRELAND
All that needed to be said in this article is that, 'MICHAEL', the album, IS *ACTUALLY* THE #1 SELLING GLOBAL ALBUM...
...and it is - it's official - whether one likes it or not!
December 23rd, 2010 8:50 AM
How come you don't see any of the "cat man" looking Michael from the early 2000's on the album cover? All I see is images of him from the 80's.
Shouldn't they show him climbing a tree or on a plane with his "Jesus juice"? Like it or not, that is part of his legacy. When history books are written you know the authors are not going to leave out his entire child molestation case.
December 23rd, 2010 5:13 AM
I just don't know why d media & whoever finds it difficult 2 understand dat 'MICHAEL's tracks were unfinished... Sony released dis just 4 us 2 appreciate & feel his presence even though he's gone... It ain't doin bad in sales. So...
December 22nd, 2010 9:01 PM
Sadly, My boyfriend and me broke up a month ago. yeah.. i’m young ,beautiful,lonely and still hurting.i may be in need of someone to love..still..My friends told me about Sugarmingle.c00m. and i got curious about it.. they met their boyfriends there.,It’s the best place to meet a older boyfriend or a younger girlfriend. i cant risk myself..So i got a username sammyli there in order to find a new boyfriend.is it wrong?
December 22nd, 2010 6:10 PM
@ Natalie & Mulan - Good job on keeping racism alive. Did your Daddy(s) tell you to say this kinda stuff. I'm telling Obama on ya!!!
December 22nd, 2010 5:45 PM
Great comment Natalie, nuff said, I couldnt agree more