Michael Jackson’s Career-Defining Smash Finally Reaches No. 1

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" rises to No. 1 for the first time on several of Billboard's streaming charts — and he occupies the top three spaces at once. VARIOUS, VARIOUS - JUNE 25: Michael Jackson performs in concert circa 1983. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

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For several weeks now, Michael Jackson's music has been soaring up the Billboard charts. The posthumous surge comes after the release of his musical biopic Michael, which is already one of the highest-grossing films of the year globally.

Across a variety of tallies, a number of the singer's most popular singles continue to climb to never-before-seen highs, and multiple tracks even manage to debut on some of the most competitive rosters published each week. This time around, Jackson collects a new champion on several streaming-focused tallies, and as he does, he keeps another tune in his catalog from reaching the summit, effectively blocking himself from yet another leader.

Michael Jackson Sends "Billie Jean" to No. 1

"Billie Jean" dances to No. 1 for the first time on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs and R&B Streaming Songs charts. Those lists look only at the most-played tracks on streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and others throughout the United States that fit under those genre descriptors.

Last time around, "Billie Jean" sat in the runner-up spot on the R&B-only tally, and at No. 3 on the more all-encompassing ranking. "I Just Might" by Bruno Mars was in charge just days ago, and now it's fallen all the way to No. 4.

Michael Jackson Conquers Two Streaming Rosters

"Billie Jean" reaches the summit on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart after just half a dozen frames somewhere on the 25-space tally. The track has spent three times as long on the R&B Streaming Songs ranking, where it's up to 18 stays.

Michael Jackson Fills the Entire Top Three

As Jackson conquers both streaming rosters, he fills not just the top two, but the loftiest three spaces. "Human Nature" ascends to a new high of No. 2 on the pair of rundowns. At the same time, "Beat It" climbs to No. 3. Both of those cuts debuted on the streaming charts just last week, and had it not been for "Billie Jean," "Human Nature" would be leading the charge. Perhaps, in the coming weeks, either that single, or maybe "Beat It," will take a turn ruling, adding to Jackson's collection of winners.

"Billie Jean" Hits New Peaks on Multiple Charts

"Billie Jean" makes space on 10 Billboard charts this week, and it hits a new peak on half of them. In addition to the aforementioned streaming rankings, the tune, one of the standout smashes from his bestselling Thriller album, ascends to a never-before-seen high of No. 3 on the Hot R&B Songs list as well as both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. The first of those rankings details the most-consumed R&B cuts in the nation, while the other two look at the 200 most popular tracks all around the planet, though the latter does not take into account American consumption.

Michael Jackson Charts 18 Songs in America

18 songs by Jackson, including some he recorded as part of the Jackson 5, appear on Billboard charts this week, well over a decade after his death. 15 of them reach new peaks, while several others automatically do so by debuting on rankings they've never landed on before.

"Billie Jean" Lives Inside the Top 10 on Multiple Tallies

Of the 10 rankings published by Billboard where "Billie Jean" finds a home, the smash lives within the top 10 on all but two, and it is a top 20 success on both of those rosters. "Billie Jean" lifts one space to No. 16 on the Digital Song Sales tally, and it surges from No. 38 to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. In the past, "Billie Jean" has reached No. 4 on the purchase-only chart, and it previously worked its way to No. 1 on the list of the most-consumed songs in the nation.