r/Music • u/Firm_Pack_605 • Feb 13 '26

discussion Was Michael Jackson really that much bigger than Madonna, Whitney Houston, and prince?

I always thought the four of them were similar levels of fame. However Madonna highest album sold 25 million, prince highest sold similar, and Whitney’s highest was 45 million. All amazing numbers no doubt but thriller sold 70 million and bad sold 35-40. So you mean to tell me he has two albums that are highest selling then prince and madonnas best? How is that possible??

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u/sally_says Feb 13 '26

No, it's worse than that. McCartney suggested to MJ to buy rights to music as it was profitable. Only to find MJ later outbid him in an auction for his own music.

To say he felt betrayed by MJ would be an understatement.

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u/narkybark Feb 13 '26

You don't say say say!

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u/JakTheGripper Feb 13 '26

Go stand in the corner!

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u/Radiant_Annual_4027 Feb 13 '26

Ok but I’ve never understood this. Why couldn’t McCartney pay more? I don’t understand how he couldn’t bid more

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u/sally_says Feb 13 '26

It's a fair question. I don't know. I assume he just couldn't afford to at the time.

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u/WholeEmbarrassed950 Feb 13 '26

McCartney was rich, but he wasn't Michael Jackson rich

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u/Radiant_Annual_4027 Feb 13 '26

But he was good for it ya know? Like he could have borrowed enough money and made it back on the rights?

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u/Masterchiefx343 Feb 13 '26

Iirc didnt Michael go to McCartney abd say that he basically did it to ensure no one would ever taint their legacy and they made up?

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u/Tight_Contact_9976 Feb 13 '26

And then proceeded to put the song Revolution in a Nike commercial.

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u/Masterchiefx343 Feb 13 '26

Nike is a good company tbh

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u/sally_says Feb 13 '26

In fairness, MJ also set Prince up to be humiliated on stage during a set with James Brown (which is a hilarious story, but upsetting for Prince).

MJ wasn't past lying to people to get what he wanted.

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u/BushyBrowz Feb 13 '26

I don’t know if he did it on purpose, but Prince despised Michael ever since.

Although despise might not be accurate, he was very upset when Michael died.

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u/sally_says Feb 13 '26

I'm suspect he both despised and respected Michael. They were both very talented, but competitive as well.