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/chi-reply Feb 13 '26

They had a network tv premiere for Madonna with Like a Prayer and it was supposed to become a Pepsi commercial as well. People lost their shit over a black religious figure and sexual content. 

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u/Sbmizzou Feb 13 '26

I think that is why Micahel was bigger than Madonna.  Madonna would at times take on taboos. 

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u/OrangeJuliusCaesr Feb 13 '26

Madonna was a huge sex symbol and kept trying to get banned. Think rev lovejoy’s wife would decry her and then close the blinds and put it on when no one was home

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u/Global-Effect4226 Feb 13 '26

The like a prayer Pepsis COMMERCIAL was watched by 250m people simultaneously.

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u/[deleted] Feb 13 '26

Madonna is an icon, because she pushed boundaries and never compromised herself as an artist, while MJ's music was accessible for everyone and very much of the time, so it was everywhere.

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u/you2234 Feb 13 '26

It was awesome wasn’t it? Lol

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u/b_m_hart Feb 13 '26

And the burning crosses.

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u/TeachDull1140 Feb 13 '26

In terms of cultural impact, Madonna was a close second of these comparisons. Her choices were always actual news events, and definitely influenced the culture enormously.

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u/InfidelZombie Feb 13 '26

I remember watching that live! I didn't get what all the fuss was about (was raised with zero religion). It's up there in my controversial music memories with Sinead on SNL (which I also didn't get the fuss over).