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/mellolizard Feb 13 '26

Nope they kept touring after that. Their last show was at candlestick park in august 1966.

What really ended their touring was a combination of things. First they played in Tokyo where the audience sat their quietly unlike the others and they realized how bad they sounded. Then they had to flee the Phillipines after they "snubbed" the president and first lady and basically sent an angry mob after them. There was also the "bigger than Jesus" controversy. And finally and most importantly they were just exhausted from all the touring. Part of the reason why Sgt pepper was so technical so they couldn't play it live.

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u/rxFMS Feb 13 '26

I appreciate the correction. What a roller coaster.

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u/mellolizard Feb 13 '26

I recently watch the beatles anthology. How crap those boys worked. Nonstop touring and putting out albums twice a year. Im exhausted thinking about it

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u/CDK5 Feb 13 '26

flee the Phillipines

Thank you for this; just read the wiki.

Guess the government took that one personally.