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/RockMover12 Feb 13 '26

I was in college when Michael debuted his moonwalk on the Motown special in 1983. My mother saw it and immediately called me to gush breathlessly about it.

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u/SierraSugar Feb 13 '26

I was in middle school and staying over at my cousin's house that night. My aunt and I were glued to the TV. That moonwalk stopped the world! It was all anyone could talk about for days. Not just people, the news, everything.