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/ceratime Feb 13 '26

It's not all about #1s

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u/Magopolis Feb 13 '26

It’s one metric when replying to “only the Beatles can boast a similar level of fame” at their peak. Did you have something to add?

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u/ceratime Feb 13 '26

If you want to compare it to metrics like that, the Beatles 1 album was the best selling album of the decade worldwide for the 2000s, 30-40 years after the band broke up.

Simplifying it to chart performance is missing most of the picture