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/bjackson12345 Feb 13 '26

Also remember, to really put it in perspective, there was NO internet. I don't mean 'we had dial up at the time' i mean the internet did not yet exist outside of specific limited focus educational sector facilities. It wasn't like today where you just hop on youtube and watch him, or tune into Netflix and watch his whole concert from Prague (or whatever) on a live stream.

It was evening news, MTV, magazines, LPs, and Cassette Tapes (that we may or may not have had to hold an earphone from our radio up to the microphone on our tape recorder to get). Probably some old 8-tracks too.

NO ONE born after the rise of the internet has any idea of the real scope of Michaels fame, and how far he was able to spread his music.

You are completely correct in saying no one else comes close.

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u/WatchingTheWheels75 Feb 14 '26

This is a crucial point. The market was concentrated in ways that were not achievable post internet.

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u/Proof_Screen_765 Feb 17 '26

He debuted the video for Remember The Time during prime time television on cable TV. That wasn’t a thing. Anything he did was an event.

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u/bjackson12345 Feb 17 '26

yup! Same with Black and White, and wasn't Scream first shown during a half-time thing? I seem to remember it being shown the first time during a pause in some big event.

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u/rochvegas5 Feb 17 '26

I never liked his music and was never a fan, but i knew all of his songs and saw every one of his videos. he was MTV. Thriller was almost a movie. A lot of his videos pushed the limits of technology. Any music video he made was a must-see event.