Nearly two decades after his death, Michael Jackson has staged an extraordinary comeback, climbing to the top of global streaming charts as renewed fan interest surges following the release of his biopic Michael. The resurgence highlights the enduring legacy of the King of Pop and the powerful impact of cinematic storytelling on music consumption.
According to reports, some of Jackson’s most iconic tracks — Beat It, Billie Jean, Bad, and Thriller — have surged up streaming charts worldwide since the film’s release last week, 17 years after the singer’s passing.
Data analytics agency Kworb ranked Jackson No. 1 in its Global Digital Artist Ranking for May 2026, with 11,157 points based on performance across major streaming platforms. He outpaced Justin Bieber, who secured second place by nearly 5,000 points, while BTS followed in third with 4,397 points.
Jackson dominated across platforms, leading charts on Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube, Shazam, and Deezer, while narrowly trailing Bieber on Spotify. He also outperformed Bad Bunny, ranked fourth, and Taylor Swift, who placed fifth.
Typically, streaming spikes are tied to new releases, but the report noted that Jackson’s decades-old catalogue remains competitive with today’s chart-toppers, underlining his unmatched global appeal.
The biographical film Michael, released more than three years after its announcement, stars Jaafar Jackson as the late icon. The cast also includes Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, and Miles Teller as John Branca.
As of May 6, the film has become a global box office success, earning over $435 million worldwide within just two weeks, further fuelling Jackson’s remarkable return to the top.
