Fact Finder - Music

Fact
Michael Jackson's Thriller Record
Category
Music
Subcategory
Famous Singers & Bands
Country
United States
Description
Released in November 1982, Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' revolutionized the music industry and remains the best-selling album of all time. Produced by Quincy Jones, the album blended pop, rock, and R&B, producing seven Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including 'Billie Jean' and 'Beat It.' It spent a record-breaking 37 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. Beyond its sales, 'Thriller' was a cultural phenomenon that broke racial barriers on MTV, which had previously been criticized for not playing Black artists. The 14-minute 'Thriller' music video, directed by John Landis, transformed the medium into a cinematic art form. The album won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in a single night in 1984, cementing Jackson's status as the 'King of Pop.'