Carl Bialik from the Wall Street Journal says that figures quoted for Michael Jackson sales are “off the wall”.
He points out that sometime since 2006, a magic figure of 750 million Jackson records started to be published as fact. Prior to 2006, Jackson was reported to have sold 200 million albums.The origins of the false figure can be traced one of Jackson’s publicists Raymone Bain. Bain quoted the figure in one of his press releases talking up the success of Jackson around late 2006. Ms. Bain later sued Jackson and exaggerated the figure again. Her lawsuit claimed he had sold over 1 billion records.
To get a read on what Jackson has really sold you need only tally up his platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America. RIAA has awarded Jackson for total catalogue sales of only 55 million.
French engineer Guillaume Vieira has done his own research into Jackson sales worldwide.
He estimates based on worldwide confirmed sales (and not counting sales since Jackson’s death that:
‘Off The Wall’ has sold 13,424,000
‘Thriller’ (50,611,000)
‘Bad’ (24,761,000)
‘Dangerous’ (21,250,000)
‘History’ (14,487,000)
‘Blood On The Dancefloor’ (3,559,000)
‘Invincible’ (4.979,000)
That’s a total of around 133 million.
On top of that, you have the sales of Michael’s early Motown albums and albums by The Jacksons and Jackson 5.
‘Victory’ was the biggest seller for The Jacksons. It did 2 million in the US. 1978’s ‘Destiny’ and 1980’s ‘Triumph’ also did around 1 million a piece.
750 million sales is one mighty claim. It is also completely inaccurate.
