Jacko sales explosion

Since the icon's death album and download sales go through the roof

02 July 2009 - Albums by Michael Jackson are currently occupying the top nine positions in the US Billboard pop catalogue chart having shifted nearly half a million albums in the states.

Leading the charge is his Number Ones album which sold 108,000 copies.

Mark Sutherland, Billboard's global editor, told 6 Music no artist has received such a surge in sales as this before.

"It’s a remarkable achievement. He’s taken the top nine positions in Billboard’s Catalogue Chart and perhaps even more significantly that his top three selling albums have outsold the number one record on the Billboard 200, which is the chart that covers current releases," said Sutherland.

"Now that’s the first time that has ever happened that the number one catalogue album has outsold the current number one."

In the past, musicians have occupied six of the top ten positions but never the top six.

See below for the Pop Catalogue Top 10:

1. Number Ones
2. The Essential Michael Jackson
3. Thriller
4. Off The Wall
5. Jackson 5: The Ultimate Collection
6. Bad
7. Dangerous
8. Greatest Hits: History Volume 1
9. The Ultimate Collection
10. Woodstock: Music From The Original Soundtrack And More

Meanwhile 2.3 million Michael Jackson songs have been downloaded in the past week which according to Nielsen SoundScan, has risen from 37,300 the previous week.

Sutherland's explanation for the King Of Pop's sales boost was: "I think the American public have decided the best way to remember Michael Jackson is to go out and buy some of his music."

Georgie Rogers