Music chart rankings in late 2004

The end of 2004 was an excuse for Michael to smile. Michael Jackson’s songs—both new and old—were steadily climbing on many music charts, until by the end of 2004 they had taken positions 1 to 10. Number Ones, with 6 million copies sold worldwide during this year, is the third album that from 2000 to 2004 *multiple platinum pages* earned for Michael Jackson. Britain In Britain, the album Number Ones sold about 2 million copies. In fact, this album—having received five platinum awards—was the fifth best-selling album of the year in Britain. Michael had the highest number of albums on Britain’s year-end 200 best-selling albums chart. The albums Number Ones, Thriller, and The Very Best Of The Jacksons all entered this chart. In 2003 as well, Jackson placed the most albums on this chart with Number Ones, Greatest Hits—History Volum 1, Thriller, and Off the Wall. With six of Jackson’s albums entering the year-end 75 best-selling albums chart, 2004 was a year full of surprises for the best-sellers chart: _ Off The Wall entered the best-selling albums chart for the second time in July 2004, at position 13. _ The Very Best Of The Jacksons took seventh place on this chart. And the album was awarded the title of British Gold by the BPI. _ Thriller remained on this chart for three months and reached position 36. _ Bad entered this chart at position 36 for the second time in July 2004. _ The Ultimate Collection (4 CD and 1 DVD) took positions 10 and 75, respectively, on the R&B charts and the 75 best-selling albums chart. Ultimate Collection was the only set that entered the year-end 75 best-selling albums chart. _ Number Ones remained on the best-selling chart. This is Michael Jackson’s sixth album to receive five platinum awards on its own. Although more than 1.6 million copies of Number Ones were sold in Britain, it seems people are still buying it, because this album took the 53rd spot on the 75 best-selling albums chart for 2005. Australia The album Number Ones spent 58 weeks on Australia’s year-end 40 best-selling albums chart. Number Ones DVD was also the best-selling DVD of 2004 in Australia. Three of Michael Jackson’s albums were listed among the best-sellers as follows: _ Number Ones became the 53rd best-selling album of the year and the sixth best-selling local album of the year in Australia. _ Thriller, after spending five months on the year-end 40 best-selling albums chart, climbed to number 22 on this chart. _ The Very Best Of The Jacksons placed at numbers 15 and 3, respectively, on the 100 best-selling albums charts and the local best-selling albums charts. Number Ones DVD has earned eight platinum pages, and it has been 55 weeks since it first appeared on the year-end best-selling DVDs chart. The CDs of Number Ones and The Very Best Of The Jacksons, after 60 and 25 weeks respectively, are still holding their positions on the local best-selling albums chart (top 40). It seems that 2005 in Australia will be a year full of chart rankings for the King of Pop. New Zealand In New Zealand, the albums Number Ones and The Very Best Of The Jacksons received platinum and gold awards, respectively. United States of America The Number Ones album and DVD, which received one and three platinum awards respectively, were two of several releases that kept their name on various year-end charts in the United States. _ DVD Number Ones topped the best-selling music video charts in January 2004. By the end of the year, this DVD sold 250,000 copies. _ CD Number Ones topped the internet album charts in January 2004. To date, this CD has sold more than 800,000 copies in the United States. _ The One, the promotional DVD of Number Ones, placed at number 28 on the March’s top music video chart, in a CBS network special. _ Thriller, during its two months on the 50 best-selling pop catalogs chart, climbed to number 22 on this chart. _ The Ultimate Collection (4 CD/1DVD), on the internet charts of top albums as well as the R&P/Hip-Hop album charts and the 200 top albums chart, took positions 22, 48, and 154 respectively. Ultimate Collection has sold 40,000 copies since its release in November 2004 up to now. _ Greatest Hits: History Volum 1, during its two months on the 50 best-selling pop catalogs chart, climbed to number 28 on this chart. Sales of more than 5 million copies of Michael Jackson’s CDs in the United States over the past three years (November 2001—November 2004) indicate Michael Jackson’s popularity in his country. Europe In Europe as well, the CD Number Ones—which received three platinum awards—along with the Ultimate Collection set (4 CD/1DVD), found their place on music charts. Ireland _ CD Number Ones, with five platinum awards, spent 37 weeks among the country’s top 50 best-selling albums and finished the year at number 33 on this chart. (In 2003, this CD was Ireland’s ninth best-selling album.) _ Off The Wal entered the top 50 best-selling albums chart at number 12 in July 2004. _ Ultimate Collection (4 CD/1DVD) also finished the year at number 71. France _ Number Ones was the fifth best-selling album among the year’s top 40 best-selling albums. _ Ultimate Collection (4 CD/1DVD) placed at number 29 on this chart. Spain _ Number Ones (CD-DVD) received a gold award. _ Ultimate Collection (4 CD/1DVD) was the 57th best-selling album. Greece _ Number Ones spent three months on the best-selling albums chart and climbed to number 6 on this chart. _ Ultimate Collection (4 CD/1DVD) was Spain’s 37th best-selling album. In other European countries (Italy, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, the Czech Republic, Germany), the album Number Ones sold at the level of receiving gold and platinum awards. Japan _ Number Ones was Japan’s 13th best-selling album in the first half of 2004. _ Ultimate Collection (4 CD/1DVD) stood at number 47 on the 50 best-selling albums chart and received several platinum awards. Summary In Australia (CD and DVD Number Ones received 3 and 8 platinum awards respectively and stayed on the best-sellers charts for one year), in Britain (CD Number Ones, with 5 platinum awards, was the fifth best-selling album of 2003 and 2004), and in the United States (CD and DVD Number Ones received one and three platinum awards respectively, joining the list of Jackson’s released music that received multiple platinum awards), 2004 was a successful year for the King of Pop. At the beginning of 2005 as well, the album Number Ones entered Britain’s year-end 75 best-selling albums chart again, and as soon as it entered it took position 53 and went up to number 48 on the chart. In Austria, this album is at number 12 on the chart. *Platinum pages* are awarded to albums whose sales have passed a certain threshold. The best-selling album receives platinum pages, and the next best-selling albums receive gold, silver, and bronze pages in order.