Billboard reveals how Michael Jackson changed the music business. In 1984, Epic Records was selling more than 1 million copies every month of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. As of today, Thriller remains the best-selling studio album in the United States, while selling more than 50 million copies internationally.

The success of “Thriller” changed how the music business promoted and marketed superstar releases. For instance, Columbia records released seven singles from Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”, Warner Bros. sent to radio five singles from Prince’s “Purple Rain”, and Mercury released seven singles on Def Leppard’s “Hysteria”. All three album sold more than 10 million copies each in the United States.

It was a bleak time in the music business in 1982, but Michael Jackson changed everything.

“There is no question that ‘Thriller’ was the driving force behind what became the hottest span in Epic’s history,” Beck says. After that, the label had major hits with Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club and REO Speedwagon. The “Flashdance” soundtrack and the Police’s “Synchronicity” also helped lure fans back into stores.

More importantly, Michael Jackson raised the bar for artists. No wonder the world was given some of the biggest superstars after the success of Thriller. Since, the death of Michael Jackson his music and videos are being watched by the world. Maybe todays artists and creators will reflect on the endless catalog that Michael Jackson left behind and learn something from it.