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.

Check out The Mainland who hails from California. For fans of Jack’s Mannequin, The Fray, and Keane. Our favorite tracks are
Breaking Down and I Can Change.
The band has upcoming shows in northern and southern California and a performance at the Knitting Factor in Hollywood on August 5th. Contact: mainlandmusic@hotmail.com

Michael Jackson tops the Billboard Comprehensive Album Chart. This chart contains the biggest selling albums in the United States regardless of the product’s age or method of sales.

Numbers Ones TW (107,808) LW (4,417) Total 1,932,838
Essential Michael Jackson TW (102,023) LW (1,986) Total 543,057
Thriller TW (101,042) LW (277) Total 4,588,925
Off The Wall TW (32,552) LW (73) Total 1,589

Jackson sold 500,000 physical albums this week.

Digital Tracks – Michael Jackson

Thriller TW (167,444)
Man In The Mirror TW (164,642)
Way You Make Me Feel (136,330)
Beat It (133,818)
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (125,332)
Smooth Criminal (111,118)
Black or White (109,584)
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 105,801
Rock With You (89,581)
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (76,532)
BAD (73,718)
You Are Not Alone (66,827)
Dirty Diana (62,433)
Remember The Time (58,877)

Atlanta act Death On Two Wheels has become a Kings favorite and could be on the same trail as Kings of Leon. Check out the tracks How Love Is Made and Take It Away. The band has a string of shows in the south. Contact: smartin@spectaclegroup.com

New Mexico based acoustic/ pop duo Poema just signed to Tooth and Nail Records. They are the 50th most popular unsigned acoustic band on MySpace, and are the number one most popular acoustic band in New Mexico. The band has upcoming Cornerstone Dates. Go listen to the track Blue Sweater. Contact: bcmclane@aol.com