Michael Jackson is still making history and, in a surprising way, is even competing against himself after his passing.
Weeks after the release of the Michael biopic sparked renewed interest in the King of Pop’s music catalog, the late icon has taken over the top three positions on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart. However, in an unexpected turn, it’s Jackson’s timeless hit “Billie Jean” that is keeping another one of his tracks, 2014’s “Chicago,” from claiming the No. 1 spot.
According to Forbes, “Chicago” has climbed from No. 4 back to its peak position at No. 2 on this week’s chart, switching places with Beyoncé’s “Morning Dew (Donk).” The track has now spent 13 weeks on Billboard’s R&B Streaming Songs chart, but for the second time this summer, it has been kept from the No. 1 spot by “Billie Jean,” which has now extended its run to 12 straight weeks at the top.
“Chicago” wasn’t one of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits during his lifetime. Originally released posthumously on the 2014 album Xscape, the Timbaland- and J-Roc-produced song has gained a massive new following in 2026, fueled by streaming platforms and social media.
Earlier this summer, the track also made its debut on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Jackson’s 52nd solo entry on the chart. The milestone also made him the first artist to debut new Hot 100 entries in every decade since the 1970s.
Jackson’s dominance on the R&B Streaming Songs chart doesn’t stop there.
With “Billie Jean” holding the No. 1 spot, “Chicago” sitting at No. 2, and “Beat It” climbing back to No. 3, the King of Pop now occupies the chart’s entire top three. “Human Nature” remains at No. 7, while “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” also stays inside the Top 15, giving Jackson five songs on the chart—roughly one-third of the entire ranking.
The renewed success follows the release of Michael, Antoine Fuqua’s biopic starring Jaafar Jackson, which has become one of the biggest entertainment stories of the year. After debuting at No. 1 at the domestic box office, the film went on to earn more than $1 billion worldwide, becoming Lionsgate’s highest-grossing film ever while reigniting interest in Jackson’s music catalog.
That surge in popularity has translated into impressive chart achievements. Off the Wall recently reached its 200th week on the Billboard 200, while Thriller, Bad, Number Ones, The Essential Michael Jackson, and Xscape have all recorded major gains.
Sony Music also recently announced a 22% increase in quarterly recorded music revenue, with Thriller and Bad ranking among its strongest-selling releases during the same period as the biopic’s theatrical run.
