Streams of Michael Jackson’s music surged sharply over the weekend following the release of the new biopic Michael, according to industry data.
Music analytics company Luminate reported that Jackson’s catalog streams in the U.S. jumped by 95% compared with the previous weekend.
Film Release Fuels Renewed Interest
The biopic Michael premiered on Friday and earned an estimated $97 million in its opening weekend across the U.S. and Canada.
The film’s box office performance exceeded earlier projections, which had estimated openings ranging from $50 million to $70 million.
Streaming Spike Across Platforms
Following the film’s release, Jackson’s music saw a major boost across streaming platforms:
- 31.7 million U.S. streams (April 24–25)
- 16.3 million streams the previous weekend
This represents a 95% increase in overall streaming activity.
His early work with The Jackson 5 also saw a rise in popularity, with streams increasing by 85% over the same period.
Chart and Search Impact
On Apple Music, Jackson had eight songs appear on the Daily Top 100 Global Chart. “Billie Jean” ranked highest at number 11.
Search activity also surged on Shazam, where Jackson’s music saw a 140% increase in recognition activity over the weekend. Seven of his songs currently appear on Shazam’s global top 200.
Mixed Critical Reception
Despite strong audience interest, the film has received mixed to negative reviews from critics.
The Associated Press described the film as focusing heavily on Jackson’s career highs while largely avoiding his controversies. It awarded the film one-and-a-half stars out of four.
Continued Cultural Impact
The surge in streams highlights the lasting global influence of Michael Jackson decades after his peak career.
Industry analysts say major film releases often reignite interest in an artist’s catalog, but the scale of this spike underscores Jackson’s continued cultural relevance.
