{
  "id": 17842766,
  "title": "Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ Rides Halloween Boo-sts Back Onto Hot 100",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/michael-jacksons-thriller-rides-halloween-boo-sts-back-onto-hot-100",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-02T19:12:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/michael-jackson-thriller-hot-100-2026-1236372159/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Michael Jackson's iconic Halloween anthem, \"Thriller,\" has climbed back onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart, landing at No. 20. The spooky track, from Jackson's 1983 album of the same name, experienced a 49% surge in U.S. streaming in the week leading up to Halloween, reaching 9.3 million chart-eligible streams. Radio airplay also doubled, garnering 4.2 million listeners. Additionally, \"Thriller\" saw a 61% increase in physical sales, totaling 3,000 units.\n\nThe song originally debuted at No. 4 on the Hot 100 in March 1984, marking the seventh and final top 10 single from Jackson's album that dominated the Billboard 200 for 37 consecutive weeks. It has returned to the Hot 100 each year since 2018, most recently peaking at No. 10 last year.\n\nTwo other Halloween-related hits have also reappeared on the chart. Rockwell's \"Somebody's Watching Me,\" featuring backing vocals from Jackson, climbed to No. 39, gained 6.3 million streams (up 52%), and sold 1,000 units (up 58%). Citizens of Halloween's \"This Is Halloween,\" from the animated film \"The Nightmare Before Christmas,\" entered the Hot 100 at No. 41, driven by a 68% increase in streams (6.1 million). The other notable entry is Bobby \"Boris\" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers' \"Monster Mash,\" which saw a 63% jump in streaming to 5.8 million.",
  "summary": "It’s the Haunted 100, where “Thriller” is one of three returning occult classics.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}