Michael Jackson’s Beat It Climbs to New Billboard R&B Peak

Michael Jackson continues to strengthen his presence on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart, with his iconic hit Beat It reaching a new career-high position at No. 4. The classic track has moved up one spot from No. 5, marking its highest placement ever on the chart, which ranks songs based on a combination of sales, streaming activity and radio airplay across the United States.

The latest milestone places Beat It alongside three other Jackson songs that also peaked at No. 4 on the Hot R&B Songs chart: Love Never Felt So Good, his posthumous collaboration with Justin Timberlake, as well as Human Nature and Chicago, both of which reached the same position in recent weeks.

Jackson now occupies six places inside this week’s Hot R&B Songs top 10, more than any other artist. His current charting songs include Billie Jean at No. 3, Beat It at No. 4, Chicago at No. 5, Human Nature at No. 6, Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough at No. 7 and Rock with You at No. 9. While Beat It has achieved a new peak, Billie Jean and Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough remain at their highest chart positions.

Since first appearing on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart in May 2014, several years after the ranking was introduced, Jackson has earned 14 entries. Twelve of those songs have reached the top 10, with only A Place With No Name and Loving You falling short of that mark. Remarkably, six of his career top 10 hits are simultaneously featured in this week’s top 10.

Jackson’s complete list of Hot R&B Songs top 10 hits includes Beat It, Billie Jean, Chicago, Dirty Diana, Don’t Matter to Me with Drake, Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough, Human Nature, Love Never Felt So Good with Justin Timberlake, P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), Rock with You, Slave to the Rhythm and Thriller.

The renewed chart success follows increased interest in Jackson’s catalog after the release of his biopic, Michael, which has helped drive strong performances across several Billboard R&B rankings. This week, Jackson also leads all artists on the Hot R&B Songs chart with six entries, narrowly surpassing Drake, who has five songs on the list from his recent albums Iceman, Habibti and Maid of Honour. Chris Brown appears with three entries, while Kehlani has two songs on the chart.