Michael Jackson’s Death Boosts Album Sales

Michael Jackson’s sudden passing yesterday afternoon in Los Angeles has had a direct impact on sales of his music. While mainstream news and social media platforms have been swept up in the tragic news, sales of Michael Jackson’s music and memorabilia have already begun to soar.

This morning Jackson virtually owns the U.S. iTunes store’s top albums rankings, with seven sets in the top 10. No one will be surprised if it’s a perfect 10-for-10 by day’s end.

According to Billboard, The Essential Michael Jackson is No. 1, followed by Thriller at No. 2, Number Ones at No. 3 and Off The Wall at No. 4. Thriller (25th Anniversary Edition) was at No. 5, with Bad at No. 9 and The Ultimate Collection at No. 10.

Jackson also had eight of the top ten music videos on U.S. iTunes, including U.S.A for Africa’s “We Are the World,” with Thriller at No. 1.

Over at Amazon.com, the Sony Music Entertainment album catalog and hits sets have the top 15 positions on the site’s best-selling music chart. Look for sales to skyrocket in Europe as well; By 2pm BST, Jackson has eight of the top 10 selling albums on the U.K. iTunes store.

It’s not hard to believe that a cottage industry around Jackson’s death is beginning to take-off. A report said that outside the Los Angeles hospital where he was pronounced dead, a group of men were selling $10 T-shirts with a silhouette of Jackson and reading: “In loving memory of Michael Jackson.” Memorial T-shirts were also being sold at the Glastonbury music festival.

For better or worse, it’s only the beginning.

With celebrations for the King of Pop in mind, Rolling Stone is reporting that numerous Sirius XM stations will dedicate programming to Jackson, including a five-hour live tribute tonight on their ’80s on 8 channel. MTV has also switched from their normal, nonsensical programming schedule to show Jackson music videos, live footage and interviews with celebrities paying homage to Jackson. VH1 Classic will also air nothing but Jackson content the entire weekend starting today at noon.

There are also reports today of a secret library of a hundred-plus songs recorded by Michael Jackson that might now see the light of day. According a report in report in today’s Times, one of the singer’s biographers, Ian Halperin, claimed that the unheard songs had been made for his children.

Mr Halperin, author of Unmasked, The Michael Jackson Story said before his death:

“He wants to leave them for his kids, a very personal legacy to them. I was told he will not let them come out now.”

With big amounts of rumored debt, these private recordings won’t be private for long.

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