"Be careful of what you do," sings Michael Jackson in "Billie Jean." Jackson is pictured here three years before his 2009 fatal overdose on a general anesthetic that he took just to sleep at night.

It is one of those before-and-after albums. There is music before Thriller. And music that was made in its wake. Even today, its stats are mind-boggling. To date, it has sold 70 million copies and has ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts. Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” debuts at No. 23 on the R&B/Hip-Hop ...

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" jumps to No. 87 on the Billboard Global 200, scoring its highest placement yet more than 40 years after its release. Michael Jackson performing at the Democratic ...