Michael Jackson Blocked From A New No. 1 Hit — By AI

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentMichael Jackson Blocked From A New No. 1 Hit — By AIByHugh McIntyre,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts.Follow AuthorMay 21, 2026, 08:00am EDTEddie Dalton's "Somewhere Along the Way" — an AI production — keeps Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" from finally reaching No. 1 on several Billboard charts. UNITED KINGDOM - AUGUST 18: Michael Jackson performing on stage, finger pointing up - Dangerous Tour (Photo by John Gunion/Redferns)RedfernsFor weeks now, fans of Michael Jackson – both those who count themselves as his most ardent supporters, as well as more casual listeners – have been consuming the work he left behind in unusually massive numbers. The superstar returned to many charts in America with several of his most popular songs and albums after his musical biopic Michael was released to theaters globally. Ever since that highly anticipated movie became one of the highest-grossing films of 2026, the late singer has managed some truly incredible feats on Billboard's rankings. This time around, Jackson's "Billie Jean" dances to new peak positions on a handful of tallies, and it nearly reaches the No. 1 space on a pair of charts – but the classic is held back from ruling, not by another superstar, but by a musical act that is, essentially, not even real.Michael Jackson Almost Sends "Billie Jean" to No. 1"Billie Jean" ascends one rung on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and R&B Digital Song Sales charts, pushing from No. 3 to No. 2. That marks a new high point for the Thriller smash on the two tallies, which look at the bestselling tunes via platforms like iTunes that can be classified using those specific genre labels.Michael Jackson Trails Eddie Dalton, An AI Musical ActSteady at the summit on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales an...