SOURCE: forbes.com
Both Beyoncé and Michael Jackson rank among the most successful R&B musicians of all time. They have produced songs and albums in many styles, but much of their output is classified as R&B (though some fans may disagree with that label from time to time). It makes sense, then, that one of these stars would replace the other atop one of Billboard’s R&B-specific charts.
Beyoncé returns to No. 1 on this week’s R&B Digital Song Sales chart. The singer’s “Freedom,” a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar, climbs to the top spot on the list of the top-selling tunes in that genre in the U.S.
As those two powerhouses return to the summit, they replace one of the greatest who has ever lived. Jackson spent last week at No. 1 on the same tally, and now he’s been forced off the throne.
Last week, Jackson’s “Thriller” was the bestselling R&B song in the country. The tune returns to prominence – and usually the top spot on at least one Billboard list – every October, as the single is a Halloween staple by this point.
“Freedom” lifts from No. 3 to find its way back to the summit on the R&B Digital Song Sales chart. Jackson’s smash, meanwhile, hasn’t fallen very far. “Thriller” steps down one space, and it currently appears at No. 2…though it will likely fade from this list very soon.