Michael Jackson has finally met his match in the form of a very unexpected source. Stunning music fans across the Atlantic, the King of Pop’s blockbuster ‘Thriller’ album, which is one of the best-selling albums in the world, has been outsold in the UK by Adele’s ’21′.
Since being released on January 24th 2011, the 15x platinum ’21′ has sold over 4,274,300 copies; just 500 copies ahead of ‘Thriller’, which has generated over 4,273,800 in sales since 1982. In fact, ’21′ is now the fifth highest-selling album in UK behind Queen’s ‘Greatest Hits’, The Beatles’ ‘SGT Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band’, Abba’s ‘Gold: Greatest Hits’ and Oasis’ ‘What’s the Story Morning Glory’.
In the US, Adele’s ’21′ has sold over 8.91 million copies – 3.1 million since January 1st 2012 – and has been certified 9x platinum. The LP was the top-selling release of 2011 and it is the highest seller of 2012 to date. However, it is unlikely that Adele will match Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ in the US because that record has been certified an enormous 29x platinum.
Watch Adele perform ‘Turning Tables’ from ’21′ below: