Career Timeline of Michael Jackson: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Michael Jackson built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Michael Joseph Jackson, the "King of Pop," was a highly influential American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. His four-decade career broke racial barriers and made him a global icon. He popularized dance moves like the moonwalk, the robot, and the anti-gravity lean, significantly impacting visual performance in popular music. Guinness World Records recognizes him as the most successful entertainer of all time.
1964: Joined the Jackson Brothers
In 1964, Michael Jackson, along with his brother Marlon, joined the Jackson Brothers as backup musicians, playing congas and tambourine.
1964: Debut with the Jackson 5
In 1964, at the age of six, Michael Jackson made his public debut as a member of the Jackson 5 with his brothers.
1965: Shared Lead Vocals and Talent Show Win
In 1965, Michael Jackson began sharing lead vocals with Jermaine, and the group's name was changed to the Jackson 5. The group won a talent show the same year.
1966: Toured the Midwest
From 1966, the Jacksons 5 toured the Midwest, performing at black clubs and as an opening act for various artists.
August 1967: Apollo Theater Amateur Night Win
In August 1967, while touring the East Coast, the Jackson 5 won a weekly amateur night concert at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, marking a significant milestone in their early career.
1968: Signed with Steeltown Records and Brought to Motown
In 1968, The Jackson 5 recorded several songs for Steeltown Records, and were later brought to Motown after opening for Bobby Taylor.
1968: Jackson 5 Signed with Motown
In 1968, the Jackson 5 signed with Motown Records, achieving worldwide success with Michael Jackson as the lead singer.
1968: Toured the Midwest
Until 1968, the Jacksons 5 toured the Midwest, performing at black clubs and as an opening act for various artists.
1969: First Television Appearance
In 1969, The Jackson 5 made their first television appearance in the Miss Black America pageant.
January 1970: "I Want You Back" Reached Number One
In January 1970, "I Want You Back" became the first Jackson 5 song to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
1971: Michael Jackson's Voice Changed
In 1971, Michael Jackson's voice began to change from boy soprano to lyric tenor, with his vocal development being positively noted by music journalists throughout his music releases.
1972: Released Solo Albums
Between 1972, Michael Jackson released two solo studio albums with Motown: Got to Be There and Ben.
1973: Released Solo Album "Music & Me"
In 1973, Michael Jackson released the solo studio album with Motown: Music & Me.
1975: Released Solo Album "Forever, Michael"
In 1975, Michael Jackson released the solo studio album with Motown: Forever, Michael.
1975: Michael Jackson's Voice Changed
In 1975, Michael Jackson's voice began to change from boy soprano to lyric tenor, with his vocal development being positively noted by music journalists throughout his music releases.
1975: Left Motown and Signed with Epic Records
In 1975, the Jackson 5 left Motown, signed with Epic Records, and renamed themselves the Jacksons, marking a new phase in their career.
1976: Continued to Tour Internationally
In 1976, the Jacksons continued to tour internationally, releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984.
1977: Starred in 'The Wiz'
In 1977, Michael Jackson moved to New York City to star as the Scarecrow in 'The Wiz', a musical film directed by Sidney Lumet.
1978: Wrote 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)'
In 1978, Michael Jackson, as the group's main songwriter, wrote songs such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)".
1979: Release of 'Off the Wall'
In 1979, Michael Jackson achieved solo stardom with the release of his fifth album, 'Off the Wall'.
1980: Secured Highest Royalty Rate
In 1980, Michael Jackson secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry, receiving 37 percent of wholesale album profit.
1980: Wrote 'This Place Hotel' and 'Can You Feel It'
In 1980, Michael Jackson, as the group's main songwriter, wrote songs such as "This Place Hotel" and "Can You Feel It".
1981: Recorded with Freddie Mercury
From 1981, Michael Jackson recorded demos with Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury for a potential album of duets.
1981: Off the Wall Displayed Maturation Into Adulthood
In 1981, Robert Christgau wrote that "Off the Wall" vividly showed Michael Jackson's maturation into an adult, with its "vocabulary of grunts, squeals, hiccups, moans, and asides".
1982: Thriller Marked a Fully Adult Voice
By 1982, with the release of Thriller, Rolling Stone noted that Michael Jackson was singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".
1982: Contributed to E.T. Audiobook and Released 'Thriller'
In 1982, Michael Jackson contributed "Someone in the Dark" to the audiobook for the film E.T. and released his sixth album, 'Thriller'.
1982: Release of 'Thriller'
In 1982, Michael Jackson released 'Thriller', which became the best-selling album of all time and revolutionized music videos.
March 25, 1983: Motown 25 Performance and Moonwalk Debut
On March 25, 1983, Michael Jackson reunited with his brothers for Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, where he debuted the moonwalk during his performance of "Billie Jean".
November 1983: PepsiCo Partnership
In November 1983, Michael Jackson and his brothers partnered with PepsiCo in a $5 million promotional deal, setting a record for celebrity endorsements.
1983: Thriller best-selling album worldwide
In 1983, Jackson's album Thriller, was the bestselling album worldwide.
1983: Release of Thriller Music Video
In 1983, Michael Jackson released "Thriller", a groundbreaking zombie-themed music video directed by John Landis, which significantly impacted MTV and broke racial barriers. It has been named the most successful music video ever.
1983: Recorded with Freddie Mercury
Until 1983, Michael Jackson recorded demos with Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury for a potential album of duets.
May 14, 1984: President Reagan Honors Jackson for Support of Charities
On May 14, 1984, President Ronald Reagan presented Michael Jackson with an award recognizing his support for alcohol and drug abuse charities and his involvement with the Ad Council's Drunk Driving Prevention campaign. Jackson also allowed the campaign to use his song "Beat It".
November 20, 1984: ATV Music Publishing Bid
On November 20, 1984, Michael Jackson submitted a $46 million bid for the ATV Music Publishing catalog, which included the rights to most of the Beatles' material.
1984: Victory Tour
In 1984, Michael Jackson headlined the Victory Tour with his brothers, showcasing his solo material to over two million Americans. It was his last tour with the Jacksons.
1984: Recorded State of Shock with Mick Jagger
In 1984, Michael Jackson recorded "State of Shock" with Mick Jagger for the Jacksons' album Victory after his collaboration with Freddie Mercury ended.
1984: Jackson Honored with Presidential Public Safety Commendation
In 1984, Michael Jackson was honored with a "Presidential Public Safety Commendation" award by Ronald Reagan for his humanitarian endeavors.
1984: Continued to Tour Internationally
Until 1984, the Jacksons continued to tour internationally, releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984.
June 1985: Tentative Offer to Buy ATV Music
In June 1985, Jackson learned of The Entertainment Company's tentative $50 million offer to buy ATV Music, which contained the publishing rights to nearly 4,000 songs.
August 10, 1985: Purchase of ATV Music Finalized
On August 10, 1985, Michael Jackson's purchase of ATV Music was finalized for $47.5 million.
1985: Charity Contributions
From 1985, Jackson donated $455,000 to the United Negro College Fund, and all profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity.
1985: "We Are the World" Release
In 1985, Michael Jackson co-wrote "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie, a charity single that raised $63 million for the poor in the US and Africa.
1985: Jackson Co-Wrote We Are the World
In 1985, Michael Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; this humanitarian theme became a recurring element in his lyrics and public image.
1986: Captain EO
In 1986, Michael Jackson worked with George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola on the 3D film Captain EO, which ran at Disneyland and Epcot.
September 12, 1987: Bad World Tour Start
On September 12, 1987, the Bad World Tour started.
1987: Release of 'Bad'
In 1987, Michael Jackson released the album 'Bad', which was the first album to produce five US Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles.
1987: Bad Album Release
In 1987, Michael Jackson's highly anticipated album Bad was released.
1988: Moonwalk Autobiography and Film Release
In 1988, Michael Jackson released his autobiography, Moonwalk, and a film, Moonwalker.
1988: Bad Album Success
In 1988, Michael Jackson's Bad album was the bestselling album worldwide.
January 27, 1989: Bad World Tour End
On January 27, 1989, the Bad World Tour ended.
1989: American Music Award
In 1989, Jackson won an Award of Achievement at the American Music Awards after Bad generated five number-one singles.
1989: "Leave Me Alone" Video Wins Golden Lion Award
In 1989, Michael Jackson's "Leave Me Alone" video, though not officially released in the US, was nominated for three Billboard Music Video Awards and won a Golden Lion Award for its special effects.
1989: Annual Earnings
In 1989, Michael Jackson's annual earnings from album sales, endorsements, and concerts were estimated at $125 million.
1990: Grammy Award
In 1990, Bad won the Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Short Form for "Leave Me Alone".
March 1991: Contract Renewal with Sony
In March 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $65 million, which was a record-breaking deal at the time.
November 14, 1991: "Black or White" Video Premiered Globally
On November 14, 1991, Michael Jackson's "Black or White" music video simultaneously premiered in 27 countries to an estimated audience of 500 million people, featuring Macaulay Culkin, Peggy Lipton, and George Wendt. It also helped introduce morphing to music videos.
1991: Release of 'Dangerous'
In 1991, Michael Jackson released the album 'Dangerous', which saw him venture into an array of artistic sounds and became one of the most successful albums of the 1990s.
June 1992: Dangerous World Tour Begins
In June 1992, Michael Jackson's Dangerous World Tour began. He performed for over 3.5 million people in 70 concerts outside the US, and part of the proceeds went to Heal the World Foundation.
1992: Jackson Established Heal the World Foundation
In 1992, Michael Jackson established the Heal the World Foundation and donated millions from his Dangerous World Tour revenues.
1992: Founding of Heal the World Foundation
In 1992, Michael Jackson founded the Heal the World Foundation, donating an estimated $500 million to charity throughout his lifetime.
1992: Jackson Honored as Point of Light Ambassador
In 1992, Michael Jackson was honored as a "Point of Light Ambassador" by George H. W. Bush for inviting disadvantaged children to his Neverland Ranch.
1992: Dangerous album tops charts
In 1992, Michael Jackson's album Dangerous was the best-selling album of the year worldwide, and "Black or White" was the best-selling single of the year worldwide at the Billboard Music Awards.
January 1993: Super Bowl XXVII Halftime Performance
In January 1993, Michael Jackson performed at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in Pasadena, California, drawing 133.4 million viewers and increasing his album sales.
November 12, 1993: Cancellation of Dangerous World Tour
On November 12, 1993, Michael Jackson canceled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour due to health problems, stress from the allegations, and painkiller addiction.
November 1993: End of the Dangerous World Tour
In November 1993, Michael Jackson's Dangerous World Tour came to an end. The tour grossed $100 million.
1993: "Remember the Time" Performance at Soul Train Music Awards
In 1993, Michael Jackson performed "Remember the Time" at the Soul Train Music Awards while sitting in a chair, due to a twisted ankle he sustained during dance rehearsals.
1993: Reaction to Child Molestation Accusations Reflected in Music Video
In 1993, Michael Jackson's song and video for "Scream" reflected his response to child molestation accusations, earning a record 11 MTV Video Music Award Nominations and winning several awards.
1994: Sonic the Hedgehog 3
In 1994, Michael Jackson composed music for the Sega Genesis video game Sonic the Hedgehog 3 but went uncredited.
June 1995: Release of HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
In June 1995, Michael Jackson released the double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. The album debuted at number one on the charts and has been certified for eight million shipments in the US.
1995: Release of 'HIStory'
In 1995, Michael Jackson released the album 'HIStory', which included "You Are Not Alone", "Earth Song", and "They Don't Care About Us".
1995: "You Are Not Alone" Grammy Nomination
In 1995, Michael Jackson's song "You Are Not Alone" received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance".
July 1996: Performance for Sultan of Brunei's Birthday
In July 1996, Michael Jackson performed for Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's fiftieth birthday at Jerudong Park Amphitheater.
September 7, 1996: HIStory World Tour Begins
On September 7, 1996, Michael Jackson's HIStory World Tour began.
1996: Annual Income
In 1996, Forbes placed Michael Jackson's annual income at $35 million.
1996: Premiere of Michael Jackson's Ghosts
In 1996, Michael Jackson's Ghosts, a short film co-written with Stephen King, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
October 15, 1997: End of HIStory World Tour
On October 15, 1997, Michael Jackson's HIStory World Tour concluded. The tour grossed $165 million.
October 1997: Invincible Album Production Begins
In October 1997, Michael Jackson started working on his tenth solo album, Invincible, which became the most expensive album of all time to produce.
1997: Annual Income
In 1997, Forbes placed Michael Jackson's annual income at $20 million.
1997: Release of Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
In 1997, Michael Jackson released Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, which contained remixes of singles from HIStory and five new songs.
1997: Earth Song Video Nominated for Grammy
In 1997, Michael Jackson's "Earth Song" video was nominated for the Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form.
2000: Guinness World Records Recognition
In 2000, Michael Jackson was recognized by Guinness World Records for his extensive support of 39 charities, more than any other entertainer.
2000: Release of HIStory Album
In 2000, tracks on Michael Jackson's HIStory album conveyed an atmosphere of paranoia and retaliated against perceived injustice, isolation, and media criticism.
September 2001: Invincible Album Production Concludes
In September 2001, Michael Jackson completed work on his tenth solo album, Invincible, which was a costly endeavor.
September 2001: 30th Anniversary Concerts
In September 2001, two concerts were held at Madison Square Garden to celebrate Michael Jackson's 30th anniversary as a solo artist, featuring a reunion performance with his brothers.
October 21, 2001: United We Stand Benefit Concert
On October 21, 2001, Michael Jackson helped organize and performed at the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert in Washington, D.C., following the September 11 attacks.
October 30, 2001: Invincible Album Release
On October 30, 2001, Michael Jackson's album Invincible was released, marking his first full-length album in six years and the last of original material during his lifetime.
2001: Release of "You Rock My World" Music Video
In 2001, Michael Jackson released the music video for "You Rock My World," which featured Chris Tucker and Marlon Brando.
April 24, 2002: Performance at Apollo Theater
On April 24, 2002, Michael Jackson performed at the Apollo Theater in a fundraiser concert for the Democratic National Committee, which raised $2.5 million.
2002: "You Rock My World" Wins NAACP Image Award
In 2002, Michael Jackson's "You Rock My World" video won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video.
2002: Net Worth Estimation
In 2002, estimates of Michael Jackson's net worth ranged from negative $285 million to positive $350 million.
November 18, 2003: Release of Number Ones
On November 18, 2003, Sony released Number Ones, a greatest hits compilation by Michael Jackson.
2003: Net Worth Estimation
In 2003, estimates of Michael Jackson's net worth ranged from negative $285 million to positive $350 million.
September 2006: Departure from Two Seas Records
By September 2006, Michael Jackson was no longer affiliated with Two Seas Records, a Bahrain startup he had previously signed with.
2006: Move to Ireland and Studio Work
In mid-2006, Michael Jackson moved to Grouse Lodge in Ireland to work on a new album with producers will.i.am and Rodney Jenkins.
2007: Net Worth Estimation
In 2007, estimates of Michael Jackson's net worth ranged from negative $285 million to positive $350 million.
2008: Thriller 25 Release
In 2008, Michael Jackson and Sony released Thriller 25 for the 25th anniversary of Thriller, featuring remixes.
March 2009: "This Is It" Concert Announcement
In March 2009, Michael Jackson announced a series of comeback concerts, "This Is It", at the O2 Arena in London.
July 13, 2009: "This Is It" Concerts Scheduled Start
The "This Is It" concerts were scheduled to begin on July 13, 2009, in London, but were canceled due to Michael Jackson's death.
December 2009: "Thriller" Preserved in National Film Registry
In December 2009, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was selected by the Library of Congress as the only music video to be preserved in the National Film Registry, recognizing its enduring cultural importance.
2009: Posthumous Awards and Record Sales
In 2009, Michael Jackson posthumously won four American Music Awards. In the year following his death, Jackson sold more than 35 million albums worldwide, surpassing any other artist in 2009, and became the first artist to sell one million music downloads in a week.
March 6, 2010: "This Is It" Concerts Scheduled End
The "This Is It" concerts were scheduled to end on March 6, 2010, in London, but were canceled due to Michael Jackson's death.
March 2010: Sony Music Deal Extension
In March 2010, Sony Music signed a $250 million deal with the Jackson estate to extend distribution rights to Jackson's back catalog until at least 2017.
2013: Continued Album Sales After Death
By the end of 2013, Michael Jackson had sold over 50 million albums worldwide since his death, continuing his legacy.
2013: Michael Jackson's Ghosts no longer the longest music video
In 2013, Michael Jackson's Ghosts lost its Guinness world record for the longest music video to Pharrell Williams' "Happy".
May 13, 2014: Release of "Xscape" Album
On May 13, 2014, "Xscape", an album of unreleased material, was released, and the lead single "Love Never Felt So Good" reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
2014: Top-Ten Single in Five Decades
In 2014, Michael Jackson became the first artist to have a top-ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades, showcasing his enduring appeal.
2014: "There Must Be More to Life Than This" Release
In 2014, the song "There Must Be More to Life Than This", recorded with Freddie Mercury, was finally released.
2014: Queen Duet Release
Later in 2014, Queen released a duet recorded with Michael Jackson in the 1980s, showcasing archived musical collaborations.
2016: Jackson Estate Earnings
In 2016, Forbes estimated annual gross earnings by the Michael Jackson Estate at $825 million, the largest ever recorded for a celebrity, mostly due to the sale of the Sony/ATV catalog.
September 29, 2017: Release of Compilation Album "Scream"
On September 29, 2017, the compilation album "Scream" was released, adding to Jackson's posthumous discography.
2017: Sony Music Deal Extended
In 2017, the Sony Music deal which was signed in March 2010 with the Jackson estate was extended, continuing their distribution rights to Jackson's back catalog.
July 2018: Sony/ATV Buys Estate's Stake in EMI
In July 2018, Sony/ATV bought the Jackson estate's stake in EMI for $287.5 million, marking a significant financial transaction related to Jackson's music assets.
August 2018: Career Pretax Earnings
In August 2018, Forbes reported that Michael Jackson's total career pretax earnings in life and death were $4.2 billion.
2018: Postmortem Earnings
In 2018, Michael Jackson's postmortem earnings were $400 million, bringing his total to $2.4 billion.
2019: Countering Claims and Increased Album Sales
In 2019, after the release of "Leaving Neverland", documentaries presented information countering the claims, and Michael Jackson's album sales increased.
November 18, 2022: 40th Anniversary Reissue of Thriller
On November 18, 2022, Epic released a 40th-anniversary edition reissue of Michael Jackson's "Thriller", celebrating the album's enduring legacy.
2023: Jackson's royalty rate
In 2023, it was the equivalent of $6 of Jackson's royalty rate, which he obtained in 1984.
February 2024: Sony Acquires Half of Jackson's Publishing Rights
In February 2024, Sony Music acquired half of Michael Jackson's publishing rights and recording masters for an estimated $600 million, marking one of the largest deals for a single musician's work.
2024: Music Catalogue Sold to Sony
In 2024, half of Michael Jackson's music catalogue was sold to Sony for $600 million, marking the largest music acquisition for a single artist in history.
