Ariana Grande’s “Petal” Keeps Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” From No. 1 on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums Chart

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By Mockulus Editorial
October 15, 2026

Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” came close to returning to the top of Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart, but Ariana Grande’s “Petal” held it off. According to Forbes’ weekly chart report, “Thriller” moved up one spot, from No. 3 to No. 2, while “Petal” jumped from No. 25 all the way to No. 1.

What Happened on the Chart

The Vinyl Albums chart ranks the best-selling vinyl records in the U.S. “Petal,” Grande’s eighth studio album, was released on July 31 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 295,000 equivalent album units, according to Billboard’s reporting. Vinyl made up 96,000 of those units, which was Grande’s best vinyl week ever. The album came out in 10 vinyl variants, including a signed edition. Forbes noted that it is one of five albums by Grande to have reached No. 1 on the Vinyl Albums chart. This week’s jump from No. 25 is a return to the top rather than a debut.

Billboard didn’t report how large the sales gap was between “Petal” and “Thriller,” so how close the race was isn’t known. The reports I found also don’t explain what drove the sudden jump from No. 25, so I haven’t guessed.

Thriller’s Vinyl History

“Thriller” first appeared on the Vinyl Albums chart in April 2011. According to Forbes, it took more than seven years to reach No. 1 for the first time, which happened in 2018. Since then it has topped the chart only a handful of times, though it regularly sits in the top tier. This week, MJ occupies four spots on the list, including two top 10 entries.

Elsewhere on the Charts

“Thriller” appears on six Billboard rankings this week and sits in the top 10 on nearly all of them, including Top R&B Albums, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top Album Sales. It has now logged 520 weeks on the Top Album Sales chart, the milestone covered earlier. On the all-genre Billboard 200 it dips one spot to No. 15, and it is No. 22 on Top Streaming Albums.

Context for the Year

This is the latest chart item in a year that has kept MJ’s catalog prominent. “Thriller” spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B Albums before Beyoncé’s “B’Day” reissue replaced it, the film “Michael” crossed $1 billion at the box office, and fans of physical media have also had new products to buy, including October vinyl reissues from Sony.

Why It Matters

The headline here is that a 1982 album is still competing for the top of a current sales chart against a brand-new release from one of pop’s biggest stars. That is a measurable fact. Whether it means MJ’s commercial pull is limitless is a bigger question the chart can’t answer. The more concrete takeaway is that physical formats, especially vinyl, remain a reliable place where his catalog sells.

Sources: Forbes (Hugh McIntyre), The Lagos Review and Wikipedia