This Week in Billboard Chart History: In 1983, Michael Jackson Began His Longest Hot 100 Reign With 'Billie Jean

2/29/2016 by Gary Trust

Michael Jackson giving the thumbs up in New York City in 1984.

David McGough/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

The King of Pop scored his longest-leading of 13 Hot 100 No. 1s, the most among solo men. Plus, remembering chart feats by Baauer, Adele & Debbie Gibson.

Your weekly recap celebrating significant milestones from more than seven decades of Billboard chart history.
Feb. 29, 1992
One of the most acclaimed albums of '90s pop/alternative, Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend, enters the Billboard 200 at No. 190. It goes on to peak at a modest No. 100, but generated the No. 4-peaking title cut on Alternative Songs (as well as the singles "Divine Intervention" and "I've Been Waiting") and has sold 612,000 to date, according to Nielsen Music.
March 1, 2003

After leading with the uptempo No. 1s "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi," Avril Lavigne proved her way with a ballad, too: "I'm With You" spent its fourth and final week atop the Pop Songs chart.
March 2, 2013
Three years ago today, Baauer blasted in at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with EDM/trap track "Harlem Shake. He had produced the song in his bedroom studio on Feb. 5, 2013, not expecting the onslaught of fan-made viral videos that would follow. "It's literally unbelievable," Baauer said upon the song's coronation. "It's amazing to have this track recognized by the world."
March 3, 2012
Adele's aptly-titled 21 collects a 21st week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, passing Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard to become the longest-leading album by a female artist. 21 went on to total 24 weeks on top.