Those who were hoping that Michael Jackson would be canceled didn’t take into account his popularity on streaming services.
As Billboard notes, following the release of the controversial HBO documentary Leaving Neverland –– in which two men accused Michael of abusing them as children — radio stations in Canada and New Zealand pulled Michael’s music from the airwaves. Meanwhile, MJ airplay on U.S. radio stations declined by just over 32% in the 31 weeks following the documentary’s debut.
However, Billboard reports that during that same 31-week period, on-demand steams of Michael Jackson’s songs increased by just over 22%…a bit more than the growth rate of the rest of the streaming industry.