Impeccable timing (and even a little luck) also contributed to the enormous success of Thriller. “Billie Jean” was already at #1 and “Beat It” was at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 when he grudgingly agreed to appear with his brothers on his old label’s television anniversary extravaganza, called “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” in March 1983 (it aired in May of that year). When he performed the Moonwalk on the legendary, record-breaking show, sales of Thriller went through the roof. The show itself set industry records for number of viewers in excess of 50 million.
