Justin Bieber is having a major moment — his Coachella appearances are paying off big time as 'Beauty and a Beat' claims its second consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, proving the pop star's enduring global appeal in 2026.
Industry watchers note that Michael Jackson's chart resurrection coincides suspiciously (or conveniently) with his biopic 'Michael' dominating box offices since its April 24 premiere — classic catalog manipulation or legitimate legacy revival? You decide.
BTS' 'Swim' reclaimed the No. 1 spot on Global Excl. U.S. after dropping to No. 2, marking five total weeks at the top. Jackson's 'Billie Jean' jumped 8-4 and 'Beat It' bounded 16-7 on the Global 200 — these are MJ's first top 10 entries since Billboard launched the chart in 2020.
While Justin Bieber coasts on Coachella momentum and BTS continues its seemingly unstoppable international reign, Michael Jackson's sudden chart resurgence raises eyebrows — timing a catalog revival perfectly with a theatrical release is no accident.
Justin Bieber's "Beauty and a Beat" featuring Nicki Minaj has secured its second consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, according to chart data released for the week ending May 16, 2026. The track — originally a No. 5 hit on the U.S.-based Hot 100 back in 2013 — generated 59.2 million streams worldwide (down 15% week over week) and moved 2,000 units sold (down 18%) during the tracking period of May 1-7, per Luminate data.
The resurgence comes after Bieber performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on both April 11 and April 18, including "Beauty and a Beat" in his April 11 set — a strategic booking that clearly paid dividends for streaming numbers. Meanwhile, BTS is refusing to cede its international territory. The K-pop supergroup's "Swim" has rebounded to No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl.
U.S. chart for a fifth week at the top, after briefly dropping to No. 2 following an impressive four-week run at No. 1 in April. The track accumulated 50 million streams outside the United States (down 9%) and 3,000 sales (down 26%) during the latest tracking period. On the overall Global 200, "Swim" holds steady at No. 2 — just behind Bieber's chart-topper but ahead of all other competition.
But the real story this week belongs to someone who hasn't released new music in years: Michael Jackson. The King of Pop has crashed back into the top 10 with two tracks simultaneously, and industry insiders are buzzing about the timing. "Billie Jean" jumped from No. 8 to No. 4 on the Global 200 — a new high for the 43-year-old classic — while drawing 48.1 million streams worldwide (up 31%).
Even more dramatic, "Beat It" bounded from No. 16 all the way to No. 7 with 36.9 million streams (also up 31%). Both songs originally ruled the Hot 100 for seven and three weeks respectively back in 1983, both from Jackson's landmark Thriller album. The catalyst?
The box office biopic Michael, which premiered on April 24, 2026, and has been generating serious buzz — and ticket sales. These chart positions mark Jackson's first two Global 200 top 10s since Billboard launched the metric in 2020. On the Global Excl.
U.S. chart, "Billie Jean" climbed to No. 3 (35.9 million streams outside the U.S., up 30%) and "Beat It" reached No. 5 (27.8 million streams, up 29%). The simultaneous presence of two Michael Jackson deep catalog cuts in the top 10 — alongside current releases from BTS and Justin Bieber — paints a fascinating picture of how legacy artists can dominate charts without releasing any new material whatsoever. Elsewhere in the top five, Tame Impala and JENNIE's collaboration "Dracula" held at No. 4 on the Global 200 after reaching a peak of No. 2 earlier, while Olivia Rodrigo's "Drop Dead" fell from its debut position of No. 1 down to No. 5 this week — a swift descent that raises questions about sustained listener interest in her latest release.
