Michael Jackson's record label fuming over Billboard chart snub

New York, Feb 22 : Michael Jackson's record label bosses are fuming after the U.S. Billboard chart refused to recognise the singer's 'Thriller 25' as a new album.

The singer's 25th anniversary edition of the hit 'Thriller' was relegated to the catalogue chart after Billboard classed it as a re-issue.

However, Sony is insisting the album contains enough new material for it to be considered a separate recording from the original 1982 version.

"It has six new songs. Michael went into the studio and recorded with Kanye West, Fergie, Akon, Will.i.Am - and there's a brand-new song from Michael, and videos," The New York Daily News quoted a source, as saying.

"It beat Grammy winners Amy Winehouse and Herbie Hancock, with 167,000 crossing the counter.

"Yet for reasons unfathomable to folks in the music industry, Billboard has decided to relegate it to the catalogue chart. Catalogue makes it look like same ol' same ol', but with a new cover.

"Michael expected it to be on the Top 200 chart," the source added.

Billboard's Geoff Mayfield explained the reason behind turning down the record label's proposal of 'Thriller 25' as a current album.

"We were approached by Sony and Sony BMG to consider Thriller 25 as a current album. But we had to be consistent with hundreds, if not thousands, of reissues that have come to the market," Mayfield said.

"There have actually been new issues of classic albums that include even more new material. We didn't just make the decision on our own. We contacted major retailers and that was the consensus.

"I always understand when people are disappointed when they don't show as high up on the chart, or on the chart they wanted. It's the largest sum for an album on the catalogue chart to be sold in 10 years," Mayfield added.