​When Thriller and its legendary title-track video were released in 1983, they completely changed the music industry.

KCCR Music Fact Today 🎵

​Before Thriller, most music videos were relatively simple promotional clips. Michael Jackson and director John Landiscreated a 14-minute cinematic mini-movie complete with special effects, choreography, storytelling, and a Hollywood-level budget. MTV aired it heavily, and the video helped propel Thriller to become the best-selling album in music history. The project also helped establish music videos as an art form rather than just a marketing tool. 

The impact was enormous:

• Music videos became bigger and more ambitious.
• Record companies began investing serious money in visual content.
• MTV became a major force in popular culture.
• Future artists such as Madonna, Prince, and George Michael benefited from the new standard Jackson helped create. 

Did you know?
The Thriller video was the first music video ever selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry, recognizing its cultural and historical significance.