Primary Songwriter and Co-Writers of Thriller
Michael Jackson is the primary songwriter of Thriller, with songwriting credits on the title track and most of the album's songs. Rod Temperton, a British songwriter and member of the band Heatwave, is credited as co-writer on several tracks, including Thriller, Baby Be Mine, and The Lady in My Life. Quincy Jones served as producer and received production credits, while Jackson and Temperton are listed as the composers on the original 1982 release. The songwriting credits are documented in the liner notes of the Thriller album and confirmed by ASCAP and BMI registration records, which show Jackson and Temperton as the named writers on the title track. For more details on the original album credits, see the official release notes on the Michael Jackson website and the album's copyright registration page michaeljackson.com.
Public copyright filings and performing rights organization databases list Michael Jackson and Rod Temperton as the credited writers on Thriller, with Quincy Jones credited as producer. The original 1982 release credits appear on the physical album and in digital distribution metadata across major streaming platforms. ASCAP and BMI public repertory data show Jackson and Temperton as the named composers, while Jones is listed under production credits rather than songwriting. These records are consistent with interviews and liner notes from the era, which state that Jackson wrote the lyrics and melody, while Temperton contributed the music and arrangement for several tracks. For current performing rights registration data, see the ASCAP ACE search ascap.com.
Ownership, Publishing, and Royalty Splits
Current Rights Holders and Publishers
Ownership of the Thriller song and album has changed through corporate transactions, mergers, and acquisitions. Sony Music Publishing currently controls a large portion of the Jackson catalog, including the rights to Thriller, after acquiring stakes in the Sony/ATV Music Publishing joint venture. The estate of Michael Jackson, managed by his heirs and executors, retains ownership of his master recordings and publishing interests, with Sony Music Publishing handling administration and licensing. Public filings and press releases from Sony Music and the Michael Jackson estate outline the current split between the Jackson estate and Sony for publishing and master rights. For details on the Sony Music Publishing acquisition and catalog ownership, see the Sony Music corporate page sonymusic.com.
Royalty splits for Thriller are structured across songwriting, publishing, and master recording rights, with payments flowing to the Jackson estate, Sony Music Publishing, and other rights holders. Streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music report royalties based on public licensing agreements with the rights owners, with metadata showing Michael Jackson and Rod Temperton as the credited songwriters. The master recording royalties are controlled by the entity holding the masters, which is currently Sony Music Entertainment for the original 1982 release. Public royalty statements and licensing agreements show that the estate receives a share of publishing income, while Sony receives a share of both publishing and master royalties. For more on streaming royalty data and rights ownership, see the Spotify artist page spotify.com.
Thriller in Public Records, Charts, and Industry Rankings
Certifications, Sales Data, and Chart Performance
Thriller is certified by the RIAA as the best-selling album of all time in the United States, with multi-platinum and diamond certifications based on verified sales and equivalent units. The title track Thriller has been certified separately as a multi-platinum single, with streaming and sales data reported by the RIAA and Billboard. Billboard chart archives show Thriller's performance on the Hot 100 and other charts, with the album and singles maintaining long-term chart presence due to continued streaming and