Michael Jackson fans are individuals who admire and support the work of American singer, songwriter, and dancer Michael Jackson. They are sometimes referred to as Moonwalkers (or Soldiers of Love). Michael Jackson's fanbase is one of the largest in the world, with numerous media outlets reporting that he reached billions of fans over his four-decade career.
Jackson was one of the first artists to redefine the relationship between artists and fans by forming a strong bond with his devoted fan base. Through personal interactions, charitable gestures, and consideration of their interests, Jackson cultivated loyalty among his fans. Despite facing intense media scrutiny, including the 1993 child sexual abuse allegations and subsequent 2005 trial, his fans continued to support him throughout his career. The fan community has contributed to preserving Jackson's legacy, promoting his music, and supporting charitable initiatives inspired by his philanthropic work.
History Jacksonmania During the 1970s when Michael was a member of the Jackson 5, he and his brothers would embark on worldwide tours, performing in front of millions of fans while recording hits at a rapid pace during Jacksonmania. Adulation from fans young and old, male and female, black and white, would become par for the course. Jacksonmania would reach a fever pitch around 1984, which saw three generations gather in front of a TV set in many households to watch the Thriller music video.Jackson Mania. The Washington Post In 1987, Jackson released the album Bad which ended up selling 18 million copies in the first year That same year, the Bad World Tour began and ended up setting the record at the time for highest-grossing concert, and Jackson ended the decade with over 110 million records sold.
In 1991, the Black or White music video debuted to over 500 million fans worldwide on Fox, following that every music video from the album Dangerous received a worldwide TV premiere. In 1992, The Jacksons: An American Dream premiered on ABC averaging 36-38 million viewers across 2 episodes. In 1993, Jackson performed at halftime during Super Bowl XXVII, and the broadcast was seen by a record 133 million viewers in the United States and an estimated 1.3 billion viewers worldwide. That same year, Jackson had numerous broadcasts in which including a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey which was watched by 90 million viewers. Jacksonmania experienced a resurrection days after his death on June 25, 2009. Within the weeks that followed his death, as he would go on to sell 35 million records worldwide and by June 2010, he had sold over 70 million records. In the United States alone, he sold 48 million records in the 10 years since his death with over 117 million worldwide.
Reaction to child sexual abuse allegations against Jackson Reaction to first child sexual abuse allegations
Despite the negative attitude of the media, the public still supported Jackson. A phone-in poll conducted by A Current Affair—known for its unfavorable coverage of the allegations—found that more than 80 percent of callers did not believe the Chandlers.Campbell, pp. 63–64 A poll of teenagers—Jackson's central fan base at the time—also reported that 75 percent did not believe the allegations; this rose to nearly 90 percent amongst African-American teenagers. Two-thirds of children between the ages of 13 and 15—the approximate age of Jordan Chandler at the time—believed he was innocent. A poll conducted by Entertainment Weekly showed that only 12 percent of adults believed the allegations, and only eight percent of respondents indicated that they were less likely to buy a product endorsed by the entertainer. The same poll also concluded that public opinion of Jackson had risen since the allegations, with Jackson's records selling at a faster rate.Campbell, pp. 71-73
Reaction to second sexual abuse allegations
Fans continued to support Jackson in the 2005 trial. Fans unfavorably felt about the media coverage of the case accusing it of being biased, demonizing Jackson and jeopardizing his chances for a fair trial. They came in throngs from all over the world to gather outside the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria during jury selection holding signs of support. Some continued to show their support when Jackson was hospitalized with flu, gathering outside the Marian Medical Center where he was staying. Jackson's fans continued to show their support throughout his trial.
Global fan presence Jackson's influence spans the globe, with active fan communities in numerous countries and territories. This section highlights nations where his legacy remains prominent, through physical visits, tribute events, posthumous honors, mourning, or ongoing fan-driven recognition.
Africa
Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burundi Burkina Faso Cameroon Cape Verde Chad Central Africa Republic Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Ethiopia Eritrea Equatorial Guinea Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea. The theater director Fifi Tamsir Niane also featured a scene in her new play, N’ko farafina, J’ai dit l’humain, in which actors dressed in full-body protective clothing and danced zombielike to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.' At the performance I attended, the audience roared its approval of this scene. Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritius Mauritania Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe
Asia
Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Cyprus Georgia India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Myanmar Mongolia Nepal Oman Pakistan Philippines Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Timor-Leste Thailand Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen
Dependencies and territories
Andorra Aruba Bermuda Curaçao Cayman Islands Georgia Gibraltar Guadeloupe Guernsey Holy See Hong Kong Isle of Man Kosovo Macau Martinique Mayotta Monaco New Caledonia Niue Reunion San Marino Sint Maarten Solomon Islands Taiwan Tristen De Cunha
Europe
Albania Armenia Austria Belgium Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Ireland Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Spain Sweden Switzerland Slovenia Ukraine United KingdomCampbell 1993, p. 216.
North America
Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Puerto Rico Trinidad and Tobago St Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Oceania
Australia Fiji French Polynesia Guam Marshall Islands Micronesia New Zealand Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Vanuatu
South America
Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador French Guinea Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Global Fandom Reach - 200+ Countries
List of active Michael Jackson fan club websites
The following is a list of notable active Michael Jackson fan club websites from around the world. These clubs maintain dedicated online platforms that provide news, archives, forums, and organize fan activities to celebrate and preserve the legacy of Michael Jackson.
International/English-language MJ Vibe – One of the largest modern Michael Jackson fan hubs, featuring news, products, interviews, and home of "Iconic" magazine and King of Shop. MJ Vibe is often mentioned in news articles like in Forbes MJJCommunity – Global Michael Jackson fan forum and community active since the early 2000s. Michael Jackson World Network (MJWN) – The UK's official long-running fan club offering news, competitions, and tributes.
France MJFrance – The largest French Michael Jackson fan club website, established in the 1990s, offering extensive archives and interviews.
Switzerland Jackson.ch – Switzerland's primary Michael Jackson fan site, providing German-language news, event reports, and tributes.
Ireland MJJStreet – Ireland-based fan site with a focus on news, advocacy against tabloid stories, and fan activism.
Germany MJUpbeat – A prominent German Michael Jackson fan club website providing news updates and fan resources. MJFS (Michael Jackson Fan Square) – German-language site offering local MJ news, discussions, and media archives.
Netherlands The Magical Child (TMC) – Dutch Michael Jackson fan club with international membership and a long-standing online presence.
Belgium The Living Legend – Belgian fan club dedicated to preserving Michael Jackson's legacy, with European event involvement.
Australia MJ50 – Australian-based fan community focusing on celebrating Michael Jackson's music and history.
Spain Michael Jackson HideOut – The largest Spanish-speaking fan community with active forums and event discussions.
Poland MJStreetLegends – Leading Polish Michael Jackson fan site with translations, event coverage, and community projects.
Michael Jackson fan magazines
Fans have actively produced magazines dedicated to Michael Jackson since the early 1990s. These publications have documented his music, humanitarian work, and influence on popular culture, often featuring exclusive interviews, photographs, and fan art. Below is a list of notable fan magazines, including their countries of publication, publication spans, and references from independent catalogues, commercial archives, or ISBN/ISSN records.
Magazine Country Issues Years France/Germany 33 1992–2001 (+2009) French edition: German edition: King! Magazine UK 24 1994–2002 Iconic Magazine UK 24 2010–2017 Off the Wall Magazine UK 28 1993–2005 MJ Backstage Belgium 32 1995–2020 On the Line Magazine UK 2 early 2000s Jackson Magazine Netherlands ~19 2001–2019 MJJ Magazine UK 14 2012–2015 Invincible Magazine France 11 2014–2016 JAM Magazine France 2 2019
Michael Jackson podcasts
Several podcasts focus on Michael Jackson's life, music, and legacy. Notable examples include:
The MJ Cast – A podcast dedicated to all things Michael Jackson, including music, news, and fan discussions. The Big MJ Debate – A podcast packed with controversial and hilarious debates among Michael Jackson Fans, hosted by Pez Jax and Charlotte McLachlan. Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall – Podcast covering Michael Jackson's early career and artistic evolution. The King of Pop Podcast – Focuses on Michael Jackson's musical impact and fan stories. Thriller Night with Robby – Discussions and stories about Michael Jackson's Thriller era and beyond. Michael Jackson On the Beat – Covers MJ's music production and legacy. Moonwalker Podcast – In-depth episodes focusing on MJ's career highlights and cultural influence.
Reaction to Jackson's death