I came across an interesting article on www.billboard.com that discussed his popularity and sales across the globe. For avid MJ FAN’s I thought I should share it. BofMJ readers tell me what you think?

Read the Rest: Brazil, Japan, China, South Africa: Click Here

INDIA

For many people in India — a market where international repertoire accounts for just 5% of physical music sales — Michael Jackson is Western pop.

Alone among Western artists, his popularity isn’t confined to English-speaking urban Indians. Among the country’s rural youth his celebrity competes with Bollywood stars for one reason: his trademark dance moves.

“Anybody who dances well is compared with Michael Jackson,” says Nikhil Gangavane, who founded India’s official, 13,000-member Jackson fan club. “The moonwalk made Michael reach from the classes to the masses in India.”

The way Bollywood appropriated Jackson’s moves and style connected with Indian fans. “Actors, established choreographers, aspiring composers, kids in dance shows—everybody borrowed ideas,” says British-born hip-hop star Hard Kaur, now a Bollywood star.

Indian actors, from Javed Jaffrey to Hrithik Roshan, say they were inspired by Jackson’s dancing. And the southern Indian movie industry still uses Jackson-esque routines, thanks to the influence of dancers and choreographers like Prabhu Deva, known as “India’s Michael Jackson” for his lightning-fast moves.

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Tagged as: Articles, Country India, king of pop, sales, travel

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