AC/DC Music Sales/Streams Spike In Wake Of Malcolm Young’s Passing
As is so often, sadly, the case, death has been good for AC/DC on the charts in the wake of co-founder Malcolm Young‘s passing on November 17.
Sales of the group’s classic 1980 album Back In Black are up 85 percent, bringing it back to Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums, Top Rock Albums and Billboard 200 charts. Meanwhile, six of the group’s songs show up on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs this week, with 1990’s “Thunderstruck” leading the way at No. 6 with 6,000 downloads (a 73 percent increase) and 4.1 million streams in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music.
It also ranks No. 9 on the Rock Streaming Songs chart. Also hitting the Hot Rock Songs survey are “Back In Black,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Highway To Hell,” “T.N.T.” and “Hell’s Bells,” all in the Top 25.
Young, who was 64 and had been battling dementia for several years, was buried Tuesday (November 28) after a funeral service in Sydney.
Gary Graff is an award-winning music journalist who not only covers music but has written books on Bob Seger, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen.
