Rare television premieres, such as the original 1983 MTV world premiere of the Thriller music video, which transformed the medium into a serious art form.
The Digital Preservation of Pop Royalty: Michael Jackson’s Thriller on the Internet Archive michael jackson thriller album internet archive
After the success of Off the Wall (1979), Michael Jackson was determined to create an album where "every song was a killer". Reunited with legendary producer Quincy Jones, Jackson approached Thriller with unprecedented ambition. Recording sessions took place between April and November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The result was a that seamlessly blended pop, post-disco, funk, rock, and R&B, expanding the blueprint laid down by its predecessor. Rare television premieres, such as the original 1983
The Internet Archive ensures that the context, aesthetics, and cultural impact of Thriller remain accessible to future generations, keeping the legacy of the King of Pop alive. If you are researching a specific aspect of this album, Recording sessions took place between April and November
In recent years, the Archive has faced legal challenges from major book publishers and the music industry regarding copyright issues. In 2023, four major publishers successfully sued the Archive, forcing the removal of copyrighted books from its digital lending library. Then, the over the Archive's "Great 78 Project," a preservation initiative that digitizes fragile 78-rpm shellac records from 70 to 120 years ago. Brewster Kahle responded: "When people want to listen to music they go to Spotify. When people want to study 78rpm sound recordings as they were originally created, they go to libraries like the Internet Archive". In September 2025, the parties reached a confidential settlement, though the case highlighted ongoing tensions between digital preservation and commercial interests.