Popscores started to monitor Michael Jackson in June 2008. His scores with music consumers were what you would expect from a deeply troubled iconic artist – he had a mediocre Popscore of 20 made up of Dislikes of 31%, Positives of 41% and Love of just 10%.

With Michael Jackson turning fifty, news reports about impending bankruptcy and then the announcement of the O2 gigs in London early this year, the British public started to feel the passion again for the artist. His Negative scores declined markedly (to 27%), his Purchase Propensity climbed from 6 to 10% which put him in the same company as Leona Lewis, Robbie Williams and Girls Aloud and his Love score rose by 40% to 14%. In other words, he transformed into an artist with serious sales potential in the UK.

In terms of familiarity, Michael Jackson belongs to the exclusive 99% club; only a very few artists manage to score an informed awareness of that level. It means that effectively the entire UK population of 13-59 year olds has an opinion of Michael Jackson. Only Robbie Williams, Madonna, Spice Girls and Kylie Minogue have recently achieved scores like this

Even more interesting is the company he is in when looking at artists with the most informed awareness amongst teenagers. Michael Jackson is certainly the only 50 year old artist who is still very well known by Teens. The somewhat older Beatles score 86% informed awareness and Bruce Springsteen only 59%.

Top 10 Most Familiar Artists Amongst Teens

What is particularly amazing is where the passion for Michael Jackson comes from. It’s not 40 year old females as one might expect given the heritage factor; no it comes from females 13-29 (16% love) and males 20-29 (19%). Indeed, amongst the latter demographic he is the 6th most popular artist by Purchase Propensity and is only beaten by Oasis, Kings of Leon, The Killers, RHCP and Coldplay.

Michael Jackson was undoubtedly on his way to reclaim his throne as the King of Pop in the UK. Next month we will find out the extent to which his death influences the emotional connection of the nation with him.