Minecraft is more popular overall today. It has massive active player numbers and sales, while Michael Jackson is still one of the most famous music artists ever, but his popularity is more legacy-based than daily, ongoing usage.

Why Minecraft wins

  • Minecraft has over 300 million copies sold and about 212 million monthly active users in recent statistics.
  • That means it reaches a huge living audience every month, which is usually the clearest sign of current popularity.

Why Michael Jackson still matters

  • Michael Jackson remains extremely well known, with YouGov showing 98% fame and 67% popularity among surveyed people.
  • He is still one of the most recognizable names in music, but that does not translate into the same kind of ongoing engagement a game gets from active players.

Simple takeaway

Thing| Current popularity
---|---
Minecraft| Higher overall right now 36
Michael Jackson| More iconic historically, still very famous 7

TL;DR: Minecraft is more popular in present-day active reach, while Michael Jackson is more legendary in cultural fame.