WELLINGTON’S Real Groovy has sold out of Michael Jackson albums and merchandise – down to the last collection of badges.

After the artist’s sudden death last Friday, there has “definitely been a rush on”, says Scotty Hanson, an employee at Real Groovy records on Cuba St.

“Most of his stuff has gone; the vinyl all went. On Sunday a lady even bought all the badges we had.”

The hype seems to surround only Michael Jackson’s solo releases. The store still has a few copies of Jackson Five albums left.

“We got a couple of [second-hand] albums in yesterday but they went pretty fast,” says Mr Hanson.

He says Sony, which recorded Michael Jackson’s recent albums, is out of stock, and all stock is on back order. “We’re buggered, we can’t get it.”

The store is trying to get more stock, and is attempting to get more than it would usually carry.

Record labels have been quick to respond to the artist’s death.

Mo Town has announced plans to release a “best of” his early recordings with the label.

“They’re jumping on the bandwagon straight away,” Mr Hanson says.

“Sony hasn’t announced anything yet, but the guy hasn’t had a new release since 2001.”

It is not uncommon for record sales to spike when an artist passes away, “when [Kurt] Cobain died sales went through the roof, particularly…when someone massive dies like that”.

Slow Boat Records, also on Cuba St, had one Michael Jackson album left late yesterday.

Slow Boat, a more boutique record store, isn’t as worried about stock. “It’s just a phase – it’ll be gone in a month,” says Slow Boat staff member Eve Benson.