Billboard announces new chart rules: No more merch & ticket bundles

[BUtterfield 8 25,860]

Under the new rules, which will be implemented at a start date to be announced, all albums bundled with either merchandise or concert tickets must be promoted as an add-on to those purchases in order to be counted on the charts. Those included as part of a baked-in, single-price option (along with the merchandise or ticket), with the album cost undisclosed to the consumer, will no longer be counted. It is Billboard’s belief that the resulting charts will more accurately reflect consumer choice.

In addition, Billboard will no longer allow sales of physical albums or singles that are bundled with digital downloads to be reported as digital sales, thereby eliminating the practice of “spontaneous” non-manufactured items being used to influence first-week chart rankings. Only when the physical item -- ostensibly what the consumer is buying -- is shipped, will it be counted in Billboard’s official tallies.

The practice of selling vinyl, CDs and other physical releases that won’t be manufactured and shipped to consumers for weeks or months -- while offering a digital download that can be redeemed instantly -- has become widespread as of late, with artists including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and 6ix9ine all recently using the tactic to boost their chart positions. The latest rule changes will render that tactic ineffectual.

Edited July 13, 2020 by Blue Lagoon

[Justin Drew Bieber 16,908]

Sorry Katy 

[Babel 39,606]

It doesn’t make sense to me. The album apparently would come as a gift for buying the concert ticket, it’s still fraudulent imo. 

[FATCAT 50,627]

If labels knew this was happening early it might explain why the CB was left up in the air for so long. If it's just delayed then they can still get those sweet sweet album bundle deals locked in.

[Leoj305 1,923]

6 minutes ago, Heracross said:

Sorry Katy 

Isn’t she dropping in august ? 

[weed 44,806]

what about merch? so many shirts and etc come w the album, but I guess if they offer without the album that is the choice?

[derpmonster 22,411]

4 minutes ago, Leoj305 said:

Isn’t she dropping in august ? 

There's no way she'd announce dates before October 2 tho

[Evan30Murphy 29]

Completely agree with this

[mr.peter 2,994]

18 minutes ago, weed said:

what about merch? so many shirts and etc come w the album, but I guess if they offer without the album that is the choice?

Thats why they have the rule, that the merch must be available to purchased w/o the album in order to count

[BUtterfield 8 25,860]

 

[Hyperballad 4,012]

at least we got Chromatica before this 

[PopEmergency 1,204]

was hoping for @ProjectJoanne to get that next album to BB#1 with forced JockStrap bundles 

[buzzkill 3,737]

Well, the sales number will decrease soooooo much  

[buzzkill 3,737]

1 hour ago, derpmonster said:

There's no way she'd announce dates before October 2 tho

But i think the show doesnt have to be due oct 2, only the sale has to happen before oct 2, isnt it?

[DC 25,164]

4 minutes ago, PopEmergency said:

was hoping for @ProjectJoanne to get that next album to BB#1 with forced JockStrap bundles 

There was something wrong with the shipments so everything had to be canceled, just like Earth