Billboard to count limited fans packs/merch bundles towards Billboard 200

[Teletubby 145,159]

Limited combinations of merchandise and physical albums will be counted on Billboard’s album charts starting this summer, but with new rules to prevent the issues that led to the elimination of such “bundles” three years ago. 

The new combinations of merch and albums, dubbed “fan packs,” will allow fans to support their favorite artists on the charts in a way that research suggests that many would like to. However, the packs will be restricted to just two options per album release — a sweatshirt with an LP and a t-shirt with a CD, for example — with the requirement that each individual item must also be sold separately in the same web store.

Fan packs will include only merch — not tickets, meet-and-greet opportunities, virtual items or non-tangible benefits — and they must also contain a physical copy of an album: Combinations of digital downloads and merch will not count towards the charts. 

The new rules allowing fan packs will take effect during the tracking week that runs from June 30 to July 6, 2023, for charts dated July 15.

source

[Chromatography 10,186]

why are they adding this

[AnglerfishbraBENUS 5,734]

Didn’t they just take this away in 2021 or something?

[Teletubby 145,159]

2 minutes ago, AnglerfishbraBENUS said:

Didn’t they just take this away in 2021 or something?

October 2020

[Werewoof 2,461]

I think that’s a fair middle ground, right?

I wonder how this works if artists go beyond those two items restrictions. Do artists in collaboration with billboard then pick which items count and which don’t? 

[AnglerfishbraBENUS 5,734]

19 minutes ago, Teletubby said:

October 2020

sucks for everyone that released since 

[pachinko 10,319]

This is getting complicated 

[Zombiecat 16,051]

So Taylor will remain winning?

[COOOK 76,406]

50 minutes ago, Teletubby said:

will allow fans to support their favorite artists on the charts in a way that research suggests that many would like to.

[HIM820 1,789]

I wish they’d fix the rules for the hot 100 too, because I really liked all the 7” singles that were being released a few years ago.

[bionic 48,501]

so i go to ticketmaster and buy my ticket and they offer a 'fan package' for an extra $50 which is a sweater and a cd and that counts as a sale?

i'm not hugely opposed to that as long as its a paid opt-in thing

[AsleepOnTheCeiling 6,201]

Don't understand it. Some label/artist probably pushed for it. But why would this make sense? It still feels like fans can buy chart positions without much issue and now they're making it easier. 

[RAMROD 107,702]

4 hours ago, bionic said:

so i go to ticketmaster and buy my ticket and they offer a 'fan package' for an extra $50 which is a sweater and a cd and that counts as a sale?

i'm not hugely opposed to that as long as its a paid opt-in thing

Not it won't, only bundles sold on artists official website will be counted.

[ThisGuyTony 29,615]

LG7 coming after June 30th confirmed

[bionic 48,501]

6 hours ago, RAMROD said:

Not it won't, only bundles sold on artists official website will be counted.

so basically like any other cd then