HITS 5/24: Taylor #1 350k ; Billie #2 300k+

[avamaxstan]

That user who doesn’t grasp the definition of “decline” no matter how many times it’s explained

[Envoirment]

Mariah sums up this thread quite nicely.



Sorry couldn't resist bring up this underrated song.

[musiclife]

May 22, 2024 15:03:27 GMT -5 HEADOFTHEPACK said:

GANG ASSAULT lmao. Lighten up. We're talking about pop albums. And you even missed my joke.

Trust me I'm not phased in the slightest bit. Lol I'm not the one bringing up rule breaking. I'm just saying that if me posting 3 times isn't the end of the world so you missed mine too. Lol

[awkwardowl]

Does Taylor released something like "meet the o'connels" or is it all just because of cancelled Billie's #1 debut? Billie's album sounds better than TTPD (and Midnights too) but Swift actually doesn't need to hate Eilish or other women to get another week in bb200 with album that debuted only one month ago and beat a bunch of records on that way.

[musiclife]

May 22, 2024 15:34:54 GMT -5 awkwardowl said:

Does Taylor released something like "meet the o'connels" or is it all just because of cancelled Billie's #1 debut? Billie's album sounds better than TTPD (and Midnights too) but Swift actually doesn't need to hate Eilish or other women to get another week in bb200 with album that debuted only one month ago and beat a bunch of records on that way.

A bunch of pressed girls upset Billie isnt going #1 that's all. Teehehehe

[HEADOFTHEPACK]

May 22, 2024 15:05:10 GMT -5 avamaxstan said:

That user who doesn’t grasp the definition of “decline” no matter how many times it’s explained

Omg this reminds me of when somebody was insisting that postponed meant canceled a few weeks back. I don't remember who but I remember big loling.

[Juan Carlos]

Never forget. 🤫

Mar 23, 2024 9:38:38 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

Mar 23, 2024 9:25:48 GMT -5 leonagwen said:

Postponed means canceled

Lmao no it does not.

Postponed: cause or arrange for (something) to take place at a time later than that first scheduled.

[Choco]

May 22, 2024 13:57:43 GMT -5 👑 Eloquent ™ said:

May 22, 2024 13:45:09 GMT -5 Choco said:

she wouldn't be where she is today. Probably closer to Katy Perry, actually.

I agree with most of what you said, but this is quite a reach. lol You're underestimating just how loyal her core fanbase is, especially compared to Katy, who doesn't really have much of one.

All of that aside I hope Taylor just stops chasing commerical success. She has nothing left to prove and her legacy is cemented at this point. I know she won't, but I wish she would. 😂

Yeah, I don't expect her to ever approach Smile levels. Between her legacy country audience that will always be buying albums, the 10+ years of domination and the sheer size of the Swiftie fanbase.

But in terms of overall relevancy, probably close to what Katy gets (still gets some buzz here and there on social media but it doesn't translate to meaningful numbers) or similar to legacy acts that open really well before cratering because they just kinda cater to a core fanbase.

"Decline", "flop", "underperformance" for her will still mean, usually, above average for anyone else. Her numbers are way too high to evaporize completely. By the time "The Man" wrapped it's disastrous radio/single run, it was clear she wasn't 1989 levels of dominance anymore and usually that means slow, gradual decline from there on. Come the pandemic and the folklore forest and... her current astounding rebound, repeak and dominance starts there.

[thegreatdivine]

May 22, 2024 15:03:27 GMT -5 HEADOFTHEPACK said:

GANG ASSAULT lmao. Lighten up. We're talking about pop albums. And you even missed my joke.

You can always trust a Swiftie to pull out the victim card when everything else fails lmao. 

[sayhey]

Ok, so just randomly read about this whole situation on HuffPost and came here for the details. Apparently, several media outlets have picked up this story and are painting Taylor unfavorably.

While Taylor has every right to release 10 digital versions of her album or anything she wants really and while we can't definitively prove her intentions behind doing so, I'd say that this particular promotional stunt is a bit transparent. No one issues multiple digital re-releases in their 5th week, such tactics are exclusively reserved for opening weeks to boost debut sales. Considering Billie's releasing her comeback album in this particular 5th week, and also taking into account her vinyl comments that have been interpreted as "shady" towards Taylor by some, this whole affair does seem a little suspicious.

I'm a fan of both artists and I really couldn't care less about "stan culture". So I cringe at the idea of "taking sides" when such "drama" occurs. What I will say, however, is that it's unfortunate how chart manipulation has skyrocketed in recent years. Artists with strong fanbases constantly find new ways to manipulate their followers commercially. While this has always existed to an extent, I feel like social media has really exacerbated this phenomenon, rendering the charts unrepresentative of what's actually popular. At the end of the day, music is all about uplifting and entertaining us, which is what the charts should technically reflect and not the myriad of manipulations routinely employed in the industry. And I'm not singling out any particular artist here, this is unfortunately a widespread trend.

In terms of this particular case, I feel like Taylor is in her absolute prime and peak right now. Does she really need a 5th week at #1, especially when she'd likely return to the top even if Billie debuted at #1? That's for her to decide, really, but I personally think it is a bit excessive. And given Taylor is a self-proclaimed champion for females in the music industry, it does sadden me that she'd employ such a tactic when a prominent, relatively new female artist releases her new record. Imagine if Madonna did such a thing to Britney Spears in 1999-2000 lol!

Aside from all this discussion though, I think both Taylor and Billie are wonderful and I'd like to see both succeed. It's nice seeing females who are passionate about their music and creatively involved in its production succeed. That's why I'm personally hoping that Billie hits #1 this week and that in the future Taylor refrains from utilizing such tactics, I feel like she's established enough to know better, really.

[👑 Eloquent ™]

Ngl I am kinda hoping Billie somehow edges out the win. The album is so damn good. Even if it doesn't debut at #1, it's so good I could see it rising to repeak there later easily. Billie serving us her Melodrama was not on my bingo card for 2024, but sweetly here we are.

[Grün]

May 22, 2024 11:14:48 GMT -5 thegreatdivine said:

You criticize Taylor Swift for a few questionable choices and her stans come running, painting her as some sort of victim. Never fails.

Seems like you spent like 12 pages constantly spewing negative stuff about Taylor... Maybe you're part of the problem?

At the end of the day one is a billionaire and the other a millionaire. Think they both will be just fine.

[Coco Yu'Kneek- Saint]

"gang assault by posting"

The dramatics.

Luckily for this thread which is at the apex of a veteran troll to come in and blow it up,i don't care about Taylor or Billie.

Taylor milking her fans for their coins is fine cause they wanna spend it then I ain't feel sorry for them . Release fifteen different projects for all I care! My coins?!!! You ain't even getting ONE PASSIVE STREAM FROM ME DARLING.

I'm curious about Billie English so I will give her a spin to see what her project is all about. Her fans, and her seem be consummate professionals and handle themselves well!

[ificanthaveyou]

lol it’s always the collective of Taylor haters on here that come out of their holes to shade her when even the slightest slip-up happens. This time it wasn’t even a slip-up, it was her being a big meanie to the poor little 22 year old millionaire.

Just say that you dislike Taylor instead of coming up with 101 different reasons to complain about her choices 😂 her release strategy and promo tactics are not new by any means, and are not exclusive to her. I can name a handful of other artists that are just as hungry for chart success. The only difference is their remixes or alt versions wouldn’t even make a big enough dent in the charts to warrant it in the first place. Taylor gets all the heat because her promo actually works.

Poor Billie though, glad she doesn’t care about numbers or chart placements.

*Some* of y’all are truly worse than Twitter trolls.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

I love how discussion is “complaining” when it involves your fav.

[andrebra]

Like I mean this in the most genuine way, all you relentless Taylor defenders are going to be the part of the reason that people start to alienate themselves and get the ick from her. If the chart manipulation and overexposure aren’t the turnoffs, the blatantly rude and immature fans will sure do it.

[dremolus - solarpunk]

http://instagram.com/p/C7S50H5tfxr

[Choco]

lol it’s always the collective of Taylor stans on here that come out of their holes to shade anyone who dares to even speak against her when even the slightest slip-up happens. This time it wasn’t even a slip-up, it was her accidentally dropping 60 more versions of her album.

Just say that you dislike people who don't kiss Taylor's ass 24/7 instead of coming up with 101 different reasons to complain about their posts 😂 her release strategy and promo tactics are not new by any means, and are not exclusive to her. I can name a handful of other artists that are just as hungry for chart success. The only difference is their remixes or alt versions wouldn’t even make a big enough dent in the charts to warrant it in the first place. Taylor gets all the heat because she's the biggest offender and the only one who moves enough copies to actually game the charts in a meaningful way every single time.

Poor Billie though, glad she doesn’t care about numbers or chart placements.

*Some* of y’all are truly worse than Twitter trolls.

[ificanthaveyou]

May 22, 2024 22:48:50 GMT -5 Choco said:

lol it’s always the collective of Taylor stans on here that come out of their holes to shade anyone who dares to even speak against her when even the slightest slip-up happens. This time it wasn’t even a slip-up, it was her accidentally dropping 60 more versions of her album.

Just say that you dislike people who don't kiss Taylor's ass 24/7 instead of coming up with 101 different reasons to complain about their posts 😂 her release strategy and promo tactics are not new by any means, and are not exclusive to her. I can name a handful of other artists that are just as hungry for chart success. The only difference is their remixes or alt versions wouldn’t even make a big enough dent in the charts to warrant it in the first place. Taylor gets all the heat because she's the biggest offender and the only one who moves enough copies to actually game the charts in a meaningful way every single time.

Poor Billie though, glad she doesn’t care about numbers or chart placements.

*Some* of y’all are truly worse than Twitter trolls.

lol cute! At least you came forward without me having to @ you 😂 you are definitely one of the members I was implying.

And like someone else said, love that you resort to hyperbole to whine about Taylor. lol 60 more versions would probably sell another million copies in a week!

[Choco]

lol please do not complain about hyperbole. Criticism here has been called gang assault. You say people need to complain for 101 different reasons, most people here are saying the same single reason to not worship her on this particular issue.

Also my comments aren't coming from a place of hate. She's probably my favorite artist of all time. I'm just not blinded enough to think every single decision she makes is correct. Nor do I think the variant game is good for fans ultimately, since all it does is screw people out of more money, sometimes for negligible rewards like a voice memo.

Ultimately also feel free to tag me on any posts, I do not know or care about you. And please do hurry up an get those discounted mp3s of Fortnight before the tracking week is over ♡ or else her career is over!!! (Or so these shenanigans her team is pulling would make you believe).

[Az Paynter]

I lol at the thought that everyone who dares speak ill of Taylor MUST be a troll. Like... do you hear yourself? Some of us are casual fans that do like her but are well within our rights to call her out on her shit. That does NOT make us trolls. The cognitive dissonance.

[Hefty Hanna]

The most confusing part of this thread for me is that both women seem to be doing the exact same thing to their fans with the countless versions of their respective albums being released. I don’t understand how one is better than the other for it.

I think they should both just stop now. I do not care about vinyl variations at all - I actually love them - but the “sped up version of the album” and the “here is a random voice memo for this song version of the album” is a bit ridiculous.

I think Taylor pulling out all the stops for yet another week at the top is extra, and for somebody that doesn’t care whether or not she goes #1 Billie seems to be doing the most. Part of my respects the game, but the other part of me thinks enough is enough - just let the music speak for itself. They’re both great albums.

[Choco]

Honestly would have respected Billie more if she didn't drop multiple versions midweek as well. She's not really beating Taylor at that game regardless.

[suburbandreams]

Billie is the one dropping multiple extra versions of her album to get the #1. Taylor's extra pure sales are going from cds and vinyl she sold weeks ago that were always going to be shipped out either this week or next.

TTPD is outstreaming Hit Me Hard And Slow fair and square. With no pure sales from stans, TTPD would have the #1.

[musiclife]

May 22, 2024 21:36:02 GMT -5 ificanthaveyou said:

lol it’s always the collective of Taylor haters on here that come out of their holes to shade her when even the slightest slip-up happens. This time it wasn’t even a slip-up, it was her being a big meanie to the poor little 22 year old millionaire.

Just say that you dislike Taylor instead of coming up with 101 different reasons to complain about her choices 😂 her release strategy and promo tactics are not new by any means, and are not exclusive to her. I can name a handful of other artists that are just as hungry for chart success. The only difference is their remixes or alt versions wouldn’t even make a big enough dent in the charts to warrant it in the first place. Taylor gets all the heat because her promo actually works.

Poor Billie though, glad she doesn’t care about numbers or chart placements.

*Some* of y’all are truly worse than Twitter trolls.

This.

May 22, 2024 23:30:51 GMT -5 suburbandreams said:

Billie is the one dropping multiple extra versions of her album to get the #1. Taylor's extra pure sales are going from cds and vinyl she sold weeks ago that were always going to be shipped out either this week or next.

TTPD is outstreaming Hit Me Hard And Slow fair and square. With no pure sales from stans, TTPD would have the #1.

All of this cause Billie has like 20 varients too. Let's not forget the HMHAS Green Poster Fan Pack! I hope that poster is climate friendly. Can't wait for the dirt based water bottle CD version, the air purifier that plays the album as it cleans your air varient, and the special roomba edition that sings HMHAS while youre not home and cleans your house. She's a huge environmentalist, but hates whales? Lol At the end of the day it's just an excuse to hate on Taylor and her varients, but Billie has had "16" varients already, I literally just counted them all, and people try and defend it cause it isn't Taylor. The haters are just as hypocritical as Billie.

[wavey.]

"GANG ASSAULT"?!😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[dremolus - solarpunk]

I know it's super hot right now but I think the yapping Swifties here could afford to buy some leather this season so they could get some thicker skin.

[musiclife]

May 23, 2024 0:42:25 GMT -5 dremolus - solarpunk said:

I know it's super hot right now but I think the yapping Swifties here could afford to buy some leather this season so they could get some thicker skin.

Or the haters can go ahead and buy the 2 other varients Billie just dropped on her website!! A slow version and a fast version. The irony is so weird... how will this move be defended here? I know Taylor will still be the bitch somehow.

PS Billie just discounted her *NEW* album on iTunes to 4.99 lol she's desperate.

[dremolus - solarpunk]

May 23, 2024 0:44:17 GMT -5 musiclife said:

May 23, 2024 0:42:25 GMT -5 dremolus - solarpunk said:

I know it's super hot right now but I think the yapping Swifties here could afford to buy some leather this season so they could get some thicker skin.

Or the haters can go ahead and buy the 2 other varients Billie just dropped on her website!! A slow version and a fast version. The irony is so weird... how will this move be defended here? I know Taylor will still be the bitch somehow.

PS Billie just discounted her *NEW* album on iTunes to 4.99 lol she's desperate.

The fact you immediately came at me for a snide says more about you than me.

I'm begging that you go outside and reacquaint with grass. A normal person  shouldn't be on Pulse for this many hours in a day.

[musiclife]

May 23, 2024 1:06:13 GMT -5 dremolus - solarpunk said:

May 23, 2024 0:44:17 GMT -5 musiclife said:

Or the haters can go ahead and buy the 2 other varients Billie just dropped on her website!! A slow version and a fast version. The irony is so weird... how will this move be defended here? I know Taylor will still be the bitch somehow.

PS Billie just discounted her *NEW* album on iTunes to 4.99 lol she's desperate.

The fact you immediately came at me for a snide says more about you than me.

I'm begging that you go outside and reacquaint with grass. A normal person  shouldn't be on Pulse for this many hours in a day.

You started the snide first. Guess you should buy the thicker skin before coming at others.