HITS 8/30: Sabrina Carpenter 362k, Travis Scott 361k

[fridayteenage]

Those numbers were already shared yesterday, yet report remains delayed

[theycallmedualian]

Sept 2, 2024 14:14:13 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

Sept 2, 2024 14:09:32 GMT -5 theycallmedualian said:

Ok so I see that comment to you must’ve got you real butthurt & you’ve been thinking about it since.

I’m literally laughing my ass off rn that my predictions have come to fruition and now mayman & recordyear instigated something a lot of people wish they hadn’t instigated 😁

Nobody actually cares about your “predictions” and the second hand embarrassment I’m getting from you is making me ill. If you won’t stop for anyone else, at least have the self-respect to do it for yourself 😂😂😭😭

Daddy’s still not impressed. You’re gonna have to try harder still.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Sept 2, 2024 14:42:32 GMT -5 theycallmedualian said:

Sept 2, 2024 14:14:13 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

Nobody actually cares about your “predictions” and the second hand embarrassment I’m getting from you is making me ill. If you won’t stop for anyone else, at least have the self-respect to do it for yourself 😂😂😭😭

Daddy’s still not impressed. You’re gonna have to try harder still.

Yass keep begging for my validation 🤩

[Juan Carlos]

Sept 2, 2024 13:30:07 GMT -5 theycallmedualian said:

Ok I’ll stop

Four posts later, it seems that you didn't do that. Sigh!

And, regarding your question, because it seems really important to you, I'm going to ask you the following: If someone tells you to jump off a cliff, would you do that? People can tell you a lot of things to do, but it's up to you to pick the right one because everyone is smart and could decide on their own.

That said, enjoy your four weeks out of the forum, relax and take a deep breath because you need it, dude.

[Coco Yu'Kneek- Saint]

:) wow seems like im the best at predicting!

Coco said.."
I would be very upset at this gross mischaracterization of my sweet innocent humor and wit as venom but I need not worry as judging by your timeline you won't be around for long:"

[Push The Button]

Sept 2, 2024 14:50:20 GMT -5 Juan Carlos said:

Sept 2, 2024 13:30:07 GMT -5 theycallmedualian said:

Ok I’ll stop

Four posts later, it seems that you didn't do that. Sigh!

And, regarding your question, because it seems really important to you, I'm going to ask you the following: If someone tells you to jump off a cliff, would you do that? People can tell you a lot of things to do, but it's up to you to pick the right one because everyone is smart and could decide on their own.

That said, enjoy your four weeks out of the forum, relax and take a deep breath because you need it, dude.

King of my bussy.

[jdanton2]

looks like that album numbers posted is not the full update.

[jenglisbe]

Sept 2, 2024 16:16:58 GMT -5 jdanton2 said:

looks like that album numbers posted is not the full update.

Wait, how would Travis have that high of a total without iTunes?

[musiclife]

Idk how people can support someone who performed as their fans died.. but let me not say anything cause people are too sensitive. My only post on this matter.

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

So...what exactly is the point of this post? You shared your opinion on something, but also don't wanna say anything because people are too sensitive?

[thegreatdivine]

I blame Billboard for all these shenanigans and frankly speaking, it's very embarrassing to watch. Delaying posting your charts because you have to double and triple check numbers due to artists exploiting loopholes you refuse to address will always result in things like this happening. It happened years ago with the bundle loophole and now, this. 

I almost wish Travis ends up going #1 this week just so it magnifies the fact that Billboard's charts are now a joke. There's absolutely no reason why any artist, regardless of how much they can convince their fanbase to mindlessly buy several versions of an album or several remixes to a song, should get to have that be reflected on the charts, especially when a push late in a tracking week is made, proving that they're only pushing more versions of their music to boost their positions on the charts. 

What happened to artists releasing every version of their music in the debut week and letting fans decide how they'll support without pushing new versions every other week to gain favorable chart positions? What happened to letting the organic consumption of music be what's reflected on the charts, as opposed to what any artist with the power to galvanize a small part of their fanbase to panic-buy enough copies of a single/album be what's reflected? F***ing yikes, man. 

Congratulations to whoever ends up going #1 but with every passing year, being a chart watcher becomes less and less fun when you know of all the rubbish being allowed to happen. 

[Az Paynter]

So we'll all be meeting in the HITS thread four weeks from now for a final going-away party, yeah? Because I can't imagine four weeks from now we don't run into the exact same derailment for a different artist on a different day...

Anyway #teamSABRINA

[suburbandreams]

Sept 2, 2024 18:38:03 GMT -5 thegreatdivine said:

I blame Billboard for all these shenanigans and frankly speaking, it's very embarrassing to watch. Delaying posting your charts because you have to double and triple check numbers due to artists exploiting loopholes you refuse to address will always result in things like this happening. It happened years ago with the bundle loophole and now, this. 

I almost wish Travis ends up going #1 this week just so it magnifies the fact that Billboard's charts are now a joke. There's absolutely no reason why any artist, regardless of how much they can convince their fanbase to mindlessly buy several versions of an album or several remixes to a song, should get to have that be reflected on the charts, especially when a push late in a tracking week is made, proving that they're only pushing more versions of their music to boost their positions on the charts. 

What happened to artists releasing every version of their music in the debut week and letting fans decide how they'll support without pushing new versions every other week to gain favorable chart positions? What happened to letting the organic consumption of music be what's reflected on the charts, as opposed to what any artist with the power to galvanize a small part of their fanbase to panic-buy enough copies of a single/album be what's reflected? F***ing yikes, man. 

Congratulations to whoever ends up going #1 but with every passing year, being a chart watcher becomes less and less fun when you know of all the rubbish being allowed to happen. 

Billboard charts are always delayed on holiday weekends. 

variants have been annoying but the billboard charts have always been gamed. there has never been a time where the charts have been "pure" reflecting just organic consumpation.

[seak05]

Sept 2, 2024 18:38:03 GMT -5 thegreatdivine said:

I blame Billboard for all these shenanigans and frankly speaking, it's very embarrassing to watch. Delaying posting your charts because you have to double and triple check numbers due to artists exploiting loopholes you refuse to address will always result in things like this happening. It happened years ago with the bundle loophole and now, this. 

I almost wish Travis ends up going #1 this week just so it magnifies the fact that Billboard's charts are now a joke. There's absolutely no reason why any artist, regardless of how much they can convince their fanbase to mindlessly buy several versions of an album or several remixes to a song, should get to have that be reflected on the charts, especially when a push late in a tracking week is made, proving that they're only pushing more versions of their music to boost their positions on the charts. 

What happened to artists releasing every version of their music in the debut week and letting fans decide how they'll support without pushing new versions every other week to gain favorable chart positions? What happened to letting the organic consumption of music be what's reflected on the charts, as opposed to what any artist with the power to galvanize a small part of their fanbase to panic-buy enough copies of a single/album be what's reflected? F***ing yikes, man. 

Congratulations to whoever ends up going #1 but with every passing year, being a chart watcher becomes less and less fun when you know of all the rubbish being allowed to happen. 

If a fan buys 3 copies, 3 copies were sold. Billboard tracks how many albums were sold, it does not track how many different fans bought the album. If a buy three copies to give to friends for birthday presents are those now not albums sold. You are welcome to not like something, but a sale is a sale. 

[gs]

They literally have bulk-buying rules, so a sale is not a chart-eligible sale, but ok...

[fridayteenage]

so are we getting the finals and the early numbers for this week's top 20 on the same day?

[Baby Yoda Hot100Fan]

^Seems likely. I remember a while ago, HITS also couldn't publish a final chart on Friday and ended up publishing it after the Billboard 200 top 10 article came out.

[musiclife]

Sept 2, 2024 18:13:33 GMT -5 Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ said:

So...what exactly is the point of this post? You shared your opinion on something, but also don't wanna say anything because people are too sensitive?

It means what it means. I'm not gonna argue in circles over what I said so I made it... clear. I'm just saying my thoughts and I moved on as should you.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Calling someone out for saying an artist’s music is trash while also saying “defending the quality of Sabrina Carpenter’s music” doesn’t exactly help your argument.

[Coco Yu'Kneek- Saint]

Music is so subjective and dependent on the individual listener tastes. Do I think Travis music is trash? Nope but I personally find his voice off-putting and I find Sabrina albums amazing so naturally I'm rooting for her but sales is facts so whoever sold more/streamed more deserves the top spot

[Mayman]

Sept 2, 2024 22:50:37 GMT -5 sedrickwilhelm said:

Sept 2, 2024 14:24:17 GMT -5 Khia said:

Ugh, I know Sabrina will get her #1 next week regardless, but that's so disappointing. Trash music from a trash person.

Trash music? Days Before Rodeo? No.

Trash person? Could be depending on how at fault he truly is for the Astroworld incident or not.

And do you like the parts of this song where Beyoncé sings but dislike the parts where it is Travis vocals? Hate the whole song? I'm too curious for my own good..

Just can't tell if you are fully motivated by the Astroworld incident or if you sincerely think his music is "trash." I know when full-on hating on a person it is easy to just go all the way with it and to never clarify for the sake of the hate but you are defending the quality of Sabrina Carpenter's album while calling Days Before Rodeo "trash music" so it just begs the question of what makes it trash. If you are just fully motivated by hating him as a person and just don't care to give his music a chance then that's one thing but you make it sound like his music is trash separately from him being a trash person, when really I feel like you are wholly motivated by him being a trash person. Unless you just hate all hip hop, or all trap, 'newer' type rap music. I guess if you just hate all that type of music you still shouldn't be calling it trash, it just isn't your type of music.

I'm also making the mistake of talking in my very male overly-logical break down type of thing here when I know full well the response will just be a one line insult. Why do I do this to myself? Too curious. I'm sorry.

This post is so silly because who are you to tell someone that you think they only dislike an artist because of how they are as a person. We're on a music forum, I'm sure that user has heard plenty of Travis' music and made their own opinion. Who cares?? What was the point of this? Do you know Khia personally to be able to determine this?

I enjoy Travis' music and he is one of my favorite artists. He's done some terrible things. If anyone thought those things he has done has clouded their view on his music, then that's understandable. Trying to imply that this person hates all of hip hop just because they don't like Travis Scott of all people is incredibly stupid.

[Mayman]

Sept 2, 2024 23:36:19 GMT -5 sedrickwilhelm said:

Sept 2, 2024 23:34:07 GMT -5 Mayman said:

This post is so silly because who are you to tell someone that you think they only dislike an artist because of how they are as a person. We're on a music forum, I'm sure that user has heard plenty of Travis' music and made their own opinion. Who cares?? What was the point of this? Do you know Khia personally to be able to determine this?

I enjoy Travis' music and he is one of my favorite artists. He's done some terrible things. If anyone thought those things he has done has clouded their view on his music, then that's understandable. Trying to imply that this person hates all of hip hop just because they don't like Travis Scott of all people is incredibly stupid.

But I'm not using ad hominem on anyone.... I didn't even really accuse her of not liking hip hop, I asked her if that is the reason, along with asking about a bunch of other reasons. So WHY are you using ad hominem on me. I just don't get it. I'm really not in tune with the mentality of you people.

Your post is incredibly accusatory for someone just stating they don't like one artists music. If they don't like it, then so be it. They don't need to explain why because you in particular do not agree. Don't post all of that and then try to play this card of everyone is against you. 

[Mayman]

Sept 2, 2024 23:44:42 GMT -5 sedrickwilhelm said:

Sept 2, 2024 23:39:32 GMT -5 Mayman said:

Your post is incredibly accusatory for someone just stating they don't like one artists music. If they don't like it, then so be it. They don't need to explain why because you in particular do not agree. Don't post all of that and then try to play this card of everyone is against you. 

No, I think you can not see the difference of accusation and question. I was asking questions, and I'm weird and it was weird for me to do so, so from your perspective you think I MUST be trolling or insulting-through-rhetorical-question or something. But I'm not. I just speak awkwardly. And you react by lashing out at me and calling me stupid every time. I was asking for the reason. I was curious to know if she likes other 'trap' 'newer' rap style music but just specifically dislike's Travis and what causes that - you don't see how I'd be interested in that type of thing? I'm not be accusatory. You just don't get how I'm speaking but I definitely get how you speak every time you pop out and call me stupid. Just STOP. I am not being mean, so stop being mean to me. It really is that simple. Nowhere in my post to Khia am I being mean. NOWHERE. And I was not mean to you yet here you are again calling me stupid.

They don't NEED to explain anything, just like none of us NEED to say anything on this music form. I'm just asking cause I'm curious and, yes, I do disagree and like Travis' music. But that doesn't mean I did all this extra-level insulting accusation crap you are accusing me of.

I get that you are too used to manipulative, insult-through-rhetorical-question, people online and on this site - but you are truly misinterpreting me. I'm sorry that I speak awkwardly but I swear I am not insulting Khia or you or anyone.

Never said you were trolling and it's fine to ask questions but what you were trying to imply in your original post I disagreed with, which is why I responded. Once again, I never called YOU stupid. I said what you were posting was stupid. I have never called you stupid so please stop saying that. 

When you post stuff like "And do you like the parts of this song where Beyoncé sings but dislike the parts where it is Travis vocals? Hate the whole song?" and "when really I feel like you are wholly motivated by him being a trash person" you're going to be called out. 

I'd rather not derail this thread again over stuff this trivial so if you'd like to discuss in DMs I'd be more than willing to. 

[musiclife]

I just hope Sabrina wins. That's all.

[avamaxstan]

It sounds like Travis won just barely, and Billboard is taking extra time to carefully word the press release because it'll be controversial.

[Mayman]

Oh didn't realize that user removed all of their posts and made their status about me. Oh well.

OT:

[Choco]

If it's that close I think Travis probably won. I'm gonna blame Sabrina for the corny ass Nicki tweet.

[areyoureadytojump]

hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=342468&title=SABRINA-VS.-TRAVIS%253A-NO-DECISION-YET

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

SABRINA VS. TRAVIS: NO DECISION YET

The history of the charts is also a history of skullduggery. Back in the bad old days, terms like “bagman,” “free goods” and “boxes of cleans” were bandied about as labels jockeyed for chart advantage in an era of virtually zero transparency. (If you are old enough to remember those terms, we hope you’re remembering to take your fiber supplements.)

Chart manipulation in the present era requires a different set of licit, illicit and semi-licit shenanigans. The difference between cheating and “outside-the-box marketing” often depends on a rather nebulous set of rules.

Which brings us to the wildly contentious and as yet undecided chart battle between Sabrina Carpenter (on Imran Majid and Justin Eshak’s Island) and Travis Scott (on Cactus Jack via Sylvia Rhone and Zeke Lewis’ Epic).

As of this writing, the two titles are separated by a margin of just 1-2k.

Carpenter’s new album, Short n’ Sweet, buoyed by two of the year’s biggest singles, was expected to coast to #1. Then Scott put out a 10-year-old mixtape, DAYS BEFORE RODEO (which originally appeared on SoundCloud), and challenged her for the top spot on the Billboard chart as each approached 350k in their opening frames.

The chart has become so easily manipulated that Travis, manager David Stromberg and Sony (with Darren Stupak running point) battled REPUBLIC CORPS’ Lipman brothers and Jim Roppo all weekend as they awaited indie retail numbers that would give a 10th-inning advantage to one of the combatants.

Exclusive signed digital copies and the late-in-the-week arrival of more vintage Scott material from the vaults were key to Team Travis’ overtime campaign, as quarterback Stromberg and his squad pushed for those crucial points.

Depending on Travis’ final digital-album sales, which hit 300k+ over the weekend, that total could be greater than the rest of the industry’s total digital-album sales for the previous week. All digital sales, incidentally, were priced at $4.99.

The challenges that have prolonged the outcome of this chart battle have come from both protagonists about their opponents’ claims of legitimacy. How much of this bounty will be included in the final tally? Will any be tossed? We have no idea. It’s clear that if this were determined by streaming alone, Carpenter would take the chart crown in a walk. But Scott, arguably the only hip-hop artist other than Kendrick Lamar who can move the marketplace right now, is (along with his formidable team) a fierce competitor.

Republic, of course, is no stranger to retail surprises that have earned them a come-from-behind chart victory—just ask Billie Eilish, Zach Bryan or Gracie Abrams.

We await the call from the refs—especially if there are any flags on the play. Stay tuned.

[Love Plastic Love]

Watch Billboard suddenly change the variant rules after Travis Scott does it and beats Sabrina VS when Taylor has been doing it for months lmao.

[Choco]

I think pricing an album at 4.99 when a single song is 1.29 should also require a rule change. Like how Gaga's BTW selling over 400k copies by pricing them at 0.99 resulted in a rule change back in the day.

The argument that these sales tactics are allowed because they make money and not just because of chart manipulation do not make sense at that price.

Sept 3, 2024 10:39:13 GMT -5 Love Plastic Love said:

Watch Billboard suddenly change the variant rules after Travis Scott does it and beats Sabrina VS when Taylor has been doing it for months lmao.

I get your point but at this rate the only #1 albums this year to not use the tactics are gonna be the Xmas albums in December.