Billboard Not Counting Jay-Z’s 1m Samsung Downloads

Jay-Z’s Samsung Deal Doesn’t Impress Billboard Magazine

(AllHipHop News) Jay-Z’s Samsung deal had tongues wagging in anticipation for his new studio album “Magna Carta Holy Grail.” 1 million Samsung users could download the album for free days before it’s July 4th release.

Now, the music magazine Billboard, which is the industry standard for charts and sales, is saying “nice try.” None of the 1 millions downloads will be counted towards his total sales.

The magazine’s editorial director, Bill Werde, said Billboard rejected Jay Z’s request that the Samsung promotional sales be counted toward the Billboard 200 chart because “in the context of this promotion, nothing is actually for sale.”

“The ever-visionary Jay Z pulled the nifty coup of getting paid as if he had a platinum album before one fan bought a single copy,” Werde said.

Werde said Jay Z should earn his 13th No. 1 album anyway, as “Magna Carta Holy Grail” is forecast to sell between 400,000 and 450,000 units in its first week. [source]

So much for trying to break the mold.