“Tay never needed them” — Netizens divided as Billboard changes chart rules to limit album variants

As per Chart Data, Billboard has changed chart rules to limit album variants by artists. Chart Data took to X on March 17, notifying that the change is effective immediately.

Netizens while reacting to the new rules, took to the comment section to defend their idols who were allegedly accused of manipulating chart data.

As per new rules,

1. Digital albums must be redeemed to count, what this means is, if a fan buys a digital album from an artist's official website, label store, or another official online store, Billboard charts will not automatically count it.It will only be counted after the buyer redeems the album. This rule aims to prevent bulk or fraudulent purchases by artists, where albums are bought but never listened to.
2. Billboard will now also require Captcha verification, which the buyers must complete to confirm they are real humans. This is to prevent bots or automated purchases from manipulating album sales numbers.
3. Artists can now release a maximum of four different digital versions of an album through their official stores. This was enacted to prevent some artists from frequently dropping multiple digital versions with exclusive tracks, alternate covers or limited timers to drive repeated purchases.
4. Artists can also no longer drop exclusive digital versions of tracks mid week to boost first-week sales. The tracks should either be available for preorder before the album release or launched after debut week.
5. Billboard has changed the new minimum pricing for albums to; $7.99 to CD albums, $7.99 to Casette albums, $15.99 to vinyl albums, and $7.99 for digital D2C exclusive versions.
6. If an artist's official store is caught submitting fake, manipulated or invalid sales data three times in a year, Billboard will stop counting their sales for 90 days.

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"Drake might not recover from this" - netizens call out artists affected by the new Billboard chart rules

While reacting to the new Billboard chart rules, netizens took to the comment section of @chartdata on X, noting down artists who would be allegedly affected by Billboard's new charting rules,

"Drake might not recover from this" - a user said

"It’s over for Nicki & Gaga" - another user noted

"Kendrick sales about go back to sub 200K 😂😂😂" - another user joked

"Damn Cardi is really finished, someone pinch me" - another user mentioned

Billboard's changes for chart rules have long been speculated. The American music and entertainment magazine had earlier changed streaming chart rules in 2018 and bundle banning chart rules in 2020.