“REBEL HEART” IS A TESTAMENT TO MADONNA’S STAYING POWER

Never mind the album leaking in its entirety three months before its release date. Never mind it leaking for a second time (then, in full Super Deluxe format) a month before hitting the stores. Madonna’s REBEL HEART is a testament to endurance in a dying industry.

Despite adversities, Madonna’s latest studio album debuts atop of the charts in several countries around the world. And if not in the “pole position,” REBEL HEART arrives at the top 5 best selling albums everywhere.

In the US, REBEL HEART debuts at #2, despite having sold more units than its competition, the soundtrack for TV show Empire. Yes, Madonna’s album sold more copies, but it’s not No. 1—so how does that work?

Billboard started computing online streaming and single sales along with album sales for its album chart. Makes sense? Of course not. 

But pay attention to Billboard’s final tally: you don’t see them saying “albums sold” (it’s not a real number anymore). Their new lingo is “equivalent” sales:

“Equivalent album units,” funny. Equivalent, as in “equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.” And what is equivalent to album sales now? Streaming and singles sales.

Billboard’s new rhetoric is that “people get music through streaming now,” which is true. But does that mean streaming should be compiled along with album sales?

You see, most music streaming services are free. And even when they’re not, you’re not paying for an artist’s music itself; you’re not buying any album either; you’re just paying for a service—a service that is not accurate.

For instance, I can add the same album over and over on queue, turn my speakers off, and go to bed. Billboard will count the times I streamed that album towards their album chart. Did that album reach anyone? No. Now, if I buy an album (physically or digitally), that’s money spent on a specific artist. It’s black and white.

Streaming is a real thing, but should it be compiled along with “sales?” I don’t think so. What’s next? Illegal downloads will be compiled for Billboard’s album chart as well? You know, illegal downloads is also a real thing. And people get their music like that too.

Compiling “singles” sales along with album sales is another ridiculous idea. There has always been a separate chart for singles and albums. Why the sudden decision to change their rules this week? 

I wouldn’t be surprised if they changed it back to the way it was in a few weeks.

Despite it all, Madonna’s REBEL HEART is the number one selling album worldwide this week. It also is the number one selling album in the US. 

And while her detractors have been claiming “flop” everywhere, I just have one thing to say: I want to flop as hard as Madonna!

32 years after her debut, the woman is still releasing albums that go to the top of the charts with real sales - even after leaking twice months before its release.

Now please name another music legend achieving the same numbers.

You can hate as much as you want, but when your “faves” can’t sell over 131,000 copies despite being around for less than a decade, you have no room to call anybody else a “flop.” Especially, a veteran who has consistently been on top. And, oops, numbers show she is there again. No matter how many times you change your rules.

Canada #1
Germany #1
Netherlands #1
Australia #1
US #1 (Top Album Sales)
UK #2
US #2 (Billboard 200 Album Chart)
France #3
Ireland #5

Deal with it.