Russ’ new album “Santiago” debuts at #12 on Billboard.
Russ was projected to earn a top 10 debut on the US Billboard 200, but his new album Santiago received way less than the expected sales. Santiago was projected to earn 52000 equivalent units in the first week, but it sold 42k to debut at number 12 on the charts.
The Atlanta rapper took to Twitter and accused Billboard for taking away his original sales. “Billboard & Luminate took away ANOTHER 4,000 of my REAL sales over the weekend making that 10,000 sales total they took away from me while allowing major labels to fake their streams and sales and do monopolistic merch bundles (only major labels are allowed to do merch bundles because the only approved vendor is a major label vendor),” he wrote. “These numbers and charts are made up. The impact however is not. Shoutout to the fans.”
Billboard & Luminate took away ANOTHER 4,000 of my REAL sales over the weekend making that 10,000 sales total they took away from me while allowing major labels to fake their streams and sales and do monopolistic merch bundles (only major labels are allowed to do merch bundles… https://t.co/lH06KpNLM4
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) August 28, 2023
“I don’t think y’all realize how nuts this is…Billboard charts are inflated by fake data which is being verified by only one company, Luminate,” Russ wrote with a retweet of his manager Milan Ackerman post, where he accused major labels of fake streams.
“Both Billboard & Luminate are owned by the same company [facepalm emoji] Anyway imma sit back and watch Milan expose the whole sh-t [popcorn emojis] [crying face emojis].”
🗣🗣🗣🗣
I don’t think y’all realize how nuts this is…Billboard charts are inflated by fake data which is being verified by only one company, Luminate
Both Billboard & Luminate are owned by the same company 🤦🏻♂️
Anyway imma sit back and watch Milan expose the whole shit… https://t.co/0FOmTN6OoS
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) August 28, 2023
“watching the general public try to figure out why certain streams don’t match the ticket sales is funny lol. it’s not rocket science, use your brain,” he adds.
“I dedicated my life to music and spreading a message and corrupt corporations are stealing and sabotaging from me and I’m supposed to shut up because overall my life is good? Man..lmao ,” he said in another tweet. “Y’all can tuck your tail if you want. I’m not. I’m speaking up for the artists who can’t.”
watching the general public try to figure out why certain streams don’t match the ticket sales is funny lol
it’s not rocket science, use your brain
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) August 29, 2023
I dedicated my life to music and spreading a message and corrupt corporations are stealing and sabotaging from me and I’m supposed to shut up because overall my life is good? Man..lmao
Y’all can tuck your tail if you want. I’m not. I’m speaking up for the artists who can’t.
— SANTIAGO (@russdiemon) August 30, 2023
