News August 21, 2018

Spotify have responded to Nicki Minaj’s claims of unfair treatment

Spotify have responded to Nicki Minaj’s claims that they treated her unfairly in regards to the release of her recent album, Queen.

Yesterday, we noted how Travis Scott managed to maintain his #1 position on the US Billboard charts with his record Astroworld, while Nicki Minaj’s Queen was relegated to the #2 position.

Soon, Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to dispute these positions, explaining that Travis Scott’s selling of “season pass” bundles to his upcoming tour inflated sales figures, due to their varied inclusion of albums and tickets.

“Travis sold over 50K of these,” she explained. “With no requirement of redeeming the album! With no dates for a tour, etc. I spoke to him. He knows he doesn’t have the #1 album this week.”

My first album sold 400K. No one is doing that with debut albums now. So I’m so grateful. I lost out on 12 hours of sales and did 200K in one week after I was supposedly cancelled. I bit my tongue last #QueenRadio but I won’t On Tuesday. I love you guys so much
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018

I looked at the numbers the Carters, Kanye, Nas, etc recently did. Travis sold 200K in his first week of clothes alone. I spoke to him last night & he said he’s been selling clothes b4 the music. Billboard says they’ll change the rules cuz of this, so it should be changed now!
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018

However, Minaj soon set her sights on Spotify, explaining that streaming service apparently penalised her for premiering her music on Apple Music minutes before its official release date, while also bringing Drake’s recent Spotify promotion into the mix.

“Spotify put Drake’s face on every playlist but told me they’d have to teach me a lesson for playing my music 10 mins early on #QueenRadio,” she wrote on Twitter. “Even tho they’ve been giving away my music for free for years & I am one of the top Spotify artists of all time.”

“Spotify had to teach me a lesson but rewarded the man who has had an Apple radio show the longest; inadvertently helping the Apple platform the most.”

Spotify put drake’s face on every playlist but told me they’d have to teach me a lesson for playing my music 10 mins early on #QueenRadio. Even tho they’ve been giving away my music for free for years & I am one of the top Spotify artists of all time.
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018

My music went up on Apple so I played it. I assumed it was on Spotify & Tidal at the same time. Spotify said that Apple tweeted fans advising #Queen was up & therefore they had to teach me a lesson. But PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!!!!
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) August 19, 2018

Now, a representative for Spotify has responded to Nicki Minaj’s claims, explaining that the company in no way treated her with any unfair behaviour, as Variety notes.

“Spotify supported Nicki Minaj with a Times Square billboard, a host of the largest playlists, New Music Friday and the new music release shelf,” the representative said. “Her song ‘Bed’ actually saw an increase based on the promotions put behind the campaign. The company continues to be big fans of Nicki.”

While Minaj noted on Twitter that Billboard were reportedly planning to look at changing the rules of their chart in response to the controversial rollout of Scott’s album, they are yet to make any statement in regards to this decision.

However, Billboard did note yesterday that Nicki Minaj’s album also benefitted from sales as part of a “concert ticket/album sale redemption offer” in conjunction with her upcoming tour with Future.

Nicki Minaj is yet to respond to Spotify’s statement.