Billboard has responded to Tekashi 6ix9ine’s allegations that Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber bought their way to the top with their new song, “Stuck With U,” while his song “Gooba” landed at No. 3.
Billboard said, “‘Stuck With U’ was available to purchase through the week as a digital download, as well as in various physical format/digital download combinations through Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s webstores. The sales spike is likely referring to sales on Thursday, May 14 – the final day of the tracking week – when signed ‘Stuck With U’ singles were put up for sale in Grande and Bieber’s webstores. A signed single or album is an accepted form of sales available to any artist and has been noted repeatedly within Billboard chart stories when such items have impacted the Hot 100. 6ix9ine, meanwhile, released a non-signed CD single/digital download on the last day of the tracking week via his webstore.”
They added, “‘Stuck With U’ drew 28.1 million U.S. streams, 26.3 million in radio airplay audience and 108,000 sold in the tracking week. ‘Gooba’ had 55.3 million U.S. streams, 172,000 in radio airplay audience and 24,000 sold. Those sums resulted in the songs’ respective rankings on this week’s Hot 100.
Billboard has since allegedly removed all of the rapper’s chart history.
