Tekashi 6ix9ine boldly claimed that he had been robbed of the number one spot, and now Billboard have released an official statement explaining why his single did not make it to number one.
“The chart forecast referenced was not created nor provided by Billboard to the industry. Those with access to sales, streaming and radio data from various sources often create their own chart models and update them at their own frequency. Billboard does not distribute any Hot 100 ranking forecast to labels, management or artists,” the statement reads.
The statement continued: “”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.
“As noted in this week’s story announcing the results on the latest Hot 100, “Stuck with U” sold 108,000 in the tracking week ending May 14 and “GOOBA” sold 24,000, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data.”
You can read the lengthy statement in full below.