Soundscan Scam: something in the milk ain’t clean
Eyebrows were raised when Rick Ross sold 200,000 units of his 2nd studio CD Trilla. His feat led many in the industry to ask, how could Rick Ross sell more units than Janet Jackson or Snoop Dogg?
Does the problem lie with Soundscan’s tracking system or is the problem within the labels? Are the labels unfairly inflating sales figures by buying and selling back CDs to record distributors?
This is a practice that labels such as Def Jam have been accused of for years. For instance, it’s common knowledge that some mainstream labels have been paying off record stores to double and triple scan CDs in order to inflate sales.
According to this online report:
A few years ago, some record labels paid third-party firms to ship boxes of free CDs to independent retailers, who then scanned the CDs as bogus sales. Because it was a weighted store, each scan counted as a multiple “sale.” The labels did not profit financially from the scam, but they got to boast of their artists’ hefty weekly sales.
The writer goes on to say when an artist does an instore, the CDs purchased there are usually double and triple scanned. But why isn’t there a safeguard in place to prevent this type of widespread cheating in the first place?
Critics argue that Soundscan has placed an emphasis on “new” artists with “instant hits” like Souljah Boy. Most of these new artists don’t have chart longevity. “The weekly numbers allow labels to see which artists are showing strong sales, and thus, which artists are worth promoting for the long-term.” Established artists who don’t show strong weekly numbers see less support from their labels.
Because of this, artists such as Bobby Valentino, are turning to online distributors like iTunes to promote their own CDs. Did Def Jam kill the radio star?
19 Responses to “Soundscan Scam: something in the milk ain’t clean”
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I didn’t get Rick Ross cd but my BFF did and she said it was fire. I guess Rick Ross has quit a few fans out there. I did purchase Snoop CD (it’s fire also) but CD’s don’t sale like they use to because of all that damn bootleg. But if you purchase a CD when it first comes out you can always catch a sale (max $9.99).
SANDRA WHY ARE THE COMMENTS OFF? My comment has nothing to do w/Rick Ross.
His famous brother is known as Lil Rocko, but Malik Ramone Hill, 13, goes by the name of Lil Rocko Da Don, named after their dad, rapper, Rocko Da Don whose debut album “Self Made” landed at #28 on the charts with sales of 25, 378 according to Hits Daily Double.
Malik is a straight A student who, like most good kids.
All i wanted to say is: great job for having a straight A student…goodness.
I’m R&B chick and I must say Rick Ross album is FIRE, I’m the biggest BOSS you seen thus far!!! I see how come he sold more records then Janet Jackson his songs are made for the urban radio and clubs, but on the other hand Janet is a good performer and thats probably where her money comes in bye her launching her concert tours. I would pay too see Janet before any of these rappers with the exception of Common,Kanye West, Lupe Fisaco, Q-Tip etc.,
What ever it is maybe Rocko should have done the same… and he looks funny now but more peculiar on his back in the day pic…
Anywhoo I LOVE Ricky Ross CD it is actually what’s playing in my disc changer NOW he is my Miami native and I listen to it everyday it goes hard and he did a good job on all tracks so I am glad that he did more than Janet, Snopp and even Rocko….
TRRRRRIIIILLLLAAAAA
I too was shocked by Rick Ross’s sales, but I don’t know anything about him so I’m not a good judge. I just didn’t know he was that large. Are you questioning it because of Rocko’s poor chart perfomance?
WHY WHY WHY are they calling those children Rocko? WHY?!?!? Rodney Jr. is too adorable for that silly rough neck name and Malik is too accomplished for it. We do want these boys to become successful business and family men not drug dealers right? Do you think it’s a good thing that little man is obsessed with money? That post reminds me of Monica’s Vibe interview. It seems like an underhanded diss to the parents. Was that your intention or do you really think the hood image is a cool thing for children to aspire to?
I think the numbers for him are clean.
RICK ROSS CD IS FIRE!! # 10 IS MY FAVORITE SONG MUCH SUCCESS ROSS
LOVE RICK ROSS REPERSENTING DADE COUNTY, CAROL CITY. MAYBACH MUSIC IS MY JAM!
Well as far as Snoop Dogg goes I guess only the pretty women that can sing bought his cd!!!!!!!smh way to go Snoop.LOL
How long have they been using “record sales” as a way to gauge a singers success? No one I know goes to a record store to buy a cd. They get it online (some pay some don’t). It’s 2008, they need to come up with another way to gauge someone’s success.
I’m mad at that Bama ass picture he is posing for.
Do ppl still take pictures leaned up against cars, with your favorite neighborhood clothing store T-shirt on, creases in some long jean capris and a pair of Jordan’s.
I hope this is not on his album cover pic. Is it?
Or it could be that both the HONORABLE Janet Jackson and Sir Snoop Dogg are played out. I mean keep doing you, “get ya money mane”, but don’t blame Rick Ross cause ain nobody feeling that sh*t anymore. Sometimes you have to “exhaust the possibilities” start excutively producing these up and coming artist get in on sommah dat paper!
prynsexxx Says:
I’m mad at that Bama ass picture he is posing for.
***that is truly a DC saying..lol.
correction
*executively*
if thats even a word LMAO!
you get my point
I love Rick Ross ever since he hit the scene with “Hustlin” he has been on many remixes & appeared on alot of other rappers songs so he is really do his thing, so to me it’s not a surprise that he did as well as he did!! as far as Snoop I will agree with #9 (lol) I like him as well & he always makes good hits but you have people that are looking for something new & fresh & thats what Rick is!!!
Trilla is a really good CD….the song Luxury Tax with weezy, jeezy and trick is fire! Don’t sleep on the 3-0-5!!
THE STREETS LOVE RICK ROSS…SO UMM YEAH I CAN SEE HIM SELLING 200,000 CDS
@ Bird:
There was no diss. Malik likes this site and he enjoys seeing his pictures on here. Please explain to me where I dissed his parents.
The music world sucks I was at the gym last night forget my Mary CD so I was forced to listen to 106 and Park why did they have a song with a video called Silly please someone get a grip on the music. I could not believe someone invested time and money in that nonsense.