Yes. Many labels use to hold back the digital release so that airplay could build up, and subsequently, it'd shoot to #1 that way (Umbrella, Live Your Life, Take a Bow, Makes Me Wonder, Whatever U Like, etc.).
It worked back then, because pirating wasn't as big of an issue as it is now.
Digital repression doesn't really work anymore now that we have increased pirating and YouTube/Spotify to listen to a song.