Sony and Mariah Discounted singles alot to push the singles to #1. Singles were selling retail for about $3.99 but some of her #1's were discounted as low as . 39 cents as a physically purchased single before the digital Era.
Examples: Independent Woman, Pt. 1 #1 for 10 weeks (Destiny's Child), Baby Boy #1 for 7 weeks more than Crazy in Love (Beyoncé), Not Afraid (Eminem) #1 debut.