Quote:
Originally posted by FAME.
But regardless they still sold more. Would you rather have an undeserving #1? Why are you upset because they changed the rules to give the rightful person their #1 spot. Ok so albums sold in one store didn't count before. Then the rules were changed. And they clearly sold more copies. So again, what's the issue?
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The rules state prior to the release of both albums that albums released only to one retailer would not be counted on Billboard's 200 chart. The Eagles knew this and understood that they would be disqualified from charting. They were willing to not be credited on the 200 chart because Walmart had paid them for the exclusive rights to buy the album for their chain only. Everyone was aware of the situation and were abreast of the fact that The Long Road or whatever the album's name was called would be disqualified from charting on the 200 album chart. This is Billboard's own rule system
that they made and that
they themselves committed to and in effect that other music labels commit to as well. These labels make their rules by those set from Billboard and are contingent based on those standards they set forth.
You cannot change the rules after the week is already over when the rule was already in effect for the entire week.
That was so unethical as a business move that it's downright unbelievable that they went through with it and changed the rules just so they could put the Eagles at the top and convince readers that "sales were up x amount."
I don't really think it's that hard a concept to understand personally. It would be like changing the rules after the game was already over and then telling the team that won that they really lost because of some different point system the referee just came up with and screwing that team out of the championship.
It was unprofessional, unethical and just in general a shoddy and bad business making decision they made. The way they handled that was tacky and just in general in poor taste. If they really felt that strongly about changing the rules they should have changed the rules the next charting week so that it was in place from then on. Not retroactively change the entire system just to put the Eagles on top.