The race to reach number 1 on the Billboard chart has always been a close fight. Although there are 100 posts, ultimately only one matters. It is paradoxical. Being at the top of the list guarantees you visibility. But, to achieve this, you need visibility. Ergo, sales, stream, reproductions. Clicks. Justin Bieber has just written a new page in this fight by asking his fans to cheat to manipulate views of his new song, Yummy, and thus place it at the top of the United States hit list.
All to get to the top. As if Justin doesn't already know what that is.
The Billboard Hot 100 orders the songs of the moment in the United States. In other words: the best-selling and most listened to songs, both on the radio and on streaming platforms. streaming. The all-time record for consecutive weeks at number one was broken last year by Lil Nas X with old town road 17 weeks at the top.
It is common for fans to organize themselves into enthusiastic packs in order to increase the number of reproductions of the artist they idolize. South Korean group fans BTS they are possibly the most enthusiastic of all (they even handed out free Spotify accounts). What was unprecedented until now was an elite artist not only supporting these practices, but giving them full dissemination through their social networks.
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In a post on his Instagram account that was soon deleted, yesterday Justin Bieber shared a five-page guide (or Stories) in which very precise indications of what had to be done to "support Justin" were given. Create playlists that only contain Yummy, leaving Spotify open all night and even using a VPN server to mask the connection and pass it off as a US one so that it is officially accounted for on Billboard. These are, in detail, the instructions shared by Justin Bieber in his story deleted from Instagram:
Justin Bieber cheat instructions with Yummy on Spotify
- Create a playlist with Yummy on a loop and stream it online.
- Don't silence her! Play it with low volume.
- Play it while you sleep.
- If you are not in the US you can download a VPN app. Assign it to US and then create a Spotify account.
Justin Bieber cheat instructions on iTunes
- Buy the song on iTunes
- Purchase the song multiple times on Justin Bieber's website.
Justin Bieber's Instagram posts where the Canadian explains how to manipulate Yummy views
As you can see in the video that accompanies this article, the title of the first of the stories It already makes clear the objective of the campaign promoted by Justin Bieber through his official account. There is no doubt: «How to make Yummy be #1″. And continues:
"Remember this is Justin's comeback, and if we all come together we can get his sixth number 1 on Hot Billboard. Share this post with everyone you know. Let's do it."
All for the platinum record
We insist. These practices are very common among fan communities. When the ex one direction Harry Styles debuted with his song sign of the times Something very similar happened. The difference? Harry Styles never commented on it, much less encouraged cheating through his personal social media accounts.
Yummy it's just a single in advance of the Canadian's sixth album. If we are going to analyze what the big record companies do to increase record sales, the matter gets even more out of hand. We recommend reading this article if you are interested in expanding your knowledge about how the Billboard list works.
In recent years, record companies have become very creative when it comes to accounting for their sales. To the still mysterious calculation that hides behind clicks and “equivalent album units” we must now add marketing engineering. Giving away the album with the purchase of a concert ticket or a t-shirt is already an accepted practice that adds to the sales list. Giving the album away with a pack of energy drinks, no. This is what happened last year to DJ Khaled, who had a funny tantrum after Tyler the creator snatched the top spot on the Billboard chart in a week in which both presented their new works.
Justin Bieber, the comeback
Now, is Justin Bieber cheating? According to the specialized media The Verge, Technically no rule stipulated by Billboard has been broken. Now, if we talk about ethical issues, things change. And not just for moral reasons: what kind of pop star begs his fans to play his music? Shouldn't this be implicit?
After three years of silence, Justin Bieber has returned and he single-handedly has been in charge of putting together a good ruckus. And not only for the premiere of Yummy and for the controversial Instagram post that concerns us today. Coincidence or not, one day before starting this campaign of massive reproduction of YummyJustin Bieber announced that he has Lyme disease.
At least, curious coincidence.
Update 14/01/2020: Justin finally had to settle for second place. He wasn't counting on Roddy Ricch.