NICKI MAKES A
MIDWEEK MOVE
This week's tight chart battle for #1 between Nicki Minaj's Queen and Travis Scott's ASTROWORLD is another skirmish in the longstanding competitive rivalry between Republic boss Monte Lipman and Epic prexy Sylvia Rhone.
Earlier in the week the odds seemed very much in Scott's favor, as new merch bundles were added to his highly successful store. Both sides have gone into overdrive to generate maximum numbers since then. Wednesday saw Republic strip on "FEFE," the 6ix9ine single on which she's featured (originally released on Elliot Grainge's TenThousand), to Nicki's album. The move may be a Hail Mary, but some in the UMG camp believe it has moved the center of gravity in the race. The freshly added 20th cut to the YMCMB/Republic set is currently #3 on Spotify's U.S. chart, and #2 at Apple Music.
Sony will argue that Apple shouldn't count today, since "FEFE" wasn't ingested into the Apple system until after 5:30pm ET. Look for other maneuvers from both camps, including a Nicki Tidal play.
Could this nudge the chart fight in Nicki's direction as she vies for the crown against returning champ Scott? Uni handicappers think so. But don't count Rhone out; last week Scott amassed about 250k in D2C, the biggest single-week direct-sales number in recent memory.
IM GONNA PUKE !!! ASTROWORLD: WISH YOU WERE HERE TOUR ON SALE NEXT WEEK PRE SALE TICKET ACCESS NOW ON https://t.co/OienOPZhTC SEASON PASSES UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR THE REAL RAGERSSS U GET IN FIRST 🎡🎠🔥🎟 pic.twitter.com/WcvRXlWEDr
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) August 16, 2018
Travis Scott unloads Astroworld "season passes" ahead of his tour announcement. Laminates are $8, granting early access to tickets, early gate entry and bundled with a digital album.
The queen has arrived.@NICKIMINAJ has the block shut down! #TIDALXSprint pic.twitter.com/ct2HzjPTS5
— TIDAL (@TIDAL) August 15, 2018
YESSSIR NEW EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF 2k19 #ASTROWORLD @NBA2K @KingJames pic.twitter.com/HG7wKGslnU
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) August 15, 2018
SO I KNOW ITS HARD FOR THE KIDS
— TRAVIS SCOTT (@trvisXX) August 14, 2018
SO I DECIDED TO UNLOAD MY BANK ACCOUNT ON U GUYS. IM BUSTING DOWN $100,000 AND GIVING AWAY TO ANY FANS THAT CAN TWEET ME THERE CASH TAG WITH LYRICS FROM ASTRO. GANG !! pic.twitter.com/7o3KlxnTm2
The Bryant Park @Sprint store at 57 West 42nd street killed it, so….see you in an hour! Pull up to meet me and get tickets to #NICKIHNDRXX tour instantly.
— QUEEN (@NICKIMINAJ) August 15, 2018
HITS LIST: TIME OF THE SEASON
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YOUR SIZZLING SUMMERTIME PHOTO GALLERY
Connecting the faces with the boldfaces. (6/22a)
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