I looked at the chart archive and it has Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy debuted at number one on the week of December 11, even though it came out November 22. Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday isn’t on the chart at all even though it debuted at number 2. 

https://www.billboard.com/archive/charts/2010/billboard-200

 

 

Edited April 14, 20188 yr by ♢Diamond♢

It's correct; Billboard dated their weeks ahead forever. They actually finally stopped this year.

 

It was because pre-internet they relied on magazine sales, and dating charts/magazines on the actual week would make the magazine seem 'outdated' once it arrived on stands a few days later. So they dated things ending a week ahead. 

 

They finally stopped doing it this year.

 

https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2010-12-11

Pink Friday is on the chart at #2 that week.

4 hours ago, iHype. said:

It's correct; Billboard dated their weeks ahead forever. They actually finally stopped this year.

 

It was because pre-internet they relied on magazine sales, and dating charts/magazines on the actual week would make the magazine seem 'outdated' once it arrived on stands a few days later. So they dated things ending a week ahead. 

 

They finally stopped doing it this year.

 

https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2010-12-11

Pink Friday is on the chart at #2 that week.

This explains so much

I knew they dated ahead before but was confused when checking the charts recently

 

6 hours ago, iHype. said:

It's correct; Billboard dated their weeks ahead forever. They actually finally stopped this year.

 

It was because pre-internet they relied on magazine sales, and dating charts/magazines on the actual week would make the magazine seem 'outdated' once it arrived on stands a few days later. So they dated things ending a week ahead. 

 

They finally stopped doing it this year.

 

https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2010-12-11

Pink Friday is on the chart at #2 that week.

Still think they chart dates now are 1 week too late, but at least it's not 2 anymore