I feel like the variants released by some artists are causing inflation in the charts. Should Billboard stop counting them?

 

Taylor still gonna sell a ton

Y'all faves though… good luck ever surpassing 100k 

 

Do it

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by TayDuaStan

Yes. Ava Max might finally have a chance

If that was used by kpop artist and not some blonde american it would have been banned long time ago

Yes they should. It's a fraudulent way to inflate numbers. 
 

I think Madonna is the only ethical mpg who only releases the standard and deluxe versions of her albums. 

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by Supernatural94

Should be limited to one variant.

Yes, for real. 

 

12 minutes ago, TayDuaStan said:

Taylor still gonna sell a ton

Y'all faves though… good luck ever surpassing 100k 

 

Do it

Showgirl's pure sales could decrease 80% and she would still reach a million total units this time

 

Good luck to everyone else then!

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by Arrows

Sure. This is obviously targeted at Taylor cause y'all are mad your faves drop 21 vinyl variants and 15 cds too but barely do 200k. 

 

They can and she'd still debut with 1-2M 

TS will still debut with 1.5 million+ 

Other MPGs will struggle to cross 100k 

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by Calvin

Yes what should be allowed 

1 Standard CD/Vinyl/Cassette/Download

1 deluxe CD/Vinyl/Cassette/Download

 

there a fan can buy 8 total versions not 30+

This would instantly murder any chance for veterans and indie artists that struggle on streaming to chart at all, but please do promote this in what looks like a personal vendetta against Taylor.

3 minutes ago, Calvin said:

TS will still debut with 1.5 million+ 

Other MPGs will struggle to cross 200k 

struggle to cross 200k is very generous. it's more like 80-90k. 

13 minutes ago, Supernatural94 said:

 

I think Madonna is the only ethical mpg who only releases the standard and deluxe versions of her albums. 

Madame X had 3 cassette, 3 CD, a boxset and 4 vinyl (black, clear, teal and picture disc). Her next album will have myriads of variants to replicate the sales of MX without tour bundles, and that's not a bad thing.

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by Popboi.

5 minutes ago, Popboi. said:

This would instantly murder any chance for veterans and indie artists that struggle on streaming to chart at all, but please do promote this in what looks like a personal vendetta against Taylor.

Mariah had 6 variants and barely did 47k

Yes but please do this after TLOAS set new debut record 

 

And watch other pop girlies struggle to do even 150k after this while Taylor still pulling 1.5M 

It's not that serious

Sure why not? It'd be funny to see who relies and depends heavily on this.

People are dying unnecessarily in the world and what angers y'all is variants on a chart. Use this passion for something healthier. 

Yes they should do it.

My main concern is about the impact the production of all these variants has on the environment.  You know most people who own vinyls don't even have a vinyl player.   They use the vinyls more as a decoration piece.  Eventually all these vinyls will have to go somewhere, and they will just end up in landfills with other unused pieces of paper and plastic.  But yeah, besides that, I feel like the variants make being a music fan a bit tiresome.  I feel like it would be better if they only had 2 or 3 variants and people weren't bulk-buying them in bundles of 20 in order to skew sales.  I think it's a lot more exciting to see the raw number of people who bought an album rather than the number of superfans who bought said album 100x.

Sure 

taylor would still pull 1M debut. 

18 minutes ago, Cloröx said:

And watch other pop girlies struggle to do even 150k after this while Taylor still pulling 1.5M

Ariana, Gaga will be struggling to reach 50k/100k in pure sales 

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by Calvin

Depends. Like, 3-4 variants are fine. 

 

29 variants is a damn mess. 

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by thatsmydemi

15 minutes ago, thatsmydemi said:

Depends. Like, 3-4 variants are fine. 

 

29 variants is a damn mess. 

The Weeknd had 27 variants (reported by billboard)

Gaga had 23 variants (reported by billboard)

Billie had 20 variants (reported by billboard)

Olivia had 22 variants (reported by billboard)

This many variants are common these days. 

Edited October 7, 2025Oct 7 by Calvin