By Jasmine Turner |Staff Writer|
Crazy in Love Beyoncé fans, who highly anticipated the superstar’s new album and could not wait to get their hands on it, were let down when Target refused to sell her album in their store.
Target refuses to sell Beyoncé’s new self-entitled album back in December 2014.
“Columbia Records released Beyoncé at 12 a.m. EST on the morning of Friday, Dec. 13, exclusively via iTunes without any pre-release announcement,” according to Billboard.
In 2011, the artist partnered up with Target for the release of her album “4”, which included a deluxe version of the album. Instead of the usual exiting announcement of a new album.
The artist decided to surprise her fans with an early release of her new album on iTunes, said Huffington Post.
Target eventually spoke out and made a statement to the public on the controversy.
“At Target, we focus on offering our guest a wide assortment of physical CDs, and when a new album is available digitally before it is available physically, it impacts demand and sales projections,” spokesperson Erica Julkowski told Billboard.
Julkowski further discusses how there are factors that contribute to their approach and that they appreciate their previous partnership with Beyoncé but generally focus on offering CDs that are available in a physical format at the same time as all other formats.
Julkowski concluded with announcing that Target will not be selling Beyoncé’s album.
Students also disagree with Target’s decision.
CSUSB student Jaritza Mendoza said, “I disagree with Target not selling Beyoncé’s album because the whole point is to sell, if they’re concerned about not making sales then just buy fewer CD’s. They can still make a profit. Not everyone buys music just online.”
In this new digital age, there is so much competition between stores and iTunes because the music business is not the same as it was.
Stores feel threaten and believe they need to revolt.
We can now look to the Internet to buy and download music at the click of a mouse.
A few years ago, before digital music was popular, people would excitedly walk into a store, such as Target and buy the newest album from their favorite artist.
Beyoncé reported to Huffington Post, “I felt like I don’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.”
Beyoncé wasn’t phased by Target’s decision because she ended up selling 828,773 copies over the weekend, according to Billboard.
I wouldn’t be surprised when the album hits No. 1 on the Billboard charts without Target’s help.
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