Convicted R&B singer R. Kelly has seen a rapid fall from grace since the release of the 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly and subsequent trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. However, the 54-year-old has seen a meteoric rise in sales and streams since he was found guilty on September 27.
According to Rolling Stone, album sales for Kelly’s catalog have jumped 517 percent since last month, a dubious notion considering many of the singer’s songs were tied to his victims.
The spike in album sales aligns with streaming numbers as well. From September 27, the day of the guilty verdict, to October 3, Kelly’s catalog saw an uptick in “on-demand streams by 22 percent and his“video streams were up 23 percent compared to the previous seven days.”
The disgraced singer’s catalog is still available on Apple Music, Spotify and Tidal, where listeners have played his music more in 2021 than they did in 2017. According to RS, “In 2017, Kelly was averaging around 5.4 million on-demand audio streams per week, and this year he’s averaged around 6.4 million.”
R. Kelly's YouTube Channels Terminated Following Sex Trafficking Conviction
Kelly’s rise in streaming echoes a similar reaction in 2018 after Spotify removed him from its owned and operated playlists for violating its Hate Content and Hateful Conduct policy.
Despite the uptick in streaming and public support from the likes of Bill Cosby and Akon, platforms such as Google are taking a stance against Kelly. On October 6, YouTube announced it was shuttering two of Kelly’s video accounts with a combined 5 million subscribers.
The singer is due back in court for sentencing on May 4, 2022. He faces 10 years to life in prison. Additionally, he faces two other trials for sex-related crimes, one in Minnesota and another in his hometown of Chicago.
*Fart Noise*
We can all now see why Donald Trump is wealthy. It’s funny, but Trump claims that everyone was initially in support of the idea of Covid vaccinations but now, those opposing them seem to be Republicans. Is it any wonder that since Trump got into office the Republicans all seem to think that they are invincible?
Free Kells keep ya head and ya guard up big pimpin
He pissed on a 13 year olds face and you want him freed? Are you devoid of a soul?
Further proof cancel culture is stupid and doesnt even work. There is no such thing as bad publicity. Look at 6ix9ine. People who didnt even listen to R. Kelly now all of a sudden support him just to take a shot at the left. I dont blame them. Milenial culture is ruining everything that made the left cool a decade ago.
People are checking his music because this pedo been in the news for the past month, like you said, any publicity is good publicity. Nobody doing it with the intention of actually supporting a man who was caught with child abuse videos twice and who had sex with kids.
When are they removing all Harvey Weinstein, Elvis Presley or Kevin Spacey content? I won’t hold my breath!
oh behave.
r in r n b voice of an angel whole industry is pedos rap ists junkies news at 11 who cares im bumpin krls till the sun die dont care what strangers do behind closed doors he servin his time
And thats whats wrong with our country. Everyone just wants what they want. Morality, ethics, decency, none of that matters anymore.
“album sales for Kelly’s catalog have jumped 517 percent since last month, a dubious notion considering many of the singer’s songs were tied to his victims.” EXACTLY. If people had any sense they wouldn’t even check for this creep. Creeps checking out a creep wtf?
Free the big homie Kellz. Despite all the fuck up shit you’ve done…your music is timeless. ?