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Ye’s ‘BULLY’ Debuts at No. 2 as Gamma Disputes Billboard Tally

A rare public challenge to Billboard's count highlights how a late streaming release plus stadium shows complicated the first week.

Overview

  • Billboard, which published its tally Sunday, listed Bully at No. 2 with 152,000 units, behind BTS’ Arirang at 187,000.
  • Bully’s total included 96,000 streaming units from 98.43 million official plays and 56,000 album sales, helped by vinyl variants, box sets, and signed editions.
  • Because Billboard tracks Friday through Thursday, a Saturday streaming release left fewer counted days in week one.
  • Hours after the chart posted, distributor Gamma said a full seven-day count showed about 201,000 units, argued the album should be No. 1, and teased a deluxe edition with no date.
  • Ye drew tens of thousands across two sold‑out SoFi Stadium shows during release week, boosting visibility and driving merchandise box-set sales that fed into the first‑week mix.