By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Beyonce just made history considering her new album has sold over 800,000 copies worldwide since its release on Friday, but one major retailer says it won’t be helping her increase her album sales.
According to Billboard, Target is salty with the singer for exclusively releasing her album on iTunes on Friday, so they have decided to pull what many consider to be a petty move and not to sell the physical copy of the album. A spokesperson for the store says:
“At Target we focus on offering our guests 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.
“While there are many aspects that contribute to our approach and we have appreciated partnering with Beyonce in the past, we are primarily focused on offering CDs that will be available in a physical format at the same time as all other formats. At this time, Target will not be carrying Beyonce’s new self-titled album ‘Beyonce.'”
Beyonce’s fans have been dragging the retailer on social media since the news was confirmed, but Walmart has already made it clear they will happily take the BeyHive’s money. Walmart’s spokesperson tells Billboard:
“Walmart is happy to be able to carry her album and support all physical music.”
Considering how many sales Beyonce has gotten on iTunes in just three days alone, we think Beyonce will be just fine without Target. However, Beyonce’s fans have already began working on boycotting the retailer.
Cool. They won’t get my money ever again. It’s that simple.
They are only doing this because they got the exclusive with her the last album and they are mad they didn’t get it this time. I will no longer shop at Target. I love the store but to do this to a black woman who is breaking history is beyond wrong to me. I will shop elsewhere.
Lame! Well I will just give my money to Walmart or BestBuy! #shrugs
Smh. This is so petty and unprofessional. I’m not shopping there anymore.
Welp. Time to look for a new favorite store.
Is this a joke? It has to be. Target is stupid as hell for this. It’s not that serious. This sounds like something a spoiled child would do if they don’t get their way.
Ok. There are other stores that will gladly sell the album. No big deal.
LOL I think she will survive without Target. She’s already sold close to a million already. Just saying.
Well I won’t be shopping at Target anymore. They did the same thing to Frank Ocean and that was wrong too. They need to take their emotions out of running their business.
I usually go to Target for my natural hair products but I will just shop online or go to Whole Foods and get them now. I’m done with Target.
Totally uncalled for.
Well I refuse to shop at Target. F-ck them.
Welp… that just made my list of stores to shop in shorter. Thanks Target…
Exactly. I’m done man. This is wrong!
Target is my favorite store but I think this is wrong on so many levels. She released the album last minute and couldn’t have the physical copies ready in time. I won’t be shopping at Target anymore either. I’m glad the other stores won’t be this petty!
Target is dumb! Do they not know they are going to lose customers because her loyal fans won’t support them anymore?! That’s like refusing to sell Rihanna’s CD! The Navy wouldn’t have it!
I don’t even like Beyonce like that but I think this is racist and sexist. They feel like they are supposed to own Beyonce? Really? Man f-ck Target! That’s what Kanye has been ranting about! These companies think they own these artists! Man GTFOH! I ain’t no damn fan but I ain’t shopping here no more either!
No more Target for me. Gotta stand for something or fall for anything. If they think they can do this to Beyonce, imagine who else they will do this too. These companies are getting out of pocket.
WOW. I am so done with Target!
My love affair with Target is officially over. I will pick up my physical copy of the album at Best Buy. Target will no longer be getting my money.
Goodbye Target!
I’m with all of you. I won’t be shopping at Target anymore.
Dumb move Target.
Smh. There are other stores I can give my money to.
Why would they be this stupid? BeyHive is going to act a fool. lol
Dammit Target! You were my favorite store but I’m going to have to boycott your azz!
Why would you burn bridges with a fan base like this? This was a terrible business move. I’m not giving them my money anymore.
So they’re mad they didn’t get an exclusive? Well I can guarantee they just made a move that will guarantee they will never get another exclusive with Beyonce again. They are stupid. Never shopping there again.
I’m so glad I don’t have to shop at Target. Not shopping there won’t be too much of a lifestyle change for me. I don’t go there like that anyway. #BoycottTarget
Don’t worry people! The album will still be available at Walmart, BestBuy and other major retailers. You can also order the physical CD online when it comes out on December 20!
I don’t even blame the Hive for being pissed! I’d boycott them too if they did Rih like this!
#BoycottTarget
Welp!!!!! She will still go platinum anyway!
Sure will!
Thank goodness there’s a Walmart and Best Buy by my house!
The devil stays busy. Target won’t get anymore money out of me. Smh.
This is why I bought her album twice on iTunes. This girl gets so much hate and faces so much adversity and she minds her own business and doesn’t deserve half the crap she gets. I will not be shopping at Target anymore.
They are going to wish they never did this. BeyHive is already getting their boycott together. They will Keri Hilson this store. You don’t do this to an artist that sold 800,000 copies in three days.
I really hope other artists are paying attention to how Target treats music artists that don’t do what they want them to do and give them exclusives.
This just makes me want to support Beyonce even more. #boycotttarget
F-ck em.
Bey doesn’t need them. She’s good. But I won’t shop there anymore. If they want to be douchebags, I can do the same and take my money elsewhere.
Target is probably the distributor that leaked her last album, 4, impacting sales making it her lowest selling album ever. By going digital and making the album immediately available, Beyonce completely guaranteed that there would be no leaks before the album dropped.
And now they mad. They’re probably livid because one of their employees couldn’t have leaked it and undermined all the hard work and reward that she deserves. Damn sexist and racist companies.
Target is only responsible for 5% of music sales, while iTunes is responsible for 41% and Walmart is responsible for 10%…. That being said, Beyonce will be just fine. She’s already broken the record for iTunes, so if this is only a “business move” for target, fine. Just like bey made a business move and released the album solely on iTunes and broke records.
That was childish and uncalled for. But Bey doesn’t need target…she never did
It’s a nice gesture, but I really doubt people will stop shopping at Target because of this
Oh please. I have and so will many others. You act like Target is the only place to shop at it. Just like I no longer shop at Macy’s for racially profiling blacks in New York, I don’t wish to shop at a place that is trying to hurt the sales of one of the only successful black singers out here. People like you annoy me. People give up shopping at stores all the time for various reasons. Next!
Whatever! There are plenty of people that will continue to shop at Target, Macy’s, Barney’s, Wal-Mart, and wherever else despite what’s sold and what’s not sold in their stores if they choose for whatever reasons. Some people like you just love to get on a soap box for just a while then go back to routine. Plenty of retailers including all the above have done all sorts of things many deem deplorable, petty, wrong or what have you yet plenty of people still shop at those places so please! Target is mad they couldn’t get the jump at all those album sales yes, but their decision won’t really stop people from going there altogether. Wal-Mart didn’t want to carry other artists stuff as well but people still go there to shop so whatever!
I’m sorry, isn’t this a free country? So that means I can shop and not shop wherever I want to and others can do the same. Now, you get off your SOAPBOX and stop being pressed about what people want to do with their own money. And you’re pretty arrogant to sit here and try to tell people what they are going to do. Who died and made you GOD? Stay in your lane and worry about yourself. And yes, I won’t shop at Target and there’s not much you can say to change that. Now find something else to be worried about than what grown people want to do with their own money. Like I said, I (pay attention) won’t shop there. I don’t care what other people do. But apparently I’m not the only person who feels that way. That’s our choice.
You’re absolutely right sweetie and no one said you couldn’t shop where you wanted to shop but who are YOU to say what people OTHER than YOU would or would not do?! You didn’t see me say YOU or ANYONE else HAS to shop at one chain or the other. But that’s YOUR preference honey, not the MASSES if that’s what you choose to do. Just like Bey’s business/brand will continue to go on, so will Target’s and any of these other retailers. If you read my post I said PLENTY of people NOT YOU individually, so whatever young lady! Just like you have a right to do with your money as you please so do OTHER PEOPLE and there are some people out here who will feel as you do, some who won’t feel it’s that serious to them, and some who won’t care one way or the other and that was my point from the jump that’s why I referred to some not ALL people. Just because you have a celebrity preference doesn’t mean you have to get all self-righteous! I’m neither Navy nor BeyHive because I love them both as artists, but I bet if Target or some other retailer was refusing to sell Rihanna’s music in their stores you’d probably still shop there and wouldn’t care and she’s also considered “one of the only successful black singers out here” but then there’s some who may feel the way you are now about Bey’s music. So again, please!
I’m sorry, you keep making it very clear that you’re bothered about what I choose to do with my own money. It’s MINE. I do not have to shop at Target if I don’t want to, but calling me self-righteous when you’re the one on here doing all the name calling because you don’t agree with the choice that I have made makes you…self righteous. Oh the irony.
Worry about your own money. People can do what they choose. It’s not really your business.
You worry about yours! It’s my opinion that SOME people will continue to shop there and NOT deem it that serious and there are so whatever!
@ANONYMOUS But you’re the only person on here worried about what people are doing with their own money. See how no one else told other people what they should or shouldn’t do, or would and wouldn’t do with their money but you? My original comment stands. PS. You think a lot of yourself. Good luck with that.
@RiRI & King Bey You all obviously can’t read because I never told anyone on here to shop or not to shop. I said I doubt people will stop due to this. The keyword being I, which means it’s MY opinion and there probably are just for the simple fact that Beyonce has sold her albums without Target’s help so who cares! Being salty she cut out the middle man is THEIR problem, and a problem some may not even care they have one way or the other. You two felt compelled to come for me because I stated my opinion and like the young lady said, it is a free country! You two seem to think much of yourselves to want to come for someone just because they post THEIR opinion that isn’t in consensus with your own or the majority of the comments on her. Now how ironic is that?!
You’re upset. Want a hug? 🙂
@ ANONYMOUS You can try to twist it to whatever you see fit. Your earlier comments spoke volumes and I responded appropriately. And I bet you wrote what you did just hoping someone would respond like the little troll you really are. My original comment still stands.Worry about your own money.
And you care so much about who people boycott why?
Already have. #shrugs
But it’s 2013. CD’s aren’t as popular as MP3s. In fact, I bet most of album sales will continue to come for iTunes even after the physical copies are available. Her album is going to sell well at the stores too. Whoever made this call is a certified idiot. Oh well.
Never shopping there again! I live in a big city anyway, so it won’t be hard to take my money elsewhere. #BoycottTarget
@King Bey Sweetie you’re obviously the one who’s upset, that’s why you felt the need to reply to my opinion! Perhaps you need the hug 🙂
Sure. I love hugs boo. Come on. lol
But you’re the only one on here calling people names and using exclamation points like you’re pressed though. People can boycott what they want. Or not boycott at all. Mind your business.
Girl, all I can do is laugh. When people get on here and write essays and name call it’s time for hugs. They are obviously upset Bey’s fans want to boycott and that’s why Rihanna’s name was brought up. I got to stop responding to trolls on here. They get too serious for me. #BoycottTarget
@ANONYMOUS, King Bey, etc.
Y’all must be bored at work. Dumbest argument ever. Yes, let’s all hug it out. Lol.
I’m sayin! I was simply making one of my weekly posts, and here come these two. I don’t get why my opinion has them two so pressed but whatever! They felt the need to get all swole up in the chest simply because of my opinion. I can think what I like, and if I think that some folks won’t care if Bey’s album is not in Target enough not to continue shopping there then that’s what I think. They aren’t helping or hurting her, really people??? And @RiRi, I was minding my business, you on the other hand jumped into something that really wasn’t your biz to begin with. I don’t see why some people on this site find it difficult to believe others may have an opinion different from their own or the majority on here. Y’all the only two find the need to debate this. And since they think I’m trying to tell THEM or others where to shop, where in any of my posts did I say you all couldn’t boycott Target or you had to shop there? I’ll wait….
Telling KingBey she won’t boycott for long and she’s self righteous for wanting to boycott is why I got involved. It’s not your place to tell someone what they will do with their own money. YOU wrote this:
Some people like you just love to get on a soap box for just a while then go back to routine.>>>> You’re out of line here. Stay in your place and mind your business. You aren’t in the position to make that comment.
And who died and made you God to tell someone what position they are or aren’t in? Why don’t you stay in your lane sweetheart because what position are you in to tell me what position I’m in and what to say and what not to say, girl please here! You can’t verbatim quote me telling you or her I said you could or could not boycott because I didn’t that’s why you mad. Maybe if you read what I said instead of jumping in some foolishness that wasn’t serious at all you’d recognized that.
“Some people like you just love to get on a soap box for just a while then go back to routine.” But you typed that yourself. Changing up the topic won’t erase what you typed on here. I see you like to do that when you have ran out of points. Again, you can have an opinion but you can’t tell someone how long they will boycott. How do you know King Bey will shop at Target again? Are you Jesus? Are you all knowing? Do you have a crystal ball? Do tell.
Nevermind. I guess I missed some of the comments. I see where Get Busy and King Bey are coming from now. I don’t think any of us can say how long people will boycott. I still haven’t gone back to Barneys…it can be done. Especially if the cause is important to that person.
Thank you. If anyone is serious, they can completely cut a store out of their life.
Y’all actually agree more than y’all realize.
You’re absolutely right sweetie and no one said you couldn’t shop where you wanted to shop but who are YOU to say what people OTHER than YOU would or would not do?! You didn’t see me say YOU or ANYONE else HAS to shop at one chain or the other. But that’s YOUR preference honey, not the MASSES if that’s what you choose to do. Just like Bey’s business/brand will continue to go on, so will Target’s and any of these other retailers. If you read my post I said PLENTY of people NOT YOU individually, so whatever young lady! Just like you have a right to do with your money as you please so do OTHER PEOPLE and there are some people out here who will feel as you do, some who won’t feel it’s that serious to them, and some who won’t care one way or the other and that was my point from the jump that’s why I referred to some not ALL people. Just because you have a celebrity preference doesn’t mean you have to get all self-righteous! I’m neither Navy nor BeyHive because I love them both as artists, but I bet if Target or some other retailer was refusing to sell Rihanna’s music in their stores you’d probably still shop there and wouldn’t care and she’s also considered “one of the only successful black singers out here” but then there’s some who may feel the way you are now about Bey’s music. So again, please!
—————————————————————————————
Whatever! There are plenty of people that will continue to shop at Target, Macy’s, Barney’s, Wal-Mart, and wherever else despite what’s sold and what’s not sold in their stores if they choose for whatever reasons. Some people like you just love to get on a soap box for just a while then go back to routine. Plenty of retailers including all the above have done all sorts of things many deem deplorable, petty, wrong or what have you yet plenty of people still shop at those places so please! Target is mad they couldn’t get the jump at all those album sales yes, but their decision won’t really stop people from going there altogether. Wal-Mart didn’t want to carry other artists stuff as well but people still go there to shop so whatever!
@ANONYMOUS
You wrote essays, for what exactly? I think it’s because you’re the most pressed about this situation. You got on here and didn’t like the fact that so many people wrote they would no longer shop at Target on here, so you came on here to make your comment and bring in your negativity. King Bey responded (and shouldn’t’ have because you’re trolling), and you have the nerve to pull the self righteous card because she wants to boycott for her fave. If they want to boycott, that’s their choice. I’d do it in a heartbeat for Rihanna. But you can’t tell people what they will or will not do. You’re not some all knowing being. That’s my issue. You on here acting like you know everything and what people will do. Stop it.
“You wrote essays, for what exactly? I think it’s because you’re the most pressed about this situation. You got on here and didn’t like the fact that so many people wrote they would no longer shop at Target on here, so you came on here to make your comment and bring in your negativity.” <<<< Great minds think alike. #NavyandBeyHiveUnite lol 🙂
And here you go. Lol.
Well if you think I wrote an essay, looking at your post, it’s almost the exact same amount of text, so I guess you’re writing essays too then huh. Point is, I am given the privilege to think as I like just like you are and if that’s what I think then it is what it is. If you don’t like my opinion, get over it. I’ve seen many of you post comments on other stories that I didn’t agree with but those were your opinions and you had a right to post it. That’s what this site is, a place where you can read the stories and post as you feel or think. I posted my original comment because I personally don’t care who carries it as someone stated earlier most people BOUGHT the album on iTunes anyway and more will continue to do so as that’s the most popular method anyway so whatever to y’all bull. Have a good day ladies!!!
Are you slow? That’s not my text. That’s what you wrote. Lol. You wrote more than I have on any post ever on here. And telling someone they won’t boycott is wack. You don’t know these people. Who are you anyway? That’s like me trying to tell you can’t boycott anything. I don’t know your willpower enough to make that call.
Are you slow??? Look at my last post you called yourself copy/pasting and look at what you wrote:
@ANONYMOUS
You wrote essays, for what exactly? I think it’s because you’re the most pressed about this situation. You got on here and didn’t like the fact that so many people wrote they would no longer shop at Target on here, so you came on here to make your comment and bring in your negativity. King Bey responded (and shouldn’t’ have because you’re trolling), and you have the nerve to pull the self righteous card because she wants to boycott for her fave. If they want to boycott, that’s their choice. I’d do it in a heartbeat for Rihanna. But you can’t tell people what they will or will not do. You’re not some all knowing being. That’s my issue. You on here acting like you know everything and what people will do. Stop it.
I have to agree with Get Busy here. None of us can truly say what other people will or will not do. I too took issue with that being said to King Bey. I don’t know how long she will boycott, I don’t even know her beyond this blog. But to come on here and tell her she will only do it for a little while was wrong and patronizing in my opinion. I had to go get some stuff for my hair today during lunch and decided to skip Target. And I won’t lie, ANONYMOUS’ patronizing comment to King Bey is what encouraged me not to go today. So in a way, I’d say it’s no need to go back and forth. Let the naysayers fuel you to be serious about not going to Target.
I would do the same thing for Rihanna. But the point is to get on here and tell King Bey she won’t boycott for long is not her place. She doesn’t know her or anyone else on here to even make that call. And you must be natural…
Yeah girl I’m natural. Target has most of my hair products, but I went to Whole Foods instead because someone on here suggested it.
Whole Foods sells natural hair products?! I thought that was a myth!
“And telling someone they won’t boycott is wack. You don’t know these people. Who are you anyway? That’s like me trying to tell you can’t boycott anything. I don’t know your willpower enough to make that call.” — BOOM. 🙂
It’s really a non issue. Numbers don’t lie.
It never fails. King Bey shuts down all the threads on here. This post went from like 45 comments to almost 100. She is the most loyal stan on here. She knows how to get the passion out of people on here. lol
Do NOT blow her head up. LOL.
Do NOT blow her head up. LOL.
You know you love me. 🙂
So I needed to go to Target when I got off work today. Nevermind, I’ll just go to the mall instead. Baby steps. Hahahaha.
*fist pump* Stay strong!
Take issue with what you like, like I said, It’s my opinion and nobody on here is in any position to say what I feel or think. You wanna boycott, fine that’s your right, but don’t try to come for me because I state a different opinion. Like I also said, I never told anyone they could or couldn’t boycott, so all of you can get off your soapbox. I commented today, and will continue to comment my opinion if it suits me. And most of you know if this was about Rihanna the hate in here would be so thick and nobody would care. So hypocritical on this blog.
There you go again trying to divert attention away from the subject because you have ran out of points. What does Rihanna have to do with this? Nothing. But the funny thing is some of Rihanna’s biggest fans on here called you out too. Hilarious. Anyway, I am still waiting on an answer to my question. How do you know that King Bey won’t be boycotting Target for long? Are you Jesus? Are you all knowing? Do you have a crystal ball? I would really love to know…
And how do you know that some people really won’t care and continue to shop at Target and support Bey on iTunes, etc? Are you omniscient? Are you God? Jesus? You nor her could ever point out where I told her she didn’t have a right to boycott because that was ya’ll first argument. First it was I’m telling people they can’t boycott and where to shop and spend their money then it went to I’m telling her she’s self-righteous instead. Well when you want to try to handle someone for stating an opinion you don’t agree with holding yours to a higher esteem, it IS self-righteous. That’s why this is America. Where one has the right to think and say what they want. Just because I stated my original comment, that annoyed her?! Please
Again, why can you not stay on topic? You should know how to have a debate as an adult on here and explain your stance. You stated with certainty that King Bey would not boycott for long. And I’m asking you to tell me how you know that. Now, let’s see if for once you can stay on topic and defend the things you’ve written on here with so much certainty. Go…I’ll wait.
Obviously you’re the one that can’t stay on topic because I asked the same question 2+ hrs ago. You can’t answer my question that I asked over 2+ hrs ago because you know I didn’t say that, and had you read from the beginning there would have been no “debate” as you call it. Most adults know everyone does not hold the same perception of things and adults know everyone is entitled to their own opinion which is what I’ve been saying since this am. You all are the ones who want to go back and forth like children because someone doesn’t agree with you or the majority on this blog. And you all have been the ones flip flopping all over picking things out to “debate” and you know it! Not once did I ever tell her or anyone on here they couldn’t boycott or where to spend their money, but YOU wanted to chime in on that, so when did I tell her she couldn’t spend her money where she chooses? Now I’ll continue to wait because the two of you have been throwing diversions all day. The problem with some of you on here is you want to belittle people who come on here and make comments that are not in consensus with that of the regular posters. Any time someone posts anything different here comes the hypocrisy, degradation, and the need to humiliate to be right in the eyes of the masses on here. My stance was and will continue to be my original opinion, nothing more or less.
Girl, now you are coming off pathetic. I have already pasted what you typed, but you continue to ignore it because you can’t even defend it. Have a little self respect my darling. At least be woman enough to stand by the things you type on here.
You typed to King Bey: “Just because you have a celebrity preference doesn’t mean you have to get all self-righteous!”
And you typed this too: “Some people like you just love to get on a soap box for just a while then go back to routine.”
Don’t play stupid. Stand by what you type to people on here and defend it. The more you keep ducking and diving, the less I feel like I can take you seriously. Let’s discuss this. Now, tell me how you know with certainty that King Bey won’t boycott for long? How do you know she will go back to routine and she’s not passionate enough about this to withhold from shopping at Target?
And why does not shopping at Target because she cares about this incident make her self-righteous? Do tell.
You’re both right! Just make it stop! LOL. Just kidding.
@ Queen
What natural hair products did you buy from Whole Foods? Just curious. I’m still looking for the right stuff for my hair.
Giovanni girl. I needed some shampoo and conditioner. I love their products. Give them a try if you’re looking for something. I love the Leave In conditioner too.
Well yall certainly made the most of this thread lol. And it surely was plenty of people in my area target this week especially this morning so I guess no one really gives a damn, lol
ANONYMOUS, is that you boo? FYI, you can’t hide you IP address on the internet. And you still never answered my question but your pressed behind came back on here and tried to use a different name because Beyonce has you worried. And Target is currently under fire because 40 million of their customers’ credit and debit card information was stolen. While you lie, they are losing customers in droves because of a security flaw. Funny how that happens after they tried to play Bey. *sips tea*