This year Apple Music secured the exclusive rights for the first week of availability for three albums that all ended up debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums ranking, despite the fact that they were only accessible via one platform, reports Forbes. Future’s EVOL, Drake’s Views, and DJ Khaled’s first chart-topper, Major Key have all kicked off in the top spot.
Apple has been the only competitor that has been able to send a record to the top spot on the charts, notes Forbes. The company is the only one that’s simultaneously pushing streams and sales at the same time. Future, Drake, and DJ Khaled all made it to number one based off a mixture of streams and pure purchases.
What’s more, Apple came closer than any other streaming music platform to hitting the peak position with an exclusive earlier this year when Chance The Rapper’s Coloring Book, an exclusive to Apple Music for the first few weeks it was available, debuted in the top ten. By doing so, it became the first full-length to make it into the highest region on the charts based solely on streams, because Book wasn’t for sale at the time, notes Forbes.
Apple says its streaming music service has passed 13 million subscribers. Billboard, the music industry trade publication, says Apple Music is accelerating the subscription growth trend.
