iTunes: Lady Gaga’s R. Kelly Duet Soars In Sales After Apology & Removal Announcement

Published: Thursday 10th Jan 2019 by Rashad

While embattled R&B star R. Kelly has been bombarded with negative press in the days leading up to, during, and following the airing of the explosive Lifetime documentary, ‘Surviving R. Kelly,’ his dedicated fans have not only opened their mouths to voice their ongoing support but their wallets as well.

As we reported here, the 52-year-old celebrated a sales and streaming spike just one day after the show’s first two-part episode premiered.  By the time the docuseries aired its finale, Kellz enjoyed an even more impressive boost.

Report:

On Jan. 5, the third and final day of the airing of Surviving R. Kelly, on-demand streams of Kelly’s music rose by 116 percent in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music, as compared to his streams on Jan. 2, the day before the series began.

Kelly’s catalog of songs collected 4.3 million streams (audio and video combined) on Jan. 5, up from 1.9 million on Jan. 2.

Now, just hours after Lady Gaga went on record to announce her intent to remove her R.Kelly-featured hit, ‘Do What U Want,’ from digital services, fans have zoomed to iTunes in droves to purchase it.  Details inside:

 

As we reported here, Gaga – after days of pressure from fans to denounce the ‘Bump N Grind’ star – issued a statement to affirm her position in solidarity with his accusers and discuss the status of her song with him, ‘Do What U Want’ (found aboard her 2013 ‘ArtPop’ album).

“I intend to remove this song off of iTunes and other streaming platforms and will not be working with him [Kelly] again,” said Gaga.

The announcement apparently set fans into a frenzy.  Just hours later, the tune – nearly 6 years old – zoomed to the top 15 of iTunes charts and sits at #11 currently (as of time of this report’s publishing).

 

 

Having peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 around the time of its release despite no official video released on its behalf, the renewed interest – which sees it outperforming some of today’s top sellers – could cement its re-entry onto charts next week.

Update (as of 6p CST):  The song has officially been removed from iTunes.

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  1. Jasmine January 10, 2019

    People need to STOP trying to control what other people listen to. This is just the backfire to all those people who pressured Gaga to censor her music by removing one of her songs from her catalog. This will continue to happen until people CHILL OUT.

    • DanYiel Iman January 10, 2019

      Ok because GOD FORBID ANY BLACK GIRLS WHO WERE MOLESTED HAVE ANYTHING POSITIVE in reguards to R.Pedophilia!!??‍♂️

      • Jasmine January 10, 2019

        They can get JOBS that will pay them an honest living like everybody else. Nothing in life is FREE. If you want money get a JOB. What you DO NOT DO is volunteer to be any man’s live-in playmate in exchange for money and free rent. That is just dumb. They got what they sought. They KNEW who R. Kelly was before they CHASED after him.

        This video was taken last night. See all the women STILL CHASING AFTER KELLZ:

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD6eaMTi-IU

      • Jasmine January 10, 2019

        In that documentary (aka ‘TAKE-A-N|GGA-DOWN-mentary) I don’t think any of those women are brain washed. That is a daddy – girlfriend situation those women have. You want free room and board, free travel, and money? Then you have to please “daddy” and do what he say do. They can pack their suitcase and leave anytime they want. On the documentary you can clearly see them opening up doors to speak to their parents, talking about packing their suitcase and walking out, etc so how is that brainwash. That is adult role play. People call that DOM and SUB GAMES.

    • Caleb January 12, 2019

      I think people should stop trying to erase music history. I think people should not work with him anymore but what’s done is done and his old music should not be erased.

  2. Glazba January 10, 2019

    People know how to divide personal life from music. No wonder the streams go up.. promo is promo even tho it can be negative like this. And.. Lady Gaga is so late on this statement. R. Kelly pedohpilia and p*** ways were known since long time ago…

      • R Kelly Fans Are The Devil & We’re On Planet Hell January 10, 2019

        Can’t wait for it to happen to your daughter

      • Jasmine January 10, 2019

        My children come from an affluent family of hard working parents. My daughter would NEVER want to be a lazy bum like these women looking for a man to take care of them. How do you feel about Dr. Luke or is what he did okay cause he is white?

      • Hasta La Vista January 11, 2019

        What daughter the one you said you had last year…the same year you stole that model Gallienne Nabila?
        ???
        So I guess you’re sticking to the lie abt your millionaire black husband and 3 or 4 houses…and don’t forget about all your jobs I remember you said you were a model, make up artist, lawyer, tv commenter, influencer…
        Next year you’ll be a Asian American living in Alaska with 6 kids and working as a plumber nice imagination love. That’s why your credibility here is 0 and now if you want you can lie a little more I give you the spotlight.

      • Jasmine January 11, 2019

        You are that same gay TROLL that was spamming my insta. You know damn well who I am and you know I am not Gallienne. Nice try but we see each other! I know it was you who tried to tell people on my insta that I am a racist biggot! That is not true and that is why I blocked your ass. My husband, personal life, family, and affluence are all very real but none of your business and none of your concern FAN. You wish you were getting the kind of money bags I get on the regular and had the life I live. Keep seething and staying mad troll.

        Now back to the topic at hand, people should NOT be trying to ban R. Kelly music UNLESS they are trying to ban ALL artists who have been accused of abuse. If we banned all artists who have had accusations there would NOT be any music left to listen to.

  3. lucy fur January 10, 2019

    ridiculous. music is art it should not be censored. shame cause its pretty much in her top 5 best songs. she doesn’t have that many great songs imo

    • R Kelly Fans Are The Devil & We’re On Planet Hell January 10, 2019

      IMO, opinions of supporters of r*** & domestic abuse have s***** opinions…

      • Jasmine January 10, 2019

        Nobody cares about your opinion. The people who bought this song to put you in check are the only opinions that matter. Keep seething! BTW it is NOT r.a** when women throw the pnssy at u. It is NOT domestic abuse unless abuse charges are filed and proven in a court of law. Allegations are meaningless without a conviction. Keep seething dumb ass. You can lick the ground R. Kelly walks on.

  4. King of Kingz January 10, 2019

    ?so is she gonna remove all her songs she did with Dr. Luke too since Kesha accused him of r*** & she was suppose to be supporting her too ?❓smh ?be consistent or stfu this bandwagon bash train is a damn trip, Kanye was kinda right we are turning back into slaves, everybody is being forced to have the same opinion or we “cancel”, “boycott” or “mute” them smh ?look like it’s all back firing tho & ya’ll putting coins in his pockets & him back at the top of the charts ?

    • Jasmine January 10, 2019

      I agree King 200 percent. They pick and choose who they attack and if you are a black king they salivate at the thought of taking them down.

    • Mtj January 10, 2019

      As much as I hate defending her cause I hate her music (and her personality) and she’s trash for working with him on that song knowing his history.

      She’s never once recorded a song with dr Luke.

  5. DanYiel Iman January 10, 2019

    Well hi sorry fan base doesn’t mind young BLACK girls being sexually abused until it happens to them!!???

    • R Kelly Fans Are The Devil & We’re On Planet Hell January 10, 2019

      Remember when Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 young girls a couple of years ago? Yea, R Kelly is like the terrorist leader, Abubakar Shekau and his fan base is like the rest of Boko Haram.. matter of fact, they are all worse than those ni66as in Boko Haram

      • Jasmine January 10, 2019

        Keep seething. U need to get a JOB and stop hating on R. Kelly. He is NOT into your kind.

  6. Paulo January 10, 2019

    Hmm to all the p***-loving h*** out there screaming “censorship” how could it be so when it’s the artist herself taking it down? You already sound disgusting but now you sound DUMB!

    • Jasmine January 10, 2019

      Gaga about her coins. She was FORCED to take it down cause she don’t want backlash from her loyal fans that are small-minded like you and caught up in people’s personal lives rather than just enjoying the music. Since she was forced to do something she did not want to that is censorship dumb ass. Never come for Jasmine directly or indirectly because I cut right through the bull sh|t, read you for filfth, and put you ass in check. Now get down on your knees and come clean my floors before I call immigration on your ass Paulo. I got Trump’s border control hotline in speed dial so don’t try me or back to Mexico your ass goes.

      • R Kelly Fans Are The Devil & We’re On Planet Hell January 10, 2019

        Because trying to save black girls from a r***** is small minded. My f***** god, i just f****** cant

      • Jasmine January 10, 2019

        The same people hating on R. Kelly are the same people who were likely conceived while his parents played his music. You ought to be thanking R. Kelly not hating him. He is not doing anything wrong. Your opinions are meaningless and he has NEVER been convicted of anything nor does he have any criminal cases. Get lost hater. This is a R. Kelly FAN SITE. Every Day All Day is R. Kelly posts. Keep seething! I got a call from him last night. He is going to be releasing some new songs and capitalizing off of all this negative publicity.

      • Paulo January 11, 2019

        Gaga is an opportunist, that is true. And you still a dumb crusty ass p***-loving piece of s***

      • Jasmine January 11, 2019

        I’m calling immigration on you peasant. Who do you think you are talking to me like that? Back to Mexico you go. You been drinking too many coronas if you think you can speak to Jasmine the Queen B like that.

  7. R Kelly Fans Are The Devil & We’re On Planet Hell January 10, 2019

    Sh!t like this convinces humanity is a plague on this planet. I pray everyday for an asteroid to collide with our planet or for the sun to finally go super nova and swallow this pos planet filled with humanoid parasites.

    • Jasmine January 10, 2019

      Shut up atheist. God has everything in control. Humans are just animals that think they know what is best but God’s plan IS THE ONLY PLAN. humble yourself. You are nothing more than an animal. Stay in your place.

  8. Jackx January 10, 2019

    Replace it with the Christina Aguilera one

  9. Lou-Andrew Rodriguez January 10, 2019

    It was such a good song but you can still stream the version with Xtina on all platforms.

  10. ERIC January 10, 2019

    How can his music and life be separate? His music and lyrics are a reflection of his life, and he’s able to live the way he does because of his music sales. They are NOT separate.

    • Jasmine January 10, 2019

      They are separate! One person does not make a song. There are numerous people that work to make a song (sound engineers, producers, songwriters, musicians, background vocalists, featured vocalists, other artists, record label execs, investors, mixers, etc). Why should those people suffer lost revenue because of one person? Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot listen to?

  11. Ropeburn January 10, 2019

    If you wanna know why R Kelly was able to go so long without facing justice for his crimes, this is why. Before people point fingers at people who worked with him they need to ask why they kept supporting him all these years.

  12. Jujumanji January 11, 2019

    People are so f*cking trifling it’s sad. Smdh.

  13. Ariel January 11, 2019

    Why wont she just replace it with the solo version, or even the version with christiba Aguilera??? Ive had both on my iPod for years and they’re better than the Kelly version by far…….majes no sense to completely remove the song from catalog……SWAP IT OUT

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