Foul? Kenny Chesney Postpones Tour Just Days After Using Bundling to Beat Drake For #1

As we reported here, Country superstar Kenny Chesney ended Drake‘s decade-long Billboard 200 #1 streak when his latest album bested the Canadian hitmaker’s ‘Dark Lane Demo Tapes’ for the tally’s top spot this week.

The narrow win earned a unanimous thumbs down from the rapper’s (born Aubrey Graham) devoted fans as they called out the fact Chesney’s victory was aided by ticket bundling – the act of combining a tour’s ticket sales with album giveaways to pad sales figures.  An issue earning Billboard criticism recently, fans are wondering how the tactic is allowed when most tours are temporarily on hold due to the global health crisis.

Now, the ‘Here & Now’ singer is back in the bad graces of Graham’s supporters as he’s announced the year-long postponement of the very ‘Chillaxification’ used to get him the top spot.

Taking to Facebook Thursday (May 14), Chesney revealed:

“We have done everything possible…
and things I’m not even sure we would’ve thought of three months ago.
Myself and my team have talked to
medical experts, city commissioners, team owners, building staffs, the NFL, often daily,
because coming out to play for you is everything to us.

When we postponed our first wave of shows,
no one would’ve imagined we’d be here today…
Still wondering, still uncertain.
But as I said when we postponed those first dates,
I will not take chances with people I care about.

I’ve laid awake many nights thinking about this,
not wanting to disappoint all the people who are with us every summer…
some who fly from all over the country to meet up,
people who’re coming for the first time…
friends who’ve met at the tailgate or the Sandbar.
No Shoes Nation is not just people buying a ticket to a show,
and I know that.
I care, because you guys care so very much.

But that’s exactly why…
1) I wanted to tell you guys first
2) I hate everything about what I’m about to say

No one has tried harder than my team
to make the 2020 Chillaxification Tour a reality…
Sadly, we can’t find a way to make it safe,
to navigate water that’s just not getting any clearer.

For that reason,
we have to postpone this year’s tour.
We are hoping to have the entire schedule for 2021 finalized quickly.
Right now, though, it’s you and me
and that’s what matters.
—-
Original tickets are automatically valid for a rescheduled show date.
If you have tickets to a postponed show, refund options will be available at the time a rescheduled show date is announced.”

*****

Drake fans are livid to say the least.

The Chesney move, which was predicted by most, has increased calls for Billboard to temporarily re-evaluate the use of tour bundling during a time when artists are unable to fulfill the purchase incentive.

[main photo source: Getty Images]

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