Since JAY Z's announcement that he is releasing a new album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, next month, many questions have arisen. The big one, however, is whether the rapper has a platinum album before even releasing it. One million copies are being given to fans with specific Samsung mobile devices, and Mr. Carter's camp says those should count as album sales because Samsung purchased them for a reportedly $5 per record. Billboard said on Friday that despite a "passionate and articulate argument by Jay's team," those copies will not be included on the charts as sales.

In a letter from the editor, editorial director Bill Werde explained that the downloads will not count because "nothing was actually for sale—Samsung users will download a Jay-branded app for free and get the album for free a few days later." Werde went on to say that once Magna Carta "hits retailers and fans have the chance to express their support and interest by buying it, we'll obviously count those sales."