Target won't sell Channel Orange

[the next guy]

Target stores won't stock Frank Ocean's "Channel Orange" album - latimes.com

Frank Ocean’s album “Channel Orange” already is one of the most widely discussed and highly praised albums of the year, but don’t look to buy at a Target store when the physical CD is released next week.

The Minneapolis-based retail giant has announced it won’t stock the album, which has generated massive interest since the R&B singer revealed recently that some songs were inspired by a gay relationship he once had.

But after initially suggesting that Target’s decision may have been related to Ocean's sexual orientation, his manager, Christian Clancy, has backed down and said Target's decision was a response to the release of Ocean’s album a week early in digital form exclusively on iTunes.

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A Target statement, reported by MTV News, explained that "At Target, we focus on offering our guests a wide assortment of physical CDs, so our selection of new releases is dedicated to physical CDs rather than titles that are released digitally in advance of the street date."

In addition, the statement refuted Clancy’s allusion in a since-deleted Tweet on Tuesday that the decision had anything to do with the musician’s sexuality.

"The claims made about Target's decision to not carry the Frank Ocean album are absolutely false,” the statement said. “Target supports inclusivity and diversity in every aspect of our business. Our assortment decisions are based on a number of factors, including guest demand.

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"Target has a longstanding tradition of supporting music and artistry that reflects the diverse landscape of American culture," the statement added. "Our history of partnering with diverse artists includes recent partnerships with a variety of musicians, such as Ricky Martin, B.o.B., and Gloria Estefan."

Target also stocks albums by gay artists including Adam Lambert and Elton John, and recently began selling gay pride T-shirts and donating proceeds to the Family Equality Council, which supports the rights of LGBT parents.

Clancy deleted his original Tweet and later sent another that said: "Note to self: Take your own advice. Emotional knee-jerk reacting isn't the move.”

His original Tweet said "Target has refused to carry Frank's album because of iTunes exclusive. Interesting since they also donate to non-equal rights organizations."

It was a reference to a Target donation to the group Minneapolis Forward, which had supported several candidates including gubernatorial hopeful Tom Emmer, who reportedly had supported an anti-gay ministry. MoveOn.org, the liberal advocacy group, boycotted Target in 2010 because of the $150,000 donation.

 

[L. Deezy]

makes sense. I mean that makes a lot of sense on Targets part

Bu Bu Bu But, they still sold WTT after it was digitally released a week earlier.

 

[ROFL_GUY]

*** goin to target to cop LIG****

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

lmao..
tough break frankie.

 

[IWasntMadeToPlayTheSon]

lol at them sending subs at b.o.b.

 

[AquaCityBoy]

lol at them sending subs at b.o.b.

Gloria Estefan: Latin
Ricky Martin: Gay AND Latin
B.o.B?

 

[Capitol]

That entire thing was written to deflect why they aren't stocking it. We all know why. Cut it out

 

[L. Deezy]

That entire thing was written to deflect why they aren't stocking it. We all know why. Cut it out

No

I think Targets beef is legit. If you release something digitally a week before in this High tech ass environment, you dont think it wouldnt have an effect on your physical sales that are stocked for sale a whole week later? Now maybe Target should have just put it out on the shelves when they heard what Def Jam was doing. But its usually stipulations that stores cant legally sell an album before the release date.

 

[daze23]

interesting. IMO physical stores hold back progress in many ways. I think digital downloads (for music as well as games and movies) could be much cheaper if they didn't have to keep physical stores happy. basically they control the price so physical stores are still relevant. otherwise it doesn't make sense that a product that is made up of data would cost the same as a physical product

 

[www.THUG.com]

Did that Target spokesman just out B.O.B?

 

[L&HH]

lol at them sending subs at b.o.b.

I thought it was just me, Im like dat nikka name did not fit in that category at all unless...

 

[Francium]

No

I think Targets beef is legit. If you release something digitally a week before in this High tech ass environment, you dont think it wouldnt have an effect on your physical sales that are stocked for sale a whole week later? Now maybe Target should have just put it out on the shelves when they heard what Def Jam was doing. But its usually stipulations that stores cant legally sell an album before the release date.

That would make sense if Target was consistent with it's business decisions.

Watch The Throne was released a week early as a digital release yet Target sold it with ease.

 

[Capitol]

No

I think Targets beef is legit. If you release something digitally a week before in this High tech ass environment, you dont think it wouldnt have an effect on your physical sales that are stocked for sale a whole week later? Now maybe Target should have just put it out on the shelves when they heard what Def Jam was doing. But its usually stipulations that stores cant legally sell an album before the release date.

No. If you were going to buy the physical CD, like me, it wouldn't matter. I didn't buy it from Itunes because I would never buy something digitally that I could get a CD for. I was actually planning on buying Life is Good and Channel Orange from Target on the 17th so it's only their loss in the end anyway.

 

[L. Deezy]

No. If you were going to buy the physical CD, like me, it wouldn't matter. I didn't buy it from Itunes because I would never buy something digitally that I could get a CD for. I was actually planning on buying Life is Good and Channel Orange from Target on the 17th so it's only their loss in the end anyway.

I get that..

see, Im still a dinosaur. I love music to death, but I dont need an IPOD. I dont own one. so, I could care less about a digital release really. But if you are Target and the record company has convinced my company to buy all these physical copies and you let it go digitally before hand, you deliberately undermining me. Its bad enough that cd's are losing the war, but at least (from Targets stand point) give us a fair shot.

 

[George's Dilemma]

lol at them sending subs at b.o.b.

LOL, Good fukkin catch!!!! I completely missed that LOL. Wow.