Frank Ocean's album will not be available at Target. Billboard reports that Ocean's debut studio LP Channel Orange will not be carried at the retail chain due to his record label's decision to sell it via iTunes ahead of its official release. iTunes is the album's only available venue to be purchased until it physically gets released next Tuesday.
Ocean's manager Christian Clancy initially implied that the decision had to do with Ocean's recent admission that he had a past relationship with a man, though he quickly deleted the tweet and apologized. The initial tweet read:
Target has refused to carry Frank's album because of iTunes exclusive. Interesting since they also donate to non-equal rights organizations.
Target then issued a statement, saying, "The claims made about Target's decision to not carry the Frank Ocean album are absolutely false. Target supports inclusivity and diversity in every aspect of our business. Our assortment decisions are based on a number of factors, including guest demand. Target has a longstanding tradition of supporting music and artistry that reflects the diverse landscape of American culture. 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. 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."
Clancy then deleted the tweet and posted:
I apologize for my comments about Target. They are not carrying Frank's album because it went digital first. Not for ANY other reason. … My response was simply an emotional knee jerk reaction. … Stop. Breath. Do the best you can. Be honest. Keep it moving.
Target found itself at the center of a similar controversy when it canceled $10 million TV campaign for Lady Gaga's Born This Way, which reportedly had to do with differences over the Target's support for political candidates who are opposed to gay rights.
Ocean won't be losing much sleep over the financial impact though. At current, the album looks like it will debut at #2 on the Billboard 200 with 100,000 to 120,000 copies sold, almost all from iTunes. Initial forecasts had it at the 40,000 – 50,000 range. Physical retailers have been told to sell the album as soon as they receive it, meaning that some physical copies will be counted in the final sales number for its debut.
