Diddy’s Music Streams Soar 18% After Arrest: Controversy Fuels Listener Curiosity
Staff Editor Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Music Streams Surge Following Arrest and Indictment
In the wake of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ recent arrest and the unsealing of an indictment against him, the music mogul’s catalog has experienced a notable uptick in streaming numbers. Industry data and analytics company Luminate reports an average 18.3% increase in on-demand streams of Combs’ music during the week of his arrest compared to the previous week.
George Howard, a professor of music business management at Berklee College of Music, attributes this surge to public curiosity. “People use streaming as a way to understand more about the artist amid controversy,” Howard explains. He likens the phenomenon to the impulse to look at a car crash, driven by natural human curiosity.
This trend is not unique to Combs. Similar increases in streaming numbers have been observed for other artists following controversial events, such as R. Kelly after a documentary accused him of sexual misconduct.
Combs, known for his various business ventures including Revolt TV and Ciroc vodka, may be viewed by many primarily as a businessman rather than a musician. Howard suggests this perception could influence people’s curiosity and subsequent streaming behavior.
The “anonymization” of streaming services plays a significant role in this trend. Unlike purchasing physical media, streaming allows people to explore controversial artists’ music without public scrutiny, likely contributing to the increase in streams for both Combs and other artists in similar situations.
Combs currently faces federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. The indictment details allegations dating back to 2008, accusing him of abusing, threatening, and coercing women to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how this controversy will continue to impact Combs’ music streaming numbers and overall public perception.
