Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has witnessed a notable spike in music streams since his recent arrest and the unsealing of a federal indictment against him, according to an AP News report.
Citing industry data and analytics company Luminate, the outlet said Combs’ catalogue, which spans multiple monikers like Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and Diddy, experienced an 18.3% rise in on-demand streams in the week following his arrest compared to the previous week.
This surge comes as no surprise to George Howard, a professor of music business at Berklee College of Music. Howard explained that streaming often acts as a form of public curiosity, with people searching for deeper insight into the artist amid controversy. “Music just becomes another piece of information as people try to comprehend the atrocities,” Howard told The Associated Press. “It’s like, ‘What would someone whose brain works like that, allegedly, what would their music sound like?’”
Combs, who has been a household name not only for his music but also for his ventures in businesses like Revolt TV and Ciroc vodka, may now be more remembered for his role as a businessman than a musician. However, the charges against him have renewed interest in his musical legacy.
The pattern of increased streams following controversy is not new. After the release of a documentary accusing R. Kelly of sexual misconduct, his streaming numbers nearly doubled. Howard attributes this behaviour partly to the “anonymization” of streaming, stating, “Imagine walking into a record store now like, ‘Yeah, I want to buy this Diddy CD.’”
Combs faces federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, with allegations dating back to 2008. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
