Billboard Takes G-Dragon's Side On USB Issue, Says BIG BANG Leader Could Be Victim Of Korean Chart History

Billboard has taken G-Dragon's side on the Gaon Chart USB controversy and said that the BIGBANG leader could be the unfortunate victim of Korean chart history with a bid to change the norm. The American music chart said that for its part, it is counting G-Dragon's "Kwon Ji Yong" as an actual physical album.

"Notably, a USB-only release would be considered eligible on the Billboard charts with American sales of G-Dragon's "Kwon Ji Yong" album -- in all its forms, whether it be the physical USB or digital -- eligible to count on the album charts, as long as the sales are reported to Nielsen Music," Billboard said in its position on counting "Kwon Ji Yong" as an actual album. The music organization, however, maintained that it only began streamlining its own rules on accepting streams and track sales in its own tracking.

It can be recalled that Gaon Chart refused to accept G-Dragon's "Kwon Ji Yong" as an actual album because it was released in USB format. The chart cited a technicality which states that they will not accept the solo comeback as an album because the USB does not contain the actual songs but rather links n which users can download the tracks using special keys.

While the sales in itself are not affected, it is expected that because Gaon will not include album sales for "Kwon Ji Yong" in its sales count, the album's performance and standing in music shows is expected to take a hit, Kpopstarz reported.

G-Dragon, in his own position posted on his personal Instagram, said that Gaon Chart is missing the point of making music by focusing only on the album sales. He said that what matters is the melody and the lyrics that he worked so hard to give to his fans and not the packaging in which the songs are contained.