Estelle's U.s. Sales Suffer After Itunes Removal.

3 months ago 02nd Sep 08:46

Estelle's U.s. Sales Suffer After Itunes Removal.... British singer/rapper Estelle has suffered a massive blow to the U.S. sales of her hit single American Boy, after record label executives removed her album Shine from digital download service iTunes.

The move by the star's bosses at Warner Music Group was aimed at forcing fans into record stores to purchase a CD version of the album - released earlier this year (08) - instead of individual songs.

But American Boy has now slipped down the U.S. Billboard singles chart, falling from 11 to number 37 after her LP was made unavailable on the iTunes website.

The Kanye West-featured track, which topped the charts in both the U.S. and U.K. when it was released, has also taken a blow on the Billboard download chart, plummeting from number six to 59 in a matter of days.

A Warner spokesman tells the Wall Street Journal the move was made as part of a broad range of strategies "uniquely tailored to each artist and their fanbase in an effort to optimise revenues and promote long-term artist development".

Estelle's representative has yet to comment on the reports.