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May 10 marked the day Spotify became the first streaming service to take an active stance on controversial R&B singer R. Kelly, removing the songwriter’s music from all Spotify-curated playlists. While many praised the move, Kelly’s loyal following is sticking by his side, as the Chicago crooner’s overall streams have increased in the time since.
The Associated Press reports the “Ignition” singer averaged 6,584,000 weekly streams prior to being removed from popular playlists such as “I Love My ‘90s R&B,” “Chilled R&B” and “Are & Be.” Between May 10 and May 16 however, Kelly’s streams increased to 6,676,000.
In fact, his streams have been steadily increasing for the last two years, averaging 4,709,000 weekly streams in 2016 and 5,666,000 weekly streams in 2017. So far for 2018, he is averaging 6,674,000 weekly streams.
Kelly’s most streamed songs within the last month include “Ignition” (6,568,000), “If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time” (2,423,000) “Bump N’ Grind” (2,271,000), “Same Girl” (1,100,000) and “Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)” (1,099,000).
The singer has been accused of having inappropriate relationships with underage girls and of-age women believed by some to be held against their will in a sex cult.
