“Boycott Target” Is The Top Song On iTunes, Dethroning Taylor Swift
"Boycott Target" has knocked Taylor Swift's "Hits Differents" off the iTunes top spot.
A new song by a conservative rapper calling for people to boycott Target stores is at the top of iTunes’ charts at the moment, according to Whiskey Riff. The song is part of a backlash against the chain for carrying “tuck-friendly” bathing suits for children and LGBTQ+ Pride-themed clothing in general, in its kids sections.
The pushback against corporations showing support for queer causes has been growing in recent months, with conservatives becoming ever more vocal about their distaste for corporate endorsements.
Here’s the new hit song, “Boycott Target”…
The rise of “Boycott Target” on the iTunes charts has seen Taylor Swift‘s “Hits Different” drop to the third position, behind country artist Luke Combs’ “Fast Car.” How reflective the iTunes rankings are of broader popularity is up for some debate, though, as there has been a steady decline in the use of the service. Listeners are now shifting more to Apple Music and streaming services rather than buying individual songs on iTunes.
That could indicate that “Boycott Target” has simply become part of the backlash, with users buying the song in protest.
While that particular outcome of a boycott of Target is unlikely, the retailer has seen a decline in profits, as it has in the past over similar issues. But these ebbs have not brought the store chain down, and it has not slowed the trend of other corporations doing the same, even if only by changing their logos to rainbow colors during Pride Month.
While the song wants people to boycott Target and may help encourage them to do so, it is unlikely to make the kind of impact it imagines. This is especially true given the potential claims from Target against the rap song’s video, which was shot inside one of their stores and features their corporate logo throughout. Whether the retailer pursues that course of action remains to be seen.
Still, “Boycott Target” is a sign of the times (a slogan once used by the retail chain) in that it shows the anger people have over the issues surrounding LGBTQ+ causes and their interactions with kids.
