Diddy's Music Catalog Sees A Huge Surge In Streams After His Arrest And Sex Crime Charges
By Favour Adegoke on September 23, 2024 at 3:30 PM EDT
Sean "Diddy" Combs is still enjoying some success despite his recent arrest. The rapper was arrested on September 16 after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
For unknown reasons, some fans appear to have taken his arrest as a cue to revisit his numerous songs. Recent reports reveal that streams of the rapper's catalog have surged by over 18%.
Sean "Diddy" Combs is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York until his trial after failing to secure bail twice.
Diddy's Music Streams Have Surged By Over 18% Since His Arrest
Diddy's music catalog has experienced a spike in streams since the authorities arrested him in New York following a federal indictment.
Luminate, a data and analytics company, confirmed the surge, claiming that the increase in streams was over 18% compared to the week before he was taken into custody.
While it remains unclear which tracks have seen the biggest boost, the renewed attention follows a pattern seen with other controversial artists facing legal troubles.
One such example is R&B singer R. Kelly, whose streaming numbers nearly doubled after a bombshell documentary accused him of sexual misconduct involving women and underage girls.
However, despite the streaming surge, Diddy doesn't appear to be enjoying the same success on radio play.
A recent report from TMZ claimed that many radio stations have pulled his songs from their playlists, with some making the decision after a resurfaced video showed Diddy assaulting his ex, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura.
Diddy's Arrest Was Expected
On September 16, Diddy was arrested on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution after a grand jury in New York indicted him earlier that same day.
The news of Diddy's arrest quickly dominated headlines, though it didn't come as a surprise. Federal prosecutors had launched an investigation into him earlier in the year, resulting in a raid on his homes in March.
The rapper himself also seemed to have expected that he would be arrested, as he had traveled down to New York ahead of the indictment and made himself available to authorities when it came time to be taken into custody.
He has since been denied bail twice by two different judges and is currently being held in the Special Housing Unit of the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York ahead of his trial.
The Rapper Could Face More Charges
As Diddy's case continues to unfold, federal prosecutors may bring him more charges.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York revealed in an interview with the press that an investigation is still ongoing.
"I can't take anything off the table. Anything is possible," he said, per CNN. "Our investigation is very active and ongoing, and I think a lot of you who cover this office know that when we say such things, that developments are certainly foreseeable, but I cannot predict them sitting here today."
If convicted of racketeering, Diddy could face up to life in prison. Additionally, the sex trafficking charge carries a statutory minimum sentence of 15 years.
Diddy Intends To Prove His Innocence During Trial
Any possibility of a plea deal being later arranged between Diddy and federal prosecutors seems unlikely at the moment, as the rapper's lawyer, Marc Angifilo, had earlier affirmed that they intend to prove his innocence at his trial.
"I believe he's innocent of the charges, and he is going to go to trial, and I believe he's going to win," he told CNN.
Agnifilo had also strongly defended Diddy in a statement after the federal indictment, stating that they were "disappointed with the decision" and that it was an "unjust prosecution" of the music mogul.
The attorney added, "[Diddy] is an imperfect person but is not criminal. To his credit. [He] has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation, and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts."
The Disgraced Music Mogul Was Placed Under Suicide Watch
According to People Magazine, a source revealed that Diddy was placed under surveillance in case he attempted to commit suicide while awaiting trial.
The insider said that the decision was made for "preventative measures as Diddy is in shock and his mental state is unclear."
The U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Corrections defines suicide watch as "supervisory precautions taken for suicidal inmates that require frequent observation."
However, Diddy's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has come out to state that Combs is "not at all suicidal," telling TMZthat the directive was routine for "new, high-profile inmates."
Agnifilo added that he spent six hours with the disgraced music producer on Thursday and found him to be "strong, healthy, confident, and focused on his defense."