We, the undersigned fans, independent music advocates, and supporters of fair representation in the music industry, respectfully demand that Billboard and its data partner Luminate take immediate action to ensure that LaRussell's album and single sales are fully tracked, counted, and considered for placement on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts.

Who is LaRussell?

LaRussell is a Vallejo, California-born independent artist, entrepreneur, and cultural force who has built one of the most loyal and organically grown fan bases in modern music — entirely without a major label. He sells physical CDs directly from his car, his shows, and through grassroots community efforts. His hustle is not a gimmick. It is a movement. 

The Problem:

Billboard's chart methodology relies heavily on data tracked through Nielsen/Luminate-monitored retail and streaming platforms. Independent artists who sell merchandise and music outside of traditional tracked retail channels — like LaRussell, who famously hand-sells CDs — risk having significant portions of their real sales go uncounted. This creates a systemic bias that:

• Favors major label artists with established distributor relationships
• Penalizes independent artists whose sales happen in communities, not corporations
• Misrepresents the true cultural impact of artists like LaRussell
• Gatekeeps chart recognition behind infrastructure that indie artists can't always access

Why It Matters:

LaRussell has proven that music doesn't need a label co-sign to move people. His message, his faith, and his grind have resonated with hundreds of thousands of fans who buy his music — physically, digitally, and spiritually. When those sales go unrecorded on charts, the industry sends a message that independent Black artists from underserved communities don't count unless a corporation validates them first.

That is unacceptable.

What We're Asking For:

1. Billboard & Luminate — Create an accessible, transparent pathway for verified independent artist sales (physical and digital) to be counted toward chart eligibility, regardless of whether they go through traditional tracked retail.
2. Billboard — Publish a public clarification on how independent CD sales and direct-to-consumer transactions are currently handled in chart calculations.
3. RIAA — Extend certification tracking support to independent artists selling through non-traditional channels.
4. The Music Industry at Large — Acknowledge that the future of music is independent, and the charts should reflect reality, not just corporate distribution pipelines.

The Bottom Line:

LaRussell didn't wait for the industry to open a door. He built his own. The least the industry can do is acknowledge he walked through it.

Sign this petition. Share it. Let the numbers speak — all of them.

 
"I'm not underground. I'm just outside." — LaRussell

 
Sign if you believe independent artists deserve equal recognition.