Sean “Diddy” Combs’ music catalog saw a jump in streams after he was arrested and charged with federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges last week.
Industry data and analytics firm Luminate said the music mogul’s music — under his many monikers including Diddy, Puff Daddy and P. Diddy — saw an average 18.3% increase in on-demand streams during the week of his arrest compared to the previous week.
An increase in streaming numbers after controversy is not unusual. After a documentary about R. Kelly accused the R&B singer of sexual assault involving women and underage girls, his numbers nearly doubled.
Combs was arrested on September 17 and held without bail after being charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The indictment, which contains allegations dating back to 2008, accuses him of abusing, threatening and coercing women for years “in order to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.”
Combs pleaded not guilty to the charges in federal court in New York City.
The music mogul remains federal custody at a prison camp in Brooklyn until the trial for sex trafficking.
Notorious for its horrific conditions — inmates won a $10 million class-action lawsuit after enduring frigid conditions during an 8-day blackout in 2019 — the waterfront industrial complex, MDC Brooklyn, houses 1,200 inmates.
Combs joins other high-profile inmates, such as singers R. Kellyfallen cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Friedrapper And rule — Al Sharpton also served a short term — held in the same federal detention center.
Combs has faced a number trials in recent months with allegations of sexual abuse, assault and violence. Combs and his representatives have denied all the allegations.
In November 2023, Ventura applied a trial accuses Combs of rape and abuse during their relationship; he denied the allegations. The reached a settlement following day.
Cara Tabachnick and
contributed to this report.