Fact check: Was Springsteen's 'Streets of Minneapolis' No. 1 on iTunes in at least 19 countries?
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Bruce Springsteen released the anti-ICE protest song titled 'Streets of Minneapolis' on Wednesday, January 28, that pointedly addresses the killings of protesters Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by ICE officers this month in Minneapolis.
Following the release, a rumor circulated online saying that the song went on to become No. 1 on iTunes in at least 19 countries. But is there any truth to this rumor? Let us find out below.
Claim: 'Streets of Minneapolis' was No. 1 on iTunes in at least 19 countries
The lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's song described what the singer called 'state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis,' in the form of a massive presence of federal agents, who fatally shot two US citizens.
Following the release, several social media posts claimed the song went to the top of the charts in at least 19 countries. As per the images viral on Facebook, 'Streets of Minneapolis' reached No. 1 on iTunes charts in 19 countries, especially across North America and Europe.
A Facebook post read, "BREAKING: Bruce Springsteen’s anti-ICE anthem ROCKETS UP the iTunes charts to #1 in 19 countries after only one day! MAGA world tried to ignore it. Then they tried to smear it. Now they’re stuck watching it dominate the globe."
"Just one day after its surprise release, Bruce Springsteen’s blistering anti-ICE protest song 'Streets of Minneapolis' has rocketed to #1 on the iTunes charts in 19 countries — a thunderous international rebuke to Trump’s immigration crackdown and the federal violence that inspired the track," the post added.
It also mentioned, "In Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom—and the United States, listeners all made the same choice: this is the song of the moment."
Fact Check: True, the song was No. 1 on iTunes for a brief time
The claims made in the online posts are true, as 'Streets of Minneapolis' was the No. 1 downloaded song on iTunes in at least 21 countries for a brief period.
However, it must be noted that iTunes charts do not include data from streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. Multiple news outlets, including Forbes and NBC, also reported that 'Streets of Minneapolis' had hit No. 1 on iTunes in the United States.
Moreover, a listicle from USA Today published on January 29 claimed the song was No. 1 on iTunes in 19 countries. Those countries were Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The listicle aligned with the countries mentioned in some social media posts.
