Lady Gaga's 'ARTPOP' album will be available for purchase through a free, accompanying 'ARTPOP' app. Those copies will count towards her overall Billboard tally, which was not the case for Jay Z and his 'Magna Carta Holy Grail.'

Billboard did not accept the million copies of 'MCHG' that Samsung bought and gave away for free to mobile device users.

Billboard editorial director Bill Werde explained that since the 'ARTPOP' app is free and allows for the in-app purchase of 'ARTPOP,' those sales will count. He wrote: "I expect in-app sales to be fulfilled (& reported) by existing digital retailers."

The main difference between 'ARTPOP' and 'MCHG' is that 'ARTPOP' is offered for sale via the app. Such was not the case for 'MCHG.' The album was given for free with no option purchase, which forced Billboard to make the decision not to count the sales.

Gaga almost broke the Internet in 2011 when she released 'Born This Way.' It was offered for 99 cents during week of release, followed by a price increase to $6.99, causing a flood of purchases and creating a sluggish user experience on Amazon.

It was a retail trick, yes, but it was also much discussed, as is the 'ARTPOP' app.

More From Lite 98.7