VMAs 2014: Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Maroon 5 and More Get Sales Bumps — rollingstone.com

Although MTV's Video Music Awards dropped 18 percent in the ratings compared to last year's show – Blue Ivy and a Nicki Minaj wardrobe malfunction couldn't compete with Miley Cyrus' iconic tongue – the show gave music sales a huge and much-needed bump. Beyoncé's performance of every song on Beyoncé, which culminated with Jay Z and their baby daughter handing her the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, pushed the pop superstar's latest album from Number 40 to Number Seven on iTunes; sales for her "Flawless" and "XO' singles rose more than 1,200 percent apiece; Minaj's singles jumped 215 percent; pre-orders for Maroon 5's upcoming V went up 166 percent; and Sam Smith, Ariana Grande and 5 Seconds of Summer were among the performers with big sales boosts.

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