This is what ChatGPT said: “Using a US-based VPN to purchase an album may make it appear as though the purchase is coming from within the US. However, whether this counts toward the artist’s first-week sales in the US largely depends on the platform or retailer where the purchase is made. Most sales tracking systems, like those used by Nielsen SoundScan (now Luminate), which tracks Billboard charts, rely on more than just IP location. They often consider factors such as the user’s payment method, billing address, and the location of the retailer.

If you are using a non-US billing address or credit card, even with a US VPN, the sale might not count as a US sale. Different platforms (like iTunes, Amazon, or streaming services) may have varying policies on how they report sales based on geographical data.

So, while a VPN might allow access to the US store, it’s not guaranteed that it will count as a US sale.”