Apparently, like other garbage A&R execs, they bet the farm on hard copy album sales in the digital age. Said they invested $3 million into the project, and will only be able to recoup $2 million. And as an A&R at Universal (where she's signed), his job is on the line, so he's lashing out.
I will say this, though: Nicki, as one of the more recognizable pop stars in the music industry, had a good abundance of singles out for this record of hers. J. Cole, on the other hand - a B-level rapper with a Jay-Z co-sign - had no singles, and somehow, Nicki debut at number 3 on the charts, while J. Cole has the number 1 album in the country.
That's gotta feel shitty for Nicki...