On the singles’ charts intermittent songstress Rihanna is not a force to be reckoned with, she is the forced to be reckoned with.
Surpassing or least matching many-a-Billboard Hot 100 placement stat of legendary acts like Madonna, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and now even threatening Elvis Presley’s record, the pop princess has seen a reign unlike any of her contemporaries (or predecessors) given her less than a decade long tenure.
However, as the statistics that accompany her 7 studio albums in as many years reveals, the goat buck stops there. For, five months ago we shared news that the ‘Disturbia’ diva had hit the 9.8 million albums sold mark. Now, via refreshed reports, it appears she has barely passed the 10 million mark…of collective albums sold.
Is this bad news or just a sign of the times? Weigh in below:
“The diva’s catalog moved another 5,000 copies in the week ending Nov. 10, bringing her total sold to 10,001,000.
Her most recently-released album, 2012’s “Unapologetic,” has now sold 1.113 million.”Talk That Talk” has sold 1.118 million. Rihanna’s best selling album remains 2007’s “Good Girl Gone Bad,” with 2.8 million sold.”
“Here’s a look at the sales of Rihanna’s other studio albums: “Music of the Sun” (released in 2005; 609,000 sold), “A Girl Like Me” (2006; 1.349 million), “Rated R” (2009; 1.110 million) and “Loud” (2010; 1.761 million).”
*****
Congratulations…we think.
What do these statistics say? With U.S. album sales on a steady decline for the last decade, the likelihood of mega-selling albums is not nearly what it was even ten years ago. But, even with the present sales climate of the industry, the likes of many of her top and more talented contemporaries besting her collective sales with their first two efforts, the argument of “more is better” becomes defunct.
Then, the argument of placement vs. sales arises as well. In an era where Internet streams and 99 cent purchases assist #1 reigns, artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Janet, and Whitney took their timeless hits on the shoulders of radio airplay and dynamic single sales. To take away from Rihanna’s achievement would be remiss as her branding power has made her – dare we say it – the #1 chick in the game (all by merit of smoke, mirrors, and marketing).
Alas, we have our thoughts. But ,you weigh in: