Stream queen Rihanna is shining bright like…Platinum. Double Platinum.
The RIAA has gifted the Bajan sensation with another plaque, this time for latest single ‘Needed Me.’
Full story after the jump…
Per the newest list of honors, the ‘ANTI’ cut has been recognised for amassing combined US sales and streams to the tune of 2 million.
Interestingly (in a situation much like that of its parent album), the pure sales of the track were much less. As at writing, that tally currently sits at just over 600,000.
Taking to social media to celebrate, the 28-year-old gushed…
Thank you Navy! #NeededMe is certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA Gold & Platinum Awards Program.
This will no doubt reignite discussion surrounding the weight of digital streams in the today’s music market. With Rihanna, the undeniable digital dominator, being the centre of arguments both for and against.
As reported, many were irked when the RIAA confirmed this February (the week ‘ANTI’ dropped) that it would include streams in its Gold & Platinum Awards for albums…with immediate effect. That decision controversially saw the star’s eighth LP certified Platinum after one day following a universally side-eyed deal with Samsung; a deal which permitted the one million copies purchased by the tech giant to be given away for free. Despite the plaque, Nielsen Soundscan didn’t budge and only counted the units purchased by the public, the total of which was markedly meagre by comparison (166k).
On the singles front, streams have been included since 2013. The official calculation there sees every 150 streams count as 1 equivalent “download.”
Viewed this way, it becomes easier to see how ‘Needed Me’ (a Youtube and Spotify smash) reached Double Platinum status.
The question that does remain is whether it’s fair. Especially given that three-quarters of the song’s consumers chose not to buy it.
Moral of the story: is this simply a new way to consume or a smart means of smoke and mirrors clouding the room? Let us know below…