If ever there was proof “that Rihanna reign just won’t let up,” it lies at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
There, the GRAMMY winner – despite having seen six years pass since the release of her last studio album ‘Anti‘ – still rules as the Queen of Digital Music thanks to a whopping 155.5 million singles sold to date (besting the likes of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Adele, Nicki Minaj, and all the other top divas of the day in the process).
That sum is comprised largely of Rih’s Platinum certifications, a historic number of smashes she held by her lonesome until recently when Beyonce – thanks to hits found aboard her seventh solo studio album ‘Renaissance‘ – tied the ‘Work‘ singer’s longstanding RIAA record.
Details inside.
As we reported here, the RIAA took to press November 30 to announce Bey’s 2022 chart-topping hit, ‘Break My Soul,’ and its parent album, ‘Renaissance,’ had respectively crossed its threshold for Platinum status – meaning they sold the equivalence of 1 million copies each in the United States.
For the LP, the shiny new plaque makes Bey one of only nine female acts to see her first seven studio efforts certified Platinum or higher – a list that includes Madonna, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion (first English albums), Mary J. Blige, P!nk, Britney Spears, Swift, and Rihanna.
Speaking of Rih, before November 30 she sat in RIAA record books as the only Black female act to have 40 Platinum singles. Thanks to the updated status of ‘Break My Soul,’ Bey now has 40 records of the same certification height – tying Rihanna’s previously held all-time title.
Among all female acts, only Taylor has more plaques of Platinum stature for singles (49 as of time reported).