The absence of new music has kept Rihanna fans (affectionately called #TheNavy) spinning her older hits to tide them over until official news of a fresh wave of tunes arrives.
No further evidence of this is needed than the January 28 announcement provided by the Recording Association of America (RIAA) which saw them unveil a slew of new certifications for the songstress comprised mostly for work found aboard her latest album, 2016’s ‘Anti.’
We’re sure it’s not a coincidence the report dropped on the project’s 7th anniversary. Details inside.
According to the RIAA, Rihanna’s cumulative digital single sales now equal 161.5 million in the United States – a feat that makes her the undisputed Queen of Digital Music.
Extending the distance between herself and the title’s runner-up, Taylor Swift (who’s sold 137.5 million singles in the same territory), Rih has the updated sales tallies of ‘Anti’ songs like ‘Kiss It Better,’ ‘Desperado,’ and ‘Love on the Brain’ to thank for the addition.
Most notably, the LP’s leading hit ‘Work‘ is 9x Platinum – meaning it’s sold 9 million copies in the U.S. Tying ‘We Found Love’ and ‘Stay’ as her highest-certified hits to date, the tunes are respectively one million units shy of Diamond status at the RIAA (a feat that would mark a career first for the Bajan diva).
See the full list of certification upgrades below.
9x Platinum
- ‘Work’ (Single)
8x Platinum
- Needed Me’ (Single)
6x Platinum
- ‘Love on the Brain’ (Single)
3x Platinum
- ‘Kiss It Better’ (Single)
2x Platinum
- ‘Desperado’ (Single)
1x Platinum
- ‘Same Ol Mistakes’ (Single)
- ‘Higher’ (Single)
Among all acts, Rih sits at #3 on the all-time list of highest-certified digital single sellers. The only acts to boast higher rankings are her ‘Work’ co-star Drake (184 million) and her ‘Love the Way You Lie’ co-star Eminem (166 million).