Rihanna, The #13 Female Artist of the Rock Era*

Robyn Fenty was born in Saint Michael, Barbados.  She grew up in Bridgetown and began singing at age seven.  She formed a musical trio at Combermere High School and was an army cadet in a sub-military program.  Fenty dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music.

Fenty met producer Evan Rogers in 2003 and went with Rogers to New York City to record demo tapes.  She signed a contract with the production company Syndicated Rhythm Productions, headed by Rogers and Carl Sturken.  Robyn then signed a six-album recording contract with Def Jam Recordings and moved to New York to live with Rogers and his wife.   

Robyn changed her stage name to Rihanna and began working on her debut album.  She released the single "Pon de Replay" a month in advance.  It peaked in the Top 5 of 15 countries, including #1 in New Zealand, #2 in the United States and the U.K., #3 in Canada and Switzerland, #5 in Belgium and #6 in Germany and Australia.  Rihanna won an ASCAP Pop Music Award and a BMI Pop Award for the song.

Rihanna released the album Music of the Sun, which went to #10 on the Album chart and has now sold 500,000 copies in the U.S. and two million worldwide.  A follow-up single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want", was not near as successful, but did reach the top 10 in a few countries.

In 2006, Rihanna released the album A Girl Like Me.  The lead single, "SOS", topped charts in the U.S., Canada and Australia, was #2 in the U.K., Germany and Belgium, and was #3 in New Zealand, Ireland and Switzerland.  "SOS" won Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, and Rihanna was nominated for Female Artist of the Year, Best New Artist, and Viewer's Choice.  The song also enabled Rihanna to win another BMI Pop Award.

Next up, the single "Unfaithful", a song that hit a chord in Canada and Switzerland--both countries took it to #1.  It also reached #2 in the U.K., Germany, Australia and Ireland, #4 in New Zealand, #6 in the U.S. and #7 in France.  Rihanna picked up another ASCAP Music Award and a BMI Pop Award.

The next two singles failed to generate significant attention.  By this time, however, the first two had given Rihanna her first Platinum album, and worldwide sales of over three million.  Rihanna headlined a tour for the first time, and then joined the Pussycat Dolls on their world tour.  

Rihanna won three Billboard Music Awards for her breakthrough album:  Female Artist of the Year, Pop 100 Artist of the Year and Female Hot 100 Artist of the Year.  She won an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.

Rihanna included more up-tempo dance numbers on her third album Good Girl Gone Bad in 2007.  She took vocal lessons from Ne-Yo in the studio, as she talked about:  "I've never had vocal training, so when I'm in the studio, he'll tell me how to breathe and stuff... He'll call out these big fancy words: 'OK, I want you to do staccato.'  And I'm like, 'OK, I don't know what that is."  "Umbrella" went to #1 in every major country in the world except France, where it was #6. 

Rihanna won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and was nominated for Record of the Year.  The video captured Monster Single of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Rihanna set out on another tour, performing in North America and Europe.  She released the single "Shut Up And Drive", a #4 hit in Australia, #5 in the U.K. and Ireland, #6 in Germany and Canada, but only #15 in the United States.  It did give Rihanna a People's Choice Award for Favorite R&B Song, and she was nominated for Favorite Female Singer.

The relative newcomer was quickly becoming a star.  She won American Music Awards for both Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.  Her next single, "I Hate That I Love You", reached #7 in the United States, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Rihanna was able to land a third big hit on an album for the first time when "Don't Stop The Music" went to #1 in Germany, Australia, Switzerland and France, and was #2 in Canada, #3 in the United States and New Zealand, #4 in the U.K. and #6 in Ireland.  The song was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the Grammys.

Another collaboration (this time with Maroon 5 on "If I Never See Your Face Again") earned Rihanna a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, and the video for Good Girl Gone Bad Live was nominated for Best Long Form Music Video. 

Rihanna re-issued the album with remixes and pulled two more big hits from it.  "Take A Bow"  rose to #1 in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Ireland, and peaked at #2 in New Zealand, #6 in Germany and #7 in Switzerland.  The song was nominated for Favorite R&B Song at the People's Choice Awards, and the video earned Rihanna an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Female Video.   

Rihanna won ASCAP Pop Music Awards for "Unfaithful", "Umbrella" and "Hate That I Love You", "Don't Stop The Music", and "Take A Bow", and she picked up BMI Pop Awards for "Break It Off" (with Sean Paul), "Don't Stop The Music" and "Hate That I Love You".  "Disturbia" reached #1 in the U.S. and New Zealand, #2 in Canada, #3 in the U.K. and France, #4 in Switzerland and Ireland, #5 in Germany and #6 in Australia. 

Rihanna was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, and she won an ASCAP Pop Music Award and a BMI Pop Award.  "Disturbia" was nominated for Favorite Pop Song at the People's Choice Awards.

"Rehab", on the other hand, wasn't near as successful.  In 2008, Rihanna joined several other female singers for the charity single "Just Stand Up!", the theme song to the anti-cancer campaign Stand Up to Cancer.  She then combined with T.I. for the song "Live Your Life", which was a #1 hit in the United States, #2 in the U.K. and New Zealand, #3 in Australia and Ireland, #4 in Canada and #8 in Switzerland.  

Rihanna won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Pop Artist, and she and T.I. were nominated for Favorite Music Collaboration.  Rihanna won her eighth ASCAP Pop Music Award and her eighth BMI Pop Award for the song. 

In 2009, Rihanna worked with Jay-Z and Kanye West on the song "Run This Town", #1 in the U.K., #2 in the United States and #3 in Ireland.  It won Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Music Collaboration.

Rihanna has constantly reinvented herself, especially after her album Good Girl Gone Bad.  She released the album Rated R in 2009.  "Russian Roulette" was the first single, #1 in Switzerland, #2 in the U.K. and Germany, #5 in Ireland, #7 in Australia, and #9 in the United States, Canada and New Zealand.

Rihanna won an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, and the follow-up single, "Hard", with Young Jeezy, reached #8 in the U.S. and #9 in Canada.

"Wait Your Turn" and "Redemption Song" were released in select countries but did not catch on.  Rihanna chose "Rude Boy" (with T.I.) as the next single, and it was a worldwide success, ruling the U.S. chart for six weeks, and peaking at #1 in Australia, #2 in The U.K., #3 in New Zealand and Ireland, #4 in Germany, #5 in Switzerland, #7 in Canada and #8 in France.  It gave Rihanna an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year and another ASCAP Pop Music Award.

The next single, "Rockstar 101" was a flop, and "Te Amo" received airplay in some countries but wasn't a universal hit.  Rihanna released another remixed album, and went on her second worldwide tour. 

In 2010, Rihanna joined Eminem for the song "Love The Way You Lie", a #1 song in every major country, except #2 in the U.K. and #3 in France.  The pair was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video at the Grammy Awards.  Rihanna and Eminem received Favorite Song at the People's Choice Awards, and Rihanna was nominated for Favorite Pop Artist.  

In five years, Rihanna had accumulated seven #1 songs, fifth-most among female artists all-time.   In October, Rihanna switched managers, joining Jay-Z's stable.  The next month, Rihanna released the album Loud.  The first single, "Only Girl (In The World)", was #2 in Germany, Switzerland and France, but it was #1 in fifteen countries, including every other major country in the world. 

Rihanna won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for "Only Girl (In The World)", and she was nominated for Album of the Year for both her work on Recovery and Loud, and Loud was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album.

The second single, "What's My Name?", with Drake, made Rihanna the first female solo artist to achieve five number one songs in the U.K. in consecutive years.  It actually hit #1 before "Only Girl...", becoming the first time that a lead single reached #1 after a second single.  "What's My Name?" also peaked at #3 in New Zealand and Ireland and #5 in Canada, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (an award she won with Kanye West on "All Of The Lights").

Loud was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammys.  "S &M" also attained #1 after a remix, which moved Rihanna up the ladder to #4 all-time, tied with Janet Jackson.  The new star set a Rock Era record for the least time to accumulate ten #1 songs among solo artists. 

It should be noted that the competition level from the late 1990's through 2010 was not near what it was in the 1960's and 70's, and even the 1980's, diminishing Rihanna's achievement of #1 songs somewhat.  The competition factor is a key element in the mathematical formula that produces not only The Top 5000 Songs of the Rock Era*, but the formula for this music special as well.  To be clear, though, she has dominated her era.  And, that weaker competition is all factored in, with Rihanna still ranking #13 among females all-time*.

Rihanna won an American Music Award for Loud as "Favorite Soul/R&B Album, and she was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. 

She was nominated for an incredible 18 Billboard Music Awards, winning three--Top Female Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist and Top Rap Song ("Love The Way You Lie").  She was nominated for Top Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Hot 100 Song, Top Digital Song, Top Radio Song, Top Streaming Song (Audio), Top Streaming Song (Video)  (all for "Love The Way You Lie"), Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album, Top R&B Song ("What's My Name?"), "Top Dance Artist, Top Social Artist, Top Digital Songs Artist, Top Streaming Artist and Top Digital Media Artist.

 

"Man Down" and "California King Bed" were also released with decreased success.  "Cheers (Drink To That)" reached #5 in New Zealand, #6 in Australia and #7 in the U.S.

Rihanna went on another world tour, which included ten sold-out concerts in London.  It was the seventh-highest grossing tour of the year.  The last three shows in London town were filmed and released as the video album Loud Tour Live at the O2 in 2012.

Rihanna collaborated with many artists, including David Guetta and Nicki Minaj.  Rihanna released her album Talk That Talk in 2011.  It reached #3, and yielded the single "We Found Love", a #1 song in twenty-seven countries, including a ten-week stay at #1 in the United States.  It is one of the newest members of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  Rihanna won a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video, and she was nominated for Best Female Video and Best Pop Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Rihanna won ASCAP Pop Music Awards for "Only Girl (In The World)", "What's My Name?", "S&M" and "We Found Love", and BMI Pop Awards for "Love the Way You Lie", "What's My Name?", "S&M', "Rude Boy" and "Only Girl (In The World)".

Rihanna captured an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year for "We Found Love".  The next three singles, "You Da' (sic) One" and "Talk That Talk" and "Birthday Cake" were only mid-charters, unusual following a hit as big as "We Found Love".  Rihanna rebounded with the single "Where Have You Been", a #2 hit in France, #4 in New Zealand, #5 in the U.S., #6 in the U.K. and Australia and #8 in Ireland.  Rihanna was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance, and the video was nominated for Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards. 

Rihanna won American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and an Icon Award, and she was nominated for Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist.  She collaborated with Coldplay on the song "Princess Of China" and with Drake on "Take Care"--#6 in New Zealand, #7 in the United States, and #9 in the U.K. and Australia.

Rihanna was nominated for 13 Billboard Music Awards, but was only able to capture one trophy for Top Streaming Artist.  She was nominated for Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Pop Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Radio Song ("We Found Love"), Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album, Top Dance Artist, Top Social Artist, Top Digital Songs Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist and Top Digital Media Artist.  She also received Favorite R&B Artist honors from the People's Choice Awards in both 2012 and 2013.

In 2012, Rihanna starred in the movie Battleship.  The following year, she released her seventh studio album, Unapologetic.  "Diamonds" was another worldwide smash, topping charts in twenty countries, including the United States, the U.K. Germany, Canada, Switzerland and France.

"Diamonds" was Rihanna's twelfth number one, tying her with Madonna and the Supremes with the fourth most number one songs in the Rock Era.  The album became the first #1 of her career.    "Stay" with Mikky Ekko hit #1 in Canada, and was #2 in Germany, Ireland, Switzerland and France, #3 in the United States, and #4 in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. 

Rihanna and Ekko were nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the Grammy Awards, and Unapologetic won the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album.  "Stay" was nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video.

The superstar captured another American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, and she was once again nominated for Artist of the Year, Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album.  Rihanna released "Pour It Up", "Right Now" and "What Now", but all failed to attract widespread airplay. 

Rihanna accumulated four more Billboard Music Awards, winning for Top R&B Artist, Top Radio Songs Artist, Top R&B Album and Top R&B Song--"Diamonds".  She was nominated for Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Dance Song ("Where Have You Been"), Top Social Artist and Top Streaming Artist.

The songs "Diamonds", "Take Care" and "Where Have You Been" gave her a career total of 17 ASCAP Pop Music Awards.  She began her fifth major tour in March.  In the summer, Rihanna starred in the movie This Is the End.  

Rihanna then joined Eminem for the song "The Monster", a #1 song in every major country in the world except Germany, where it was #3.  When it reached #1 in the U.K., Rihanna became only the third artists in the history of that country to score a #1 song in seven consecutive years.  It also enabled Rihanna to tie Michael Jackson with 13 career #1's, third-most of the Rock Era.

Rihanna broke a Rock Era record with "The Monster" by becoming the fastest solo artist to achieve 13 #1 songs, surpassing the record previously held by Mariah Carey. 

Rock's #13 Female Artist has won seven Grammy Awards (out of 23 nominations), eight American Music Awards out of 16 nominations, 22 Billboard Music Awards from 33 nominations, four MTV Video Music Awards, and seven People's Choice Awards.  She has sold 10 million albums, extremely low for this range, but she gets here on the strength of her chart success and her plethora of awards.  As mentioned above, she has 13 career #1 songs, while 25 of her 49 hits have gone Top 10.