Rihanna Becomes First Woman To Reach 200 Million RIAA Singles Certifications

Rihanna made music history by becoming the first woman to surpass 200 million RIAA singles certifications, reaching 200.5 million units despite not releasing a new album since 2016. She ranks third overall behind Drake at 277.5 million and Morgan Wallen at 215 million. The RIAA counts 150 on-demand streams as equivalent to one single purchase, explaining why streaming-era artists dominate the charts over past legends like Queen and Michael Jackson. Rihanna achieved this milestone through her enduring catalog, with hits like "Umbrella," "Only Girl (In the World)," "Don't Stop the Music," and "We Found Love" continuing to rack up streams. She last toured in 2016 but performed at the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show and recorded songs for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Smurfs. Rihanna has been working on her ninth album for years.