Rihanna is the top selling digital artist, ever

According to Nielsen's 2011 year-end stats, Rihanna has become the top-selling digital artist of all-time.

The Grammy-award winning singer has released six albums and 27 singles since debuting in 2005, making her one of the more prolific musicians of this generation.

Furthermore, Rihanna has produced 20 Hot 100 top-10 singles in the quickest time ever, beating out Madonna.

The full list (via EW):

Artist (downloads)
1. Rihanna (47,571,000)
2. Black Eyed Peas (42,405,000)
3. Eminem (42,290,000)
4. Lady Gaga (42,078,000)
5. Taylor Swift (41,821,000)
6. Katy Perry (37,620,00)
7. Lil Wayne (36,788,000)
8. Beyonce (30,439,000)
9. Kanye West (30,242,000)
10. Britney Spears (28,665,000)

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Jan 2012 2:57

flyingpen

Holy crap, every single one of those top 10 are just awful musicians. Their just terrible.

Carpe Noctem

8.1.2012 03:27 #1

Notcow

Yes, what a sad list. Kanye west, ulch.

8.1.2012 04:11 #2

3MUK

People nowadays have awful taste in music.

Always remember youre unique, just like everyone else.

8.1.2012 04:51 #3

nintenut

I really have to wonder how that list is how it is. Of the ten, I've only been able to listen to two, and of those two, I actively listen to neither.

The subject of musical preference is touchy, certainly, everyone's a bit different in their thinking of what's good and what isn't; but I honestly can't wrap my brain around the concept of any of these artists being the top list of any person who listens to music.

Perhaps those without the capacity to try before they buy are the brunt of those millions of sales? I know I don't buy an album without downloading it first to see if it's up my alley (And for the record I do buy a fair amount of music, I think. Eleven albums this past year, if I'm remembering correctly.), but I picture those without the knowledge or patience to do so fit squarely within these artists' respective demographics. How many of those forty-two million would be able to bring themselves to purchase a Black Eyed Peas CD after being subjected to it beforehand?
Food for thought.

Anyway, on a largely unrelated note, it's quite satisfying to see Kanye near the bottom of a list, because you know it's going to rile that jerk up; even if it's the bottom of a "Top" list.

8.1.2012 06:33 #4

xboxdvl2

im a fan of rihanna and eminem.lady gags first 2 songs were catchy then they got worse everytime she made a new song.little wayne sounds like hes brain damage,dont have a clue how he even got popular.britney spears doesnt even sing she just talks into a microphone and autotunes the hell out off it.taylor swift and katy perry arnt that bad.can't stand beyonce and kanye west is like a bad joke that keeps getting worse.

R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

8.1.2012 11:59 #5

LordRuss

That's the key, not a damn one of them are musicians. Perhaps sans the Black Eyed Peas & Lady Gaga. Other than that they are all performers, nothing else. I'd probably say 50% of them write their own material & the rest do a lot of sitting on their asses eating a ton of wish sandwiches & dancing at the end of strings.

I'm not exactly saying that music is dead, but its resurrection is sure taking a slow, back sliding, ugly recovery.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

8.1.2012 13:05 #6

Azuran

Originally posted by LordRuss: That's the key, not a damn one of them are musicians. Perhaps sans the Black Eyed Peas & Lady Gaga. Other than that they are all performers, nothing else. I'd probably say 50% of them write their own material & the rest do a lot of sitting on their asses eating a ton of wish sandwiches & dancing at the end of strings.

I'm not exactly saying that music is dead, but its resurrection is sure taking a slow, back sliding, ugly recovery. And by Black Eyed Peas you mean Will.I.Am and his backup singers. Add Lil Wayne and Kanye West to that list. They've all been writing their own music and music for others for years before they became popular.

8.1.2012 14:34 #7

LordRuss

Originally posted by Azuran: And by Black Eyed Peas you mean Will.I.Am and his backup singers. Add Lil Wayne and Kanye West to that list. They've all been writing their own music and music for others for years before they became popular. Indeed I did mean Will. As for Wayne & Kanye, I'm not at all familiar with their, we'll call it work.

Frankly I can't begrudge all these people completely, as they are all getting paid to some degree or another. Despite the fact they are virtually complete puppets of the industry. Again, with a completely unconfirmed couple of exceptions.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

8.1.2012 14:57 #8

Run4two

I don't care so much if they are puppets of the industry or not. I do care if the industry is contributing or detracting from their artistic endeavors. It appears that artistic merit has been waning for years now.

8.1.2012 16:23 #9

tonymartin834

Congrat RiRi. SHE IS THE BEST SINGER OF THE WORLD!

"Talk That Talk" her last album is all the things a great pop album should be; fun, sexy, well-produced, well-written and surprisingly lean (there's really not much filler).

most memorable covers! Rihanna - You Da One --> http://youtu.be/6iDON2ssi7M

10.1.2012 08:47 #10

harhumph

Damn I miss the 80's, Motley Crue, Duran Duran... those were (wait - are!) artists not this crap today! Out of 4,000 songs on my music player, I can honestly say I only have one song from one of those artists above (Eminem - Lose Yourself).

10.1.2012 10:55 #11

hearme0

Despite the Rihanna #1 song.........the #2 just goes to show that the general simpleton public has terrible taste.

Black Eyed Peas ANYTHING is horrid!

Such a talentless group.

10.1.2012 11:57 #12

LordRuss

Originally posted by harhumph: Damn I miss the 80's, Motley Crue, Duran Duran... those were (wait - are!) artists not this crap today! You know you're old when the hair bands you used to roadie for are on the classic rock stations and the guys you mentored under are the ones that roadied for the bands that are on the oldies stations...

I don't know what the hell the stations are called for the guys they mentored under... Stuff for the 60s was coming of age. Stuff for the 50s was "we're figuring it out". Stuff for the 40's was "we don't need amplification".

My generation was, "What!?!"

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

10.1.2012 14:06 #13

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